One of Australia’s most under-rated sitcoms The Last of the Australians was based on Alan Seymour’s ANZAC Day play The One Day of the Year.

The great Alwyn Kurts & Rosie Sturgess starred as parents of Gary (Richard Hibbard / Stephen Thomas) across two seasons on Nine in 1975 / 76. Much-loved Maurie Fields & Terry Norris were also regulars.

The show featured several surprising guest stars including ACTU leader Bob Hawke as himself (he had to join Actors Equity before appearing on the show) and King of Pop Johnny Farnham plus appearances by Jacki Weaver, Noeline Brown, Noni Hazlehurst, Terry Donovan, Gil Tucker, Olivia Hamnett, Jon Finlayson, Lesley Baker and more.

Each episode was filmed in one hit before a studio audience.

Alwyn Kurts once said, “On the one hand each episode is like performing the first night of a new stage play to a live audience, while on the other you must remember the real purpose is to make a half-hour of TV comedy.”

Classic stuff….

You can read more at classicaustraliantv.com

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