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Joel Creasey ready to party at Mardi Gras

But after Cher performs he is leaving the ball and headed home to bed.

Ahead of the 40th Sydney Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras Joel Creasey isn’t just getting his outfit ready and checking his best Cher lyrics, he’s also cramming pages of research notes on the 200 floats that will be headed his way.

Creasey, along with the loveable Magda Szubanski, will anchor the SBS broadcast from Taylor’s Square while Urzila Carlson & Patrick Abboud are roving on the street.

It’s the second year Creasey is co-hosting the event and while there are a record number of floats & participants, he is better versed on their background than some people give him credit for.

“I’m pretty across a lot of the floats, which is funny because a lot of people criticise me for it. I am so across them. I am out at a gay event every bloody night of the week! I think it’s because I’m young people just assume I don’t know,” he tells TV Tonight.

“Magda is great on the history side of things. But there are so many floats there’s not a lot of time to talk at length on each one.

“So there is always someone’s nose out of joint because they didn’t get a mention! There’s just so much going on, but we just try our very best.”

The 40th event famously follows on from Australia legalising same-sex marriage, but the parade offers visibility, especially for everyone from youth, disabled, regional, ethnic, seniors, parents, bisexuals, transgender and more. And not forgetting Marching Boys & Dykes on Bikes.

Despite the electric atmosphere, Creasey hopes this year’s broadcast can address some sound issues that challenged 4 presenters in 2017.

“We’re at Taylor Square but I think we are on the other side this year, with a different set. It’s so noisy there, especially when the Dykes on Bikes come past,” he continues.

“The problem last year we were beside these 5 big flame pillars. So it was like sitting outside Crown Casino and everytime they went off we couldn’t hear anything. And having 4 people we were splitting between looking one way, and then the other. But this year it is just Magda and I so we will be able to hear each other.”

But even Creasey will be excused for squealing when iconic singer Cher makes her way to Taylor Square. He is due to interview her Live with Magda Szubanski.

“I can’t wait, I’m such a huge fan,” he confesses.

“She’s such an incredible talent and performer. I will lose my mind a little!

“I follow her on Twitter and I think it’s hilarious how she constantly trolls Donald Trump.”

Cher is performing the 2am show at the official party and is rumoured to be giving a free performance at Taylor’ Square to close the Parade.

Either way, Creasey is ready to party, but only until he ends the night Cinderella-like before the ball is over.

“Yes I will go to the party, but I’m kinda bummed. My brand new stand-up tour which I’ve never done out loud, opens on Monday night in Adelaide. So I have to be quite well-behaved because on Monday I need to have my wits about me.

“So I will see Cher and then head home!”

40th Sydney Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras airs 8:30pm Sunday on SBS.

The 2018 Mardi Gras Parade: Full Live Stream will be available Saturday March 3 at 7pm on SBS On Demand, Twitter, and Facebook.

8 Responses

  1. SBS, a few points from last night’s Mardi Gras telecast:

    * Never, ever allow Urzila Carlson near a MG telecast again. She yelled, she shrieked, she didn’t know how to interview and she was embarrassing. She was a major turn off.
    * What happened? Why was it so, so dull? Yes, Joel kept his usual hysteria in check, but Magda looked like she was hosting a morning show. Where was the sense of fun? And why such bitsy parade coverage – some floats were lucky to get a second before moving off to the next one. It was so hard to engage. And the presenters barely engaged with what was going on.
    * Pat Aboud was excellent in his coverage and his back stories. Initially I was concerned some of the tales were exploiting those people, but he put their experiences into context and it was very powerful TV. Well done, Pat.
    * Please, just bring back Julie McCrossin and be done with it. I think…

  2. worst broadcast ever, Magda was disappointing, was ashamed that the hosts didn’t seem to no anything about the majority of the floats. it was horrific, no idea who the kiwi was but she was annoying as hell and fumbled everything.

    Hand the broadcast back to TEN and Julie McCrossin who knew pretty much everything about every float and group

  3. Joel is awesome. Sure he’s got a strong personality, but it stands out amongst a sea of beige personalities on TV. He’s always entertaining to watch imho.

  4. Spare us all Jole and just stay home.
    I am totally over this persons preening and posing in the name of ‘entertainment’.
    Whenever his name pops up as a ‘guest’, we don’t accept the invitation to watch.

    1. Well then just don’t watch? He is a fabulous young gay Aussie to have hosting the MG. Maybe preening and posing is what he is like as a human and that is totally great! People have too many negative opinions on Mardi Gras. Accept the invitation to stay home, draw the blinds and sit in the dark.

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