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Hamish & Andy

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This article is about the comedy duo. For their 2004–2017 radio shows, see Hamish & Andy (radio show). For their 2018 podcast, see Hamish & Andy (podcast).

Hamish & Andy
Andy Lee (left) and Hamish Blake (right) at the ARIA Music Awards of 2009
MediumTelevision, radio, podcasting
Years active2003–present
GenresComedy
Notable works and roles
Websitewww.hamishandandy.com

Hamish & Andy are an Australian comedy duo formed in 2003 by Hamish Blake and Andy Lee. Best known for their various drive time radio programmes on the Hit Network, which aired in multiple formats until 2017, their shows gained consistently high market share and became the highest rated radio show in Australian history. Retiring after 14 years of broadcasting, the duo now produce a weekly self-titled podcast and occasionally publish a secondary programme, the Remembering Project, to revisit their old radio segments.

The duo have also worked extensively in television, known as correspondents on Rove and for their various seasons of Hamish & Andy's Gap Year which won multiple Logie Awards including Most Popular Light Entertainment Program in 2012, 2014 and 2015.

They have made numerous appearances hosting events, competing on game shows and in celebrity sporting events. They also performed in a touring rock cover band, Cool Boys and the Frontman, throughout 2016 and 2017. The pair were ranked the highest-paid commercial radio hosts in Australia, with individual salaries of A$4 million, as of 2014.[1]

Background

Hamish Blake and Andy Lee met while both studying at the University of Melbourne in 2001.[2] They entered comedy competitions together and just a year after meeting, they started their career in radio by hosting a show on community radio station SYN FM.[3]

Radio career (2003–2017)

First radio programmes

The duo began presenting radio on the Student Youth Network, in the Friday afternoon drivetime slot. In 2003, soon after Hamish began writing for the Fox FM breakfast show (The Matt & Jo Show), the pair began hosting a Monday night late-night radio program called Almost Tuesday on the same station. The duo then hosted the Fox FM program Almost Midday on Saturday mornings, which was so successful it was syndicated nationally across the Today Network.

The duo presented two radio specials on BBC 6 Music in the United Kingdom on 21 December 2009 and 26 January 2010. On Friday 11 June, it was announced on the Christian O'Connell Breakfast Show that Hamish & Andy would be presenting three shows in London during July 2010 to cover O'Connell's holiday. Hamish and Andy signed a deal to present a series of shows to air on Absolute Radio Sunday evenings.[4]

Drive time programme

Main article: Hamish & Andy (radio show)

The duo hosted a two-hour weekday radio show titled Hamish & Andy from 2006 to 2013. It was broadcast in all the seven major cities of Australia in the afternoon drive time slot. The show was the highest-rated radio series in Australian history, with approximately two million listeners daily. During its broadcast, the show had completed two domestic and two foreign caravan tours, a Bass Strait sailboat trip, and trips to Afghanistan, Beijing, Japan, India, and the US, recording live on location. They were also syndicated internationally, with a highlights package broadcast on BBC Radio 6 in December 2009. In 2010, they also presented three shows in London to cover Christian O'Connell on his breakfast show.

The duo have released two compilation albums of segments from their daily radio show, Unessential Listening (2008) and Celebrating 50 Glorious Years (2010). Both albums won ARIA Awards for Best Comedy Release.[5] The program won 14 Australian Commercial Radio Awards.

Blake and Lee announced in August 2010 that they would be cutting down their show to a single program each week from 2011 onward, in the Friday afternoon drive time slot. The final daily program aired on 3 December 2010.[6]

Business Brunch/Happy Hour

Hamish and Andy returned to daily radio in early 2013 with a new show titled Business Brunch, airing from 9 am to 10 am Tuesdays to Fridays (except in Sydney, where it would air from 10 am to 11 am, following The Kyle & Jackie O Show). This complemented their regular drive time show which had moved to just be on Mondays.[7] Rather than having recurring segments each day, Business Brunch aimed to cover one topic per show. Listeners were invited to contribute their expertise on a wide range of topics via their website, rather than through the traditional radio phone-in method. The late Nine Network news personality Peter Harvey provided the voice of the introduction, even after his death (as it was the wish of him and his family).

