Mike Willesee is a journalistic legend of the same calibre as Laurie Oakes or Peter Harvey. Previous indiscretions aside, he was the face of current affairs when they were actually considered to be both “current” and “affairs”. His return to the screen with Sunday Night is a coup tinged with nostalgia. Up against Ch10’s Young Talent Time surely it would be overly cynical to suggest Ch7 were looking for a hook of their own?
Everything old is new again. From the press release:
Channel Seven is proud to announce that the legendary journalist Mike Willesee is returning to television with the Sunday Night program. Throughout more than 40 years as a reporter, presenter and producer Willesee forged a reputation as one the finest interviewers in the history of public affairs broadcasting in Australia.
An inductee into the Logies Hall of Fame in 2002, Willesee was a cornerstone of programs including This Day Tonight, Four Corners, A Current Affair and the self-titled Willesee. His interview with former Opposition Leader John Hewson on the GST was widely credited with changing the course of the 1993 federal election.
Willesee will return to TV screens in 2012, bringing feature reports and his trademark interviews to Seven’s flagship Sunday Night. The executive producer of Sunday Night, Mark Llewellyn, said:
“When you say Mike Willesee, people take notice. He’s that good. Without doubt ‘Willo’ is one of the best television journalists Australia has ever produced.“We are very, very proud to have Mike join the team on Sunday Night.”
Hosted by Chris Bath, Sunday Night returns to air on Channel Seven from Sunday February 5 at 6.30pm.