Mike Munro
Encyclopedia
Michael Munro is an Australian television presenter.
in North Sydney
. He began his career at 17 as a copyboy on The Daily Mirror
in 1971.. He stayed in newspapers for 7 years, before trying television and not liking it. So he returned to newspapers when Rupert Murdoch
sent him to New York
to work in the NewsCorp bureau writing for newspapers in Great Britain
and Australia
.
, Barbra Streisand
, Bette Midler
and Katharine Hepburn
. He then became a reporter and later the host of A Current Affair.
He is synonymous with the biographical show This Is Your Life
, which he has hosted since 1995.
In 2005 he replaced Georgie Gardner
on National Nine News Afternoon Edition
. In 2006 he stepped down from National Nine News Afternoon Edition
but continued to present National Nine News Sydney
weekend news, he remained in this position until 2008.
Also in 2006, Munro hosted the television series Missing Persons Unit
and What a Year
, alongside Megan Gale
, which first aired on the Nine Network on 2 October 2006. But in 2007, they were replaced by Bert Newton
and Julia Zemiro
and since then the show had been axed.
On 26 October 2008, Munro resigned from the Nine Network
after 22 years with the network.
On 7 January 2009, despite announcing his retirement, he signed a one year contract with rival Seven Network
to be presenter of new current affairs program Sunday Night
. In addition to this, he has also substituted for David Koch on the top-rating breakfast show, Sunrise
.
Early life
Munro cites a tough childhood with an abusive and alcoholic mother, as one of the main reasons behind his motivation to succeed. Munro attended Sacred Heart Primary School in Mosman, New South Wales and Marist College North ShoreMarist College North Shore
Marist College North Shore , is a systemic Roman Catholic, secondary day school for boys, located in North Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, a suburb on Sydney's Lower North Shore....
in North Sydney
North Sydney, New South Wales
North Sydney is a suburb and commercial district on the Lower North Shore of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. North Sydney is located 3 kilometres north of the Sydney central business district and is the administrative centre for the local government area of North Sydney...
. He began his career at 17 as a copyboy on The Daily Mirror
The Daily Mirror (Australia)
The Daily Mirror was an afternoon paper established by Ezra Norton in Sydney, Australia in 1941, gaining a licence from the Minister for Trade and Customs, Eric Harrison, despite wartime paper rationing. In October 1958, Norton and his partners sold his newspapers to the Fairfax group, which...
in 1971.. He stayed in newspapers for 7 years, before trying television and not liking it. So he returned to newspapers when Rupert Murdoch
Rupert Murdoch
Keith Rupert Murdoch, AC, KSG is an Australian-American business magnate. He is the founder and Chairman and CEO of , the world's second-largest media conglomerate....
sent him to New York
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
to work in the NewsCorp bureau writing for newspapers in Great Britain
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
and Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
.
Television career
In 1982 he returned to Sydney and television, where he started as a senior reporter in the Channel 10 newsroom. In 1984, he joined the Nine Network and Mike Willessee on the "Willessee" current affairs program. Two years later he replaced George Negus as the fifth male reporter on 60 Minutes, where he remained for the next seven years, becoming well known for his interviews with celebrities including MadonnaMadonna (entertainer)
Madonna is an American singer-songwriter, actress and entrepreneur. Born in Bay City, Michigan, she moved to New York City in 1977 to pursue a career in modern dance. After performing in the music groups Breakfast Club and Emmy, she released her debut album in 1983...
, Barbra Streisand
Barbra Streisand
Barbra Joan Streisand is an American singer, actress, film producer and director. She has won two Academy Awards, eight Grammy Awards, four Emmy Awards, a Special Tony Award, an American Film Institute award, a Peabody Award, and is one of the few entertainers who have won an Oscar, Emmy, Grammy,...
, Bette Midler
Bette Midler
Bette Midler is an American singer, actress, and comedian, also known by her informal stage name, The Divine Miss M. She became famous as a cabaret and concert headliner, and went on to star in successful and acclaimed films such as The Rose, Ruthless People, Beaches, and For The Boys...
and Katharine Hepburn
Katharine Hepburn
Katharine Houghton Hepburn was an American actress of film, stage, and television. In a career that spanned 62 years as a leading lady, she was best known for playing strong-willed, sophisticated women in both dramas and comedies...
. He then became a reporter and later the host of A Current Affair.
He is synonymous with the biographical show This Is Your Life
This Is Your Life (Australian TV series)
This Is Your Life is an Australian television documentary show based on the American show of the same name, in which the host surprises guests with a show documenting their lives, with audience participation from their friends and family....
, which he has hosted since 1995.