The pair announced on in June 2013 show that they had been "promoted" to the early drive slot of 3pm to 4pm weekdays. The show was renamed Happy Hour and continued the aim of discussing one topic per show. The move to this slot signaled a hiatus from their weekly 4–6pm drive show.[8] They briefly returned to the drive slot for two weeks in July 2014 to fill in for current drive hosts Dan & Maz during radio survey break.[9]

Return to drive time

In October 2014, it was announced the duo would return to their weekly drive time slot on the Hit Network from 6 July 2015.[10][11] In 2016, the duo announced that 2017 would be their final year on radio, and that they would be retiring to focus on their television careers once more.[12] Their show's final episodes that year received an estimated 30 million podcast downloads.[13]

Podcasting career (2018–present)

Main article: Hamish & Andy (podcast)

After their retirement from radio, Hamish & Andy announced the programme will continue in a weekly podcast-only format from 2018. As of 2022, there have been 200 episodes in five seasons.[13] In 2020, they also began a spin-off podcast called the Remembering Project, where they revisit a random segment from their entire back catalogue of over 2,500 radio episodes.[14]

List of audio-based programmes

List of radio and podcast programmes hosted by Hamish & Andy with years broadcast, duration and station
Program name Year Timeslot Duration Station
The Almost Tuesday Show 2003[3] Mondays 10pm–12am 2 hours Fox FM
The Almost Midday Show 2004–2005[3] Saturdays 10am–12pm 2 hours 2004: Fox

2005: Hit Network (formerly Today Network)

Hamish & Andy 2006–2010[15] Weekdays 4–6pm 2 hours January 2006: Fox

June 2006: Hit and regionals

2011–2012[16] Fridays 4–6pm 2 hours Hit and regionals
January–July 2013[17] Mondays 4–6pm 2 hours
Hamish & Andy's Business Brunch Tuesday–Friday 9–10am 1 hour
Hamish & Andy's Happy Hour July 2013–November 2014[18] Weekdays 3–4pm 1 hour
Hamish & Andy July 2015–December 2017[19] Weekdays 4–6pm 2 hours
Hamish & Andy (podcast) February 2018–present[20] Thursdays 45 mins Listnr and podcast platforms
Hamish & Andy's Remembering Project October 2020–present[14] Wednesdays 20 mins

Television career

Hamish & Andy have presented a number of television series and specials since 2003. They began on sketch shows but have found greater success in recent years with their travel diary-style programmes.

  Series   Special

Year Program Network No. of episodes Episode duration Timeslot Airdate(s) Viewers (Aus metro capitals)
Season Premiere Season Finale
2003 Radio Karate Channel 31 6 30 mins N/A N/A N/A
2004 Hamish & Andy Seven Network 6 60 mins 9:30 p.m. Wednesday 31 March 2004 5 May 2004 N/A
2006 Real Stories Network Ten 8 30 mins 9:00 p.m. Tuesday 22 August 2006 10 October 2006 788,000 (season average)
2008 Hamish & Andy: Re-Gifted 1 60 mins 7:30 p.m. Wednesday 19 November 2008 1,136,000[21]
2009 Hamish & Andy's American Caravan of Courage 1 60 mins 7:30 p.m. Thursday 10 September 2009 1,307,000[22]
Hamish & Andy: Re-Gifted – Another Very Early Christmas Special 1 60 mins 7:30 p.m. Monday 23 November 2009 1,052,000[23]
2010 Hamish & Andy's Caravan of Courage: Great Britain & Ireland 1 60 mins 8:30 p.m. Thursday 17 June 2010 1,749,000[24]
Learn India with Hamish & Andy 1 60 mins 7:30 p.m. Sunday 3 October 2010 1,231,000[25]
Hamish & Andy's Reministmas Special 1 60 mins 7:30 p.m. Sunday 21 November 2010 1,183,000[26]
2011 Hamish & Andy's Gap Year Nine Network 10 60 mins 8:30 p.m. Thursday 28 July 2011 29 September 2011 961,000 (season average)
2012 Hamish & Andy's Euro Gap Year 7 60 mins 8:00 p.m. Thursday 14 June 2012 26 July 2012 1,248,000 (season average)
Hamish & Andy's Caravan of Courage: Australia vs New Zealand 2 90 mins 6:30 p.m. Sunday 11 November 2012 18 November 2012 1,338,000[27]
1,219,000[28]
2013 Hamish & Andy's Gap Year Asia 6 60 mins 8 p.m. Monday
7 p.m. Monday 		8 July 2013 19 August 2013 1,372,000 (season average)
2014 Hamish & Andy's Gap Year South America 6 60 mins 7:30 p.m. Tuesday 1 July 2014 5 August 2014 1,000,000 (season average)
2017 True Story with Hamish & Andy (season 1) 10 30 mins 7:30 p.m. Monday 5 June 2017 29 August 2017 1,047,000 (season average)
2018 True Story with Hamish & Andy (season 2) 10 30 mins 8:40pm Tuesday 7 August 2018 9 October 2018 725,000 (season average)
2019 Hamish and Andy's “Perfect” Holiday 3 60 mins 7:00pm Sunday 17 November 2019 1 December 2019 1,457,000

