Ernest William Sigley, the son of a boilermaker who went on to win a Gold Logie, has died aged 82.

Ernie, as he was known throughout his long career, had been living with Alzheimer’s disease and was in residential care.

Born in Footscray in Melbourne, his first paid job was as a turntable operator at radio station 3DB Melbourne in 1952. He made his television debut on Teenage Mailbag when he was 19 and worked in Europe as a DJ for two years in the 1950s.

Returning to Australia, he hosted prime-time variety show Adelaide Tonight in the early 1970s. But it was when he went home to Melbourne to host The Ernie Sigley Show, with Denise Drysdale, that his popularity soared.

The pair recorded Hey Paula, which went to the top of the charts.

Ernie also hosted Saturday Night Live and Wheel of Fortune and received 21 Logies, including a Gold Logie in 1975 for most popular TV personality.

He is survived by his wife of 47 years, Glenys, and four children Matthew, Guy, David, and Emma.