Satirist John Clarke dead at 68
Renowned satirist John Clarke has died at the age of 68 while hiking in Victoria’s Grampians.
The New-Zealand born actor was perhaps best known for the final three minutes at the end of the ABC’s 7.30 Report on Thursday nights where his partnership with Bryan Dawe regularly lambasted politicians and the absurdity of Australian politics.
Clarke and Dawe started their regular satirical bites mocking politicians in 1989 and they have been a feature of the Australian political landscape for over two decades. The format with Dawe as interviewer and Clarke as interviewee never changed, and despite Clarke making no attempt to mimic his subject in either appearance or voice, they constantly delivered hilarious takes on all manner of current events.
Clarke also created and starred in popular satirical series The Games about the staging of the Sydney Olympics in 2000, which aired in the lead-up to the event.
What are your favourite John Clarke sketches and memories?
I will so miss his brilliance. Hope we get lots of repeats into the future even if they are out of date. Thanks for the laughs John Clarke. RIP