Early days

Blake united with Lee in 2003 when they developed a Channel 31 sketch show, called Radio Karate, with friends Ryan Shelton and Tim Bartley. Blake reunited with Lee in 2004 when they were named hosts of a new Seven Network variety program, Hamish and Andy, a show described as a successor to Big Bite. It premiered in 2004, and steadily built a moderate cult audience. However the show did not rate well and was cancelled after its initial run of six episodes.[29] The 2004 series was then given a repeat run on 7HD in 2007, and many clips survive from these reruns.

In 2020, it was revealed that the tapes for Hamish and Andy had been taped over by the Seven Network by Commonwealth Games broadcasts when asked if they still had them.[30]

Rove and guest appearances

Hamish Blake, with Andrew Günsberg, appearing on Joker Poker in 2005

In 2005, they were recruited by comedian Rove McManus to develop a satirical television comedy series, Real Stories, which aired on Network Ten in 2006. From 2007 to 2009, the duo appeared fortnightly on Rove in a mixture of pre-recorded segments and live appearances. They hosted the Logie awards in 2007 and 2008 (and went on to open the 2013 and 2014 ceremonies), and the ARIA awards in 2008. They appeared on Joker Poker and Australia's Brainiest Comedian in 2005, Are You Smarter Than A 5th Grader? in 2009, and Good News Week in 2010. The group appeared on The Jay Leno Show twice in 2009, and on The 7pm Project numerous times from 2009, in a similar manner as they did on Rove. They appeared on the UK's The Graham Norton Show in June 2010.

Network Ten specials

The duo have presented numerous televised clip show specials on Network Ten. Hamish and Andy: Re-Gifted at the end of 2008, and Hamish & Andy: Re-Gifted – Another Very Early Christmas Special at the end of 2009, were both produced in conjunction with Roving Enterprises and consisted mostly of highlights of their fortnightly appearances on Rove. Their 2010 Hamish & Andy's Reministmas Special served as a continuation of both and recapped many of their adventures during the year, mostly as part of their radio show.

In addition to these, they produced three travel specials for Ten. Hamish & Andy's American Caravan of Courage in 2009 (another Roving Enterprises co-production) summarised their two-week road-trip across the United States. Similarly, 2010's Hamish & Andy's Caravan of Courage: Great Britain and Ireland recapped their next caravan trip made as part of their radio show. Their third travel special, Learn India with Hamish & Andy, aired as part of the network's lead-up to the 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi.[31]

Nine Network and Gap Year

Following a series of media reports, the pair confirmed in February 2011 that they had joined the Nine Network on a two-year contract, to produce Hamish and Andy's Gap Year.[32][33] The show first aired on 28 July 2011. The show premiered to strong ratings and has since gone on to three more seasons (Hamish & Andy's Euro Gap Year in 2012 and Hamish & Andy's Gap Year Asia in 2013 and Hamish & Andy's Gap Year South America in 2014).

