Ernie Sigley Biography – Ernie Sigley Wiki
Ernie Sigley born Ernest William Sigley was a Gold Logie winning Australian host, radio presenter, and singer. He was known as a pioneer of Australian television, Sigley was often styled as a “little Aussie battler” with a larrikin sense of humour. His career started in 1952 as a turntable operator on Danny Webb’s breakfast program at radio station 3DB in Melbourne.
Television began in Australia in 1956, and he debuted as host of Teenage Mailbag on HSV-7 in 1957. Shortly afterward, he traveled to London, gaining some work experience at the BBC. But a bigger break was to come with a three-year stint at Radio Luxembourg, where he performed under the name ‘Ernie Williams’. He is remembered for his 1964 association with the Adelaide leg of The Beatles tour of Australia. In one press conference, Sigley’s questioning of The Beatles brought about an enthusiastic response from John Lennon, which led to one of the best interviews of the tour.
He started singing as a choir boy at St Paul’s Cathedral and went on to be a regular on the local Town Hall circuit in the 1950s. In 1957, his first record, Love Is A Golden Ring, was released by W & G Records. In 1974, with Denise Drysdale, they recorded the popular duet, “Hey Paula”, released by Festival Records, Australia, and produced at Armstrong Studios, Melbourne. This song went on to peak at number 2 in Australia. He regularly performed around Australia on the club circuit, often with his television partner, Denise Drysdale.
He was part of the original cast of Sunnyside Up, and in the 1960s and early 1970s, Sigley hosted the prime-time Adelaide variety show, Adelaide Tonight on NWS-9. Beginning in 1974, he was the host of the national Nine Network variety show, The Ernie Sigley Show, featuring notable Australian media personalities such as Denise Drysdale, Noni Hazlehurst, Pete Smith, and Joy Westmore. The program was abruptly axed after an off-air outburst by Sigley, directed at station owner Kerry Packer and producer Peter Faiman when the network cut short his first show for 1976 to accommodate a network sports awards telecast. Packer flew to Melbourne the next day and dismissed Sigley in person, effective immediately, and replaced him with Don Lane.
After his dismissal in 1976, he moved to ATV-0 and hosted the early evening variety show Ernie and then in 1978, the Penthouse, which became Saturday Night Live on HSV-7 co-hosting with Mary Hardy. He was the original host of the Australian version of the popular game show, Wheel of Fortune, from 1981 to 1984. In 1982, he presented the regional variety program Six Tonight from BTV-6 Ballarat, and the daytime talent show Pot Luck in 1987.
After a break from television, he returned in 1989 with Denise Drysdale, hosting GTV-9’s morning program In Melbourne Today. Sigley was involved in a stoush with fellow TV star Don Lane at a Logies after-party in 1988 when Sigley allegedly made insulting remarks about Lane’s partner.
In 1981, he returned to 3DB to host the breakfast program. In 1982, he switched to the breakfast shift at the personality-driven News Talk 3UZ, teaming with comedian and mimic Paul Jennings. When 3UZ changed to a music format at the start of 1984, Sigley left the station. In 1996, Sigley joined 3AW to host the afternoon program. He hosted the afternoon program for 12 years until his retirement on Friday 7 November 2008. Denis Walter was announced as his replacement. He then took on a part-time role at the station where he partnered either Bruce Mansfield or Philip Brady to host Nightline on a Friday night.
In January 2009, he ended his radio career after a 57-year association with the industry, when it is believed he stormed out of a heated meeting with 3AW management. He once owned the Radio Springs Hotel at Lyonville in country Victoria. He won the TV Week Gold Logie Award for Most Popular Personality on Australian Television in 1975. He had previously won 11 local Logies for his work in Adelaide. He studied at Williamstown High School.
Ernie Sigley Age
He was born on September 2, 1938, in Footscray, Australia, and died on August 15, 2021. He was 82.
Ernie Sigley Family
He was born in Footscray, Melbourne, one of seven children of a boilermaker.
Ernie Sigley Wife
He was three times married and twice divorced. Sigley was married to Glenys O’Brien, a former television personality. They lived in the eastern suburbs of Melbourne and have four adult children.
Ernie Sigley Children
He has left behind four adult children, Matthew, Guy, David, and Emma. They lived in the eastern suburbs of Melbourne. His son Matthew was a member of 90s Australian indie pop-rock band The Earthmen and has played keyboards for Australian bands The Fauves and Drop City. He is currently a member of The Lovetones.
Ernie Sigley Death
Sigley died on 15 August 2021. He was 82 years. He had been in residential care in his final years, and he passed away peacefully on Sunday, August 15, 2021, according to a family statement. His family announced in October 2016 that he had Alzheimer’s disease.
Ernie Sigley Cause of Death
The cause of his death was a result of suffering from Alzheimer’s disease. He had suffered from Alzheimer’s since 2016.