In 2005 he replaced Georgie Gardner
Georgie Gardner
Georgie Gardner is an Australian journalist and television personality.Gardner is currently the news presenter on Today as well as being a fill-in host...
on National Nine News Afternoon Edition
National Nine News
Nine News is the news service of the Australian Nine Network.Nine News's flagship bulletin is the nightly 6:00pm localised bulletin, produced by networked owned-and-operated stations in Sydney , Melbourne , Brisbane and Darwin alongside localised bulletins produced by the WIN-owned Nine Network...
. In 2006 he stepped down from National Nine News Afternoon Edition
National Nine News
Nine News is the news service of the Australian Nine Network.Nine News's flagship bulletin is the nightly 6:00pm localised bulletin, produced by networked owned-and-operated stations in Sydney , Melbourne , Brisbane and Darwin alongside localised bulletins produced by the WIN-owned Nine Network...
but continued to present National Nine News Sydney
National Nine News
Nine News is the news service of the Australian Nine Network.Nine News's flagship bulletin is the nightly 6:00pm localised bulletin, produced by networked owned-and-operated stations in Sydney , Melbourne , Brisbane and Darwin alongside localised bulletins produced by the WIN-owned Nine Network...
weekend news, he remained in this position until 2008.
Also in 2006, Munro hosted the television series Missing Persons Unit
Missing Persons Unit
Missing Person's Unit is an Australian television documentary series on the Nine Network hosted by actor and personality Steve Bastoni. The show documents people who have gone missing in Australia and the police who investigate their cases...
and What a Year
What a Year
What a Year was an Australian television documentary series, hosted by former ACA host Mike Munro and supermodel Megan Gale in 2006 and Bert Newton and Julia Zemiro in 2007. What a Year looked at the news, events, sporting achievements, entertainment and fads of a selected year in each episode...
, alongside Megan Gale
Megan Gale
Megan Kate Gale is an Australian model and actress.- Career :Born in Perth, Western Australia, Megan Gale's father is English and mother is part Maori and is the youngest of three children with two older brothers.-Modeling:...
, which first aired on the Nine Network on 2 October 2006. But in 2007, they were replaced by Bert Newton
Bert Newton
Albert Watson "Bert" Newton, AM, MBE is an Australian television personality, known for hosting television series such as In Melbourne Tonight, Good Morning Australia and 20 to 1. Newton has also hosted the Logie Awards on numerous occasions through his career.-Early life:Newton was born in...
and Julia Zemiro
Julia Zemiro
Julia Zemiro is an Australian television presenter, radio host, actor, singer and comedian.- Early life :...
and since then the show had been axed.
On 26 October 2008, Munro resigned from the Nine Network
Nine Network
The Nine Network , is an Australian television network with headquarters based in Willoughby, a suburb located on the North Shore of Sydney. For 50 years since television's inception in Australia, between 1956 and 2006, it was the most watched television network in Australia...
after 22 years with the network.
On 7 January 2009, despite announcing his retirement, he signed a one year contract with rival Seven Network
Seven Network
The Seven Network is an Australian television network owned by Seven West Media Limited. It dates back to 4 November 1956, when the first stations on the VHF7 frequency were established in Melbourne and Sydney.It is currently the second largest network in the country in terms of population reach...
to be presenter of new current affairs program Sunday Night
Sunday Night (Australian TV program)
Sunday Night is an Australian news and current affairs program produced and broadcast by the Seven Network. The program airs on Sunday nights at 6:30 pm, and is presented by Seven News Sydney presenter Chris Bath.-Overview:...
. In addition to this, he has also substituted for David Koch on the top-rating breakfast show, Sunrise
Sunrise (TV program)
Sunrise is an Australian breakfast television program, broadcast on the Seven Network. On weekdays the programme follows Seven Early News, and runs from 6am through to 9am.-History:...
.
Filmography
- 60 Minutes (1986–1993)
- A Current Affair (1999–2003)
- This Is Your LifeThis Is Your Life (Australian TV series)This Is Your Life is an Australian television documentary show based on the American show of the same name, in which the host surprises guests with a show documenting their lives, with audience participation from their friends and family....
(1995–2008) - Nine News (2005–2008)
- What a YearWhat a YearWhat a Year was an Australian television documentary series, hosted by former ACA host Mike Munro and supermodel Megan Gale in 2006 and Bert Newton and Julia Zemiro in 2007. What a Year looked at the news, events, sporting achievements, entertainment and fads of a selected year in each episode...
(2006) - Missing Persons UnitMissing Persons UnitMissing Person's Unit is an Australian television documentary series on the Nine Network hosted by actor and personality Steve Bastoni. The show documents people who have gone missing in Australia and the police who investigate their cases...
(2006–2008) - Sunday NightSunday Night (Australian TV program)Sunday Night is an Australian news and current affairs program produced and broadcast by the Seven Network. The program airs on Sunday nights at 6:30 pm, and is presented by Seven News Sydney presenter Chris Bath.-Overview:...
(2009–)