The pair also filmed a fifth Caravan of Courage adventure in 2012, in which they compared their home country, Australia, to their neighbours New Zealand in two 75-minute specials.[34]

In December 2016, the duo announced that 2017 would be their last year on radio, in order to focus on television. They also announced an as yet unnamed TV show to be aired on the Nine Network in mid-2017.[35] The duo advertised on their website and radio show, for listeners to contribute "great stories" for "The Great Stories Project"[36] which was the basis of their 2017 television show True Story with Hamish & Andy on the Nine Network. The series was a success, and it was renewed for a second season in 2018.

The duo starred in the three-part series Hamish and Andy's “Perfect” Holiday in 2019, which documented their holiday across the United States and Canada.

Discography

Albums

List of albums, with selected chart positions and certifications
Title Details Peak chart positions Certifications
AUS
[37]
Unessential Listening
  • Released: November 2008
  • Label: Roadshow Music (301441-2)
  • Formats: CD, digital download
 4
Celebrating 50 Glorious Years
  • Released: November 2010
  • Label: Roadshow Music (301597-2)
  • Formats: 2xCD, digital download
 6

Other projects

Blake (centre) and Lee (right) played in the 2008 E. J. Whitten Legends Game.

On 7 July 2007, they presented the Australian leg of Live Earth and appeared at the Melbourne Sound Relief concert in 2009. They played in the 2008 and 2009 E. J. Whitten Legends Game. They made a mockumentary short film, The Greystone 2800, that won the 2005 Melbourne Comedy Festival Short Film competition. They also hosted FHM's Search for Australia's Funniest Man.

They had minor acting roles on the soap opera Neighbours, portraying radio presenters Fred and Big Tommo on the episode dated 27 August 2008.[40] The episode featured them promoting university drop-out Ty Harper's (Dean Geyer) band, and interviewing schoolgirls Rachel Kinski (Caitlin Stasey) and Donna Freedman (Margot Robbie) about their situation with Harper. They make a cameo appearance in the 2010 short film IA: Interview Artist.

They have also made appearances on many Austereo radio shows, occasionally filling in for Kyle & Jackie O, Matt & Jo, or Fifi and Jules when a regular presenter fell ill.

Hamish and Andy hosted "the richest horse suit race in Australia" in the small Victorian country town of Wedderburn, Victoria. It drew about 7,000 people and featured performances by themselves, Jessica Mauboy, and Birds of Tokyo.

Awards and nominations

ARIA Music Awards

The ARIA Music Awards are a set of annual ceremonies presented by Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA), which recognise excellence, innovation, and achievement across all genres of the music of Australia. They commenced in 1987.

Year Nominee / work Award Result Ref.
2009 Unessential Listening Best Comedy Release Won [41]
2011 Celebrating 50 Glorious Years Won

