Amanda Keller
Encyclopedia
Amanda Rose Keller is an Australian journalist, radio presenter, and media personality.
(then called Mitchell College of Advanced Education) as a contemporary of Andrew Denton
(among others). During her studies she was a broadcaster with on-campus community radio station 2MCE-FM.
! She was later a researcher and producer for Good Morning Australia (breakfast TV)
when Gordon Elliott
and Kerri-Anne Kennerley
were hosts. By 1985 she was a researcher and producer for Ray Martin's
Midday
show where she first began to appear regularly on camera.
In 1987, she left Midday to appear in the pilot for Richard Neville
's counter-culture programme Extra Dimensions, which was produced by the same team that made Beyond 2000. Extra Dimensions folded after the first season. Keller's luck changed when she was signed to Beyond 2000, the internationally popular science programme, where she won numerous media awards including the United Nations
Media Peace Award in 1989, and the Michael Daley Award for Science Journalism.
In 1994, she joined her college friend Andrew Denton
as a regular guest on his show Denton
, where she combined her scientific knowledge with her love of popular culture and kitsch
- subsequently publishing a book, Amanda's Handy Home Hints. When the series finished in 1995, she joined Denton at Sydney radio station Triple M where they co-presented the premier breakfast show. At the same time, she hosted her own contemporary culture show on cable television
called The Hub.
She is currently presenting morning radio on WSFM 101.7, with Brendan "Jonesy" Jones
. As an established media personality, Keller has also made numerous appearances on various popular culture shows such as Good News Week
, Rove Live, The Glasshouse, 20 to 1
, and Spicks and Specks. She hosted her own kitsch and pop culture-centric program Mondo Thingo
in 2004. In 2006, Keller appeared in Series Five of Dancing with the Stars
where she progressed to the 5th round before being eliminated. In 2008 she starred in the SBS TV
series Swift and Shift Couriers
as Amanda Doyle, the Regional Manager.
She is the current Baby Boomers team leader on Network Ten
's quiz show Talkin' 'Bout Your Generation
.
, Randwick
.
She is also a self-confessed passionate supporter of the Sydney Roosters
rugby league team in the Australian National Rugby League
.
She holds the world record for the longest underwater radio broadcast which took place on 28th of October 2010 when she and fellow WSFM breakfast show host Brendon 'Jonesy' Jones spent over 3 hours underwater at Sydney Aquarium.
Keller has a 9 year old son, Liam, who appeared on Talkin' 'Bout Your Generation in 2010.
Education
Keller went to Carlingford High School, and then went on to study media and communications at Charles Sturt UniversityCharles Sturt University
Charles Sturt University is an Australian multi-campus university located in New South Wales, Victoria, and the Australian Capital Territory. It has campuses at Bathurst, Canberra, Albury-Wodonga, Dubbo, Goulburn, Orange, Wagga Wagga and Burlington, Ontario...
(then called Mitchell College of Advanced Education) as a contemporary of Andrew Denton
Andrew Denton
Andrew Christopher Denton is an Australian television producer, comedian, Gold Logie-nominated television presenter and former radio host, and was the host of the ABC's weekly television interview program Enough Rope. He is known for his comedy and interviewing technique...
(among others). During her studies she was a broadcaster with on-campus community radio station 2MCE-FM.
Career
Her first professional media job was in 1983 as a researcher for the popular children's television show, Simon Townsend's Wonder WorldSimon Townsend's Wonder World
Simon Townsend's Wonder World! was a multi-award–winning Australian children's television show that aired on the Ten Network from 1979 until 1986...
! She was later a researcher and producer for Good Morning Australia (breakfast TV)
Good Morning Australia (breakfast TV)
Good Morning Australia from Network Ten was the name of two different programs. This article is for the breakfast TV show, not to be confused with Bert Newton's morning program....
when Gordon Elliott
Gordon Elliott
Gordon Elliott is a British-born Australian journalist and producer. He is the executive producer of ABC's daytime program The Chew, but is probably better known for his 1990s TV talk show program, The Gordon Elliott Show....
and Kerri-Anne Kennerley
Kerri-Anne Kennerley
Kerri-Anne Wright Kennerley is an Australian television personality. She is one of Australia's most seasoned light entertainment hosts...
were hosts. By 1985 she was a researcher and producer for Ray Martin's
Ray Martin (television presenter)
Raymond George "Ray" Martin AM is an Australian television journalist. He is best known for his various on-air roles on Channel Nine from 1978 to 2008. In 2011 he returned to 60 Minutes....
Midday
Midday
Midday is a television show that aired on Australia's Nine Network from 1985-1998. The show aired, like its title suggests, at noon on every weekday and was a 90 minute variety programme with international and local guests. It featured interviews, musical performances and comedy spots...
show where she first began to appear regularly on camera.
In 1987, she left Midday to appear in the pilot for Richard Neville
Richard Neville (writer)
Richard Neville is an Australian author and self-described "futurist", who came to fame as a co-editor of the counterculture magazine Oz in Australia and the United Kingdom in the 1960s and early 1970s...
's counter-culture programme Extra Dimensions, which was produced by the same team that made Beyond 2000. Extra Dimensions folded after the first season. Keller's luck changed when she was signed to Beyond 2000, the internationally popular science programme, where she won numerous media awards including the United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
Media Peace Award in 1989, and the Michael Daley Award for Science Journalism.
