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Happy 80th birthday to Pete Smith!

TV industry legend and GTV9 ambassador reaches a milestone 80th birthday.

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Another veteran birthday this week with industry legend Pete Smith turning 80 today.

This week he enjoyed a small celebration with wife Jackie and close friends, including Peter Hitchener.

Smith began at Nine’s “Television City” in 1964 and has been part of the family for 55 years, but he started out with ABC Radio in Melbourne.

At various stages, he has been the voice of the network, a variety show regular on In Melbourne Tonight, The Graham Kennedy Show, The Ernie Sigley Show, The Don Lane Show , the sound of Sale of the Century, ‘Mr. Copperart’ a genial warm-up host and a pal to The Late Show team.

He later assumed GTV9’s Community Affairs duties, following in the work of Sir Eric Pearce, and is now GTV9 Ambassador.

“Nine has an innate talent for picking the right people. I was never given the chance to star and that’s saved my bacon and set me on the right path,” he once told TV Tonight.

“I’ve always just run along on the surface as a supporting player.

“I’ve been able to do what I enjoy doing and make my living out of it.”

Smith has also been a longtime supporter of TV Tonight, including making a voice over for the original radio segment on JOY FM.

This post now joins with one in 2009 for his 70th.

Here’s hoping for the same in 2029, Pete!

Feel free to leave a birthday wish for him below in Comments.

7 Responses

  4. Happy 80th Pete Smith. A true gentleman. Pete was the first signature in my autograph book when I went to one of the early recordings of Sale of the Century. I think he was both bemused and chuffed to be my first celebrity signatory. I cherish it to this day and admire his talent, his generosity and his manner.

  6. His voice I remember from Sale of the Century in the 1980’s, I went to Carols by Candlelight in Melbourne a few years ago and he was involved. Happy Birthday and may there be many more!!

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