References

  1. ^ "Hamish and Andy drive the price up". www.dailytelegraph.com.au. 8 November 2014. Retrieved 30 March 2019.
  2. ^ Donnelly, Keryn (9 April 2017). "The now-iconic story of how Hamish and Andy met". Mamamia. Retrieved 4 July 2023.
  3. ^ a b c "Melbourne's Hamish & Andy to hit Brisbane airwaves". RadioInfo Australia. 3 June 2006. Retrieved 4 November 2022.
  4. ^ Busfield, Steve (22 June 2010). "Absolute Radio signs Australian duo Hamish & Andy". The Guardian. Retrieved 22 June 2010.
  5. ^ "Unessential Listening". Allmusic. Macrovision. Retrieved 17 February 2010.
  6. ^ "Hamish and Andy quitting daily radio show". The Spy Report. Media Spy. 25 August 2010. Archived from the original on 4 November 2010. Retrieved 25 August 2010.
  7. ^ "Big announcement". Hamish & Andy. 23 November 2012. Retrieved 23 November 2012.
  8. ^ "Hamish & Andy drop Today Network's Monday drivetime and shift slots for daily show". 21 June 2013. Retrieved 21 June 2013.
  9. ^ "Hamish and Andy return to drive". 22 June 2014. Retrieved 14 July 2014.
  10. ^ "Hamish and Andy back Monday". RadioInfo Australia. 2 July 2015. Retrieved 7 February 2023.
  11. ^ Bucklow, Andrew (29 October 2014). "Radio shake-up: Hamish & Andy coming back to drive, Dan & Maz to take over 2Day FM breakfast". News.com.au. Retrieved 6 February 2023.
  12. ^ McDonald, Zara (2 December 2016). "Hamish and Andy have announced they are quitting radio". Mamamia. Retrieved 1 December 2022.
  13. ^ a b Manning, James (30 November 2017). "Hamish & Andy talk 2018, confirm no more radio… for now". Mediaweek. Retrieved 2 December 2022.
  14. ^ a b "Hamish and Andy's Remembering Project returns for third season". MediaWeek. 28 April 2022. Retrieved 4 November 2022.
  15. ^ Lallo, Michael (12 November 2010). "Hamish & Andy go out with a bang". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 4 November 2022.
  16. ^ iamadmin (15 November 2010). "Hamish and Andy announce tour details and second CD". RadioInfo Australia. Retrieved 4 November 2022.
  17. ^ Staff Writer (23 November 2012). "Hamish & Andy move their show". Radio Today. Retrieved 4 November 2022.
  18. ^ iamadmin (21 June 2013). "SCA changes national line-up". RadioInfo Australia. Retrieved 4 November 2022.
  19. ^ Carmody, Broede (18 December 2017). "Hamish and Andy go out with a bang in final Melbourne radio ratings for 2017". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 4 November 2022.
  20. ^ Tutty, Josie (14 December 2017). "Hamish & Andy to join Southern Cross Austereo's PodcastOne network". Mumbrella. Retrieved 4 November 2022.
  21. ^ Knox, David (17 November 2008). "Ratings: Week 47". TV Tonight. Retrieved 17 February 2010.
  22. ^ Knox, David (7 September 2009). "Ratings: Week 37". TV Tonight. Retrieved 17 February 2010.
  23. ^ Knox, David (23 November 2009). "Ratings: Week 48". TV Tonight. Retrieved 17 February 2010.
  24. ^ Knox, David (14 June 2010). "Ratings: Week 25". TV Tonight. Retrieved 19 June 2010.
  25. ^ Konx, David (4 October 2010). "Ratings: Week 41". TV Tonight.
  26. ^ Konx, David (22 November 2010). "Ratings: Week 48". TV Tonight.
  27. ^ Konx, David (12 November 2012). "Ratings: Sunday 11 November 2012". TV Tonight.
  28. ^ Konx, David (19 November 2012). "Ratings: Sunday 18 November 2012". TV Tonight.
  29. ^ Nancarrow, Kate (2 April 2007). "Hamish & Andy". The Age. Fairfax Media. Retrieved 17 February 2010.
  30. ^ "Nice And Easy Adam Labrizzi And The Not So Easy Eugene Levy", Hamish & Andy's Remembering Project. PodcastOne Australia. 19 October 2020. Retrieved 30 December 2020.
  31. ^ Knox, David (18 September 2010). "Airdate: 2010 Commonwealth Games". TV Tonight. Retrieved 30 September 2010.
  32. ^ "Hamish and Andy confirm Nine deal". The Spy Report. Media Spy. 25 February 2010. Archived from the original on 28 February 2011. Retrieved 25 February 2010.
  33. ^ "Hamish & Andy's Gap Year for Nine | TV Tonight". 8 April 2011.
  34. ^ "Caravan of Courage Aus Vs NZ, Ep1". chris & nelson. 11 November 2012. Retrieved 12 March 2013.
  35. ^ "'There's so much speculation about whether we're leaving radio'". News.com.au. 2 December 2016.
  36. ^ "The Great Stories Project | Hamish & Andy". Archived from the original on 20 December 2016. Retrieved 3 December 2016.
  37. ^ a b c Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010 (PDF ed.). Mt. Martha, VIC, Australia: Moonlight Publishing. p. 123.
  38. ^ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2008 Albums" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 28 December 2021.
  39. ^ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2010 Albums" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 28 December 2021.
  40. ^ Knox, David (10 August 2008). "Hamish & Andy on Ramsay". TV Tonight. Retrieved 17 February 2010.
  41. ^ "ARIA Awards Best Comedy Release". Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA). Retrieved 17 April 2022.
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