In 1994, she joined her college friend Andrew Denton
Andrew Denton
Andrew Christopher Denton is an Australian television producer, comedian, Gold Logie-nominated television presenter and former radio host, and was the host of the ABC's weekly television interview program Enough Rope. He is known for his comedy and interviewing technique...
as a regular guest on his show Denton
Denton (TV show)
Denton was an hour-long late night live interview program hosted by the eponymous Andrew Denton. It aired on the Seven Network in Australia between 1994 and 1995.Regular guests included Amanda Keller and Bobcat Goldthwaite...
, where she combined her scientific knowledge with her love of popular culture and kitsch
Kitsch
Kitsch is a form of art that is considered an inferior, tasteless copy of an extant style of art or a worthless imitation of art of recognized value. The concept is associated with the deliberate use of elements that may be thought of as cultural icons while making cheap mass-produced objects that...
- subsequently publishing a book, Amanda's Handy Home Hints. When the series finished in 1995, she joined Denton at Sydney radio station Triple M where they co-presented the premier breakfast show. At the same time, she hosted her own contemporary culture show on cable television
Cable television
Cable television is a system of providing television programs to consumers via radio frequency signals transmitted to televisions through coaxial cables or digital light pulses through fixed optical fibers located on the subscriber's property, much like the over-the-air method used in traditional...
called The Hub.
She is currently presenting morning radio on WSFM 101.7, with Brendan "Jonesy" Jones
Brendan Jones (radio personality)
Brendan Jones is an Australian radio presenter, and media personality.-Career:Brendan Jones began working in radio on the community radio station 2BCR Bankstown for six months...
. As an established media personality, Keller has also made numerous appearances on various popular culture shows such as Good News Week
Good News Week
Good News Week is an Australian satirical panel game show hosted by Paul McDermott that initially aired from 19 April 1996 to 27 May 2000, and resumed on 11 February 2008 to 9 May 2011. The show aired first on ABC TV before it was bought by Network Ten in 1999...
, Rove Live, The Glasshouse, 20 to 1
20 to 1
20 to 1 is an Australian television series, currently hosted by Bert Newton that counts down an undefined "top 20" of elements or events of popular culture, such as films, songs, sporting scandals. Previously the show was hosted by Charles "Bud" Tingwell and narrated by David Reyne...
, and Spicks and Specks. She hosted her own kitsch and pop culture-centric program Mondo Thingo
Mondo Thingo
Mondo Thingo was an Australian pop culture television show which aired for 37 episodes on the Australian Broadcasting Corporation in 2004....
in 2004. In 2006, Keller appeared in Series Five of Dancing with the Stars
Dancing with the Stars (Australian TV series)
Dancing with the Stars is a Logie Award-winning, Australian light entertainment reality show airing on the Seven Network and filmed live from the HSV-7 studios in Melbourne...
where she progressed to the 5th round before being eliminated. In 2008 she starred in the SBS TV
SBS TV
SBS One is a national public television channel in Australia. Launched on 24 October 1980, it is the responsibility of SBS's television division, and is available nationally...
series Swift and Shift Couriers
Swift and Shift Couriers
Swift and Shift Couriers is an Australian comedy television series that first screened on SBS TV in October 2008. The series is produced, directed and written by Paul Fenech, who was also responsible for the comedy series Pizza. It is set around the staff who work at the 'Swift and Shift' Courier...
as Amanda Doyle, the Regional Manager.
She is the current Baby Boomers team leader on Network Ten
Network Ten
Network Ten , is one of Australia's three major commercial television networks. Owned-and-operated stations can be found in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth, while affiliates extend the network to cover most of the country...
's quiz show Talkin' 'Bout Your Generation
Talkin' 'bout your Generation
Talkin' 'Bout Your Generation is an Australian game show produced by Granada Productions which premiered on Network Ten on 5 May 2009. It is hosted by Shaun Micallef....
.
Other
She is the patron of The Sydney Kids Committee - a volunteer organisation which raises funds for The Sydney Children's HospitalSydney Children's Hospital
Sydney Children's Hospital is an Australian children's hospital located in the eastern suburbs of Sydney, New South Wales.On 1 July 2010 it became part of the newly formed 'Sydney Children's Hospital Network incorporating the Royal Alexandra Hospital for Children'.The Sydney Children's Hospital is...
, Randwick
Randwick, New South Wales
Randwick is a suburb in south-eastern Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Randwick is located 6 kilometres south-east of the Sydney central business district and is the administrative centre for the local government area of the City of Randwick...
.
She is also a self-confessed passionate supporter of the Sydney Roosters
Sydney Roosters
The Sydney Roosters are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the Eastern Suburbs of Sydney. The club competes in the National Rugby League and is one of the oldest and most successful clubs in Australian rugby league history, having won twelve New South Wales Rugby League...
rugby league team in the Australian National Rugby League
National Rugby League
The National Rugby League is the top league of professional rugby league football clubs in Australasia. The NRL's main competition, called the Telstra Premiership , is contested by sixteen teams, fifteen of which are based in Australia with one based in New Zealand...
.
She holds the world record for the longest underwater radio broadcast which took place on 28th of October 2010 when she and fellow WSFM breakfast show host Brendon 'Jonesy' Jones spent over 3 hours underwater at Sydney Aquarium.
Keller has a 9 year old son, Liam, who appeared on Talkin' 'Bout Your Generation in 2010.