Happy Bert-day!

Channel Nine threw a small party for its favourite son, Bert Newton yesterday, to mark his 70th Birthday today.

Celebrities including Eddie McGuire, Sam Newman, Peter Hitchener, Jo Hall, Trevor Marmalade, Gary Lyon, Phillip Brady and Bruce Mansfield joined with Newton’s family, GTV staff and media.

McGuire introduced Bert saying, “It’s an awe-inspiring and humbling experience to be on the stage with Bert Newton. It’s the easiest thing to just get out of the way and let Bert take over, and take over he does. But in doing so, he always gives back to the person he’s with.”

Bert spoke to TV Tonight about some of the quiet achievements of his career and his affection for GTV.

In looking back on his career with shows including In Melbourne Tonight, The Don Lane Show and Good Morning Australia, it is New Faces that Bert nominated as a ‘quiet achiever.’

“I was put in as compere in 1976 when it was a totally Melbourne show. Not through any fault of any who was working on it, but it had been around for a long time, looking a bit tired and feeling a bit tired,” he said.

“A new producer came in, a new compere came in. Frank Wilson who’d been the compere had retired from the show. Within 12 months it became a national show in prime time and it was never beaten in its timeslot. It was a show I loved doing because it was a talent quest, presented with a bit of fun.”

With judges including Tim Evans, Bobby Limb, Ron Tudor, John McMahon and Rod McLennan, there were also a few discoveries who went on to become household names.

“The ones that stand out are Daryl Somers. John Farnham was on, but not in my time. Also the beautiful Marina Prior was a folk singer and went on to become one of the great theatre performers in Australia.”

With a stellar career behind him, including being synonymous with the Logie Awards, Bert these days appears on Nine’s 20 to 1. For his birthday he will even spend the day recording five more episodes, followed by a quiet family dinner.

“I’m very happy doing 20 to 1, it’s been a great success and a lot of fun to do. And because I host it separately from the filmed sequences, I love watching it to see what I was talking about!”

Newton continues to be generous toward Nine, and most especially to GTV, which McGuire kindly called “the house that Bert built.”

“It’s the Australian home of television. A lot of happy memories here,” said Bert. “Very few sad ones. A lot of people have gone through, many of whom are no longer with us. But to me their spirit is still around the corridors and in the studios.”

Like many, he is pleased the network is staying put for now.

“The decision has been made to stay for a little while. Around the world television are becoming boutique stations and everyone laughed when TEN moved from Nunawading to South Yarra but it’s been very successful for them. That will happen I’m sure, but not for a little while which I’m glad about.”

As to future roles, ‘Moonface’ is pragmatic.

“I think I’ve reached that stage where someone else has to suggest what I can do. And if I think I can do it, away we go.”

Happy Birthday, Bert!

This is Your Life presents Bert’s 70th Birthday tonight at 7:30pm on Nine.