The Loft Live
| Company type | Television series |
|---|---|
| Industry | Television broadcasting |
| Predecessor | Under Melbourne Tonight |
| Founded | 1997 |
| Defunct | 2000 |
| Headquarters | Melbourne , Australia |
Area served | Melbourne, Australia |
| Owner | RMITV |
The Loft Live was a weekly variety television series broadcast live, produced by RMITV and aired on C31 Melbourne from 1997 through 2000. The program's hosting lineup included figures such as Rove McManus (1997–1999), Ged Wood, and Kim Hope, supported by a cast featuring Peter Helliar, Scott Brennan, Adam Richard, Myf Warhurst, Bert Kennedy, Matilda Donaldson, and Bernie Carr. Following in the footsteps of its predecessor Under Melbourne Tonight, The Loft Live provided a showcase for up-and-coming talent, attracting weekly viewership numbers ranging from 50,000 to 100,000.
Guests
Among the distinguished guests were personalities like Larry Emdur, Livinia Nixon, John Brumby, Nadine Garner, Judith Lucy, Jeremy Sims, Neville Stonehouse, Dylan Lewis, Francis Leach, John Safran, and Edwin Maher.
Cast
| Presenter | Role | Tenure |
|---|---|---|
| Rove McManus | Host | |
| Ged Wood | Host | |
| Kim Hope | Host | |
| Peter Helliar | Supporting cast | |
| Scott Brennan | Supporting cast | |
| Adam Richard | Supporting cast | |
| Myf Warhurst | Supporting cast | |
| Bert Kennedy | Supporting cast | |
| Matilda Donaldson | Supporting cast | |
| Bernie Carr | Supporting cast |
John Safran
Footage from The Loft Live was featured in the premiere episode of John Safran vs God in 2004. Safran's appearance on the show in 1997 came after he gained prominence through the ABC program Race Around the World. Subsequent to that episode, Rove McManus extended his support to Safran’s professional development. By 2002, following the termination of Safran’s ABC pilot due to a contentious event, McManus had established himself as a major television personality with his series Rove Live, which regularly attracted audiences exceeding one million viewers. Although Safran was initially slated to appear on Rove Live to promote his SBS series John Safran's Music Jamboree, he was ultimately replaced by American artist P!nk. In reaction, Safran traveled to the United Kingdom in 2004 and humorously requested that cleric Omar Bakri Muhammad issue a fatwa against McManus; this decree was later withdrawn after clarifications were made. Safran eventually appeared on Rove in 2009, where he publicly acknowledged his appreciation for McManus despite their earlier incident.