Dan Widdowson

Daniel Widdowson is an Australian radio, theatre, television and film actor, artistic director at Salt House Creative and writer, who was an Australian of the Year finalist at age 19 for contributions to the arts, finalist in the Young Australian Playwright's awards, and recipient of the Collins Bookseller's Arts award. He hosted and wrote for popular children's show Saturday Disney in 2000, a gig that lasted seven years. In that time he also played the handyman sidekick on Ground Force and wrote scripts for Home & Away. Moving into radio in 2007, he formed half the team of Hope Breakfast on Hope 103.2. Having penned several documentaries, children's dramas, and stage plays, Daniel became a member of the Australian Writer's Guild. In 2016 he and his wife Leia established Salt House Creative on the Central Coast, NSW. Due to the success of Daniel's stage adaptation of Pride & Prejudice he was invited to become an ambassador for the Jane Austen Literacy Foundation.

Current day Daniel currently works in television, film and theatre whilst serving as the Artistic Director for Salt House Theatre Company, whilst producing and performing other in works in television, film, radio, and theatre.

TV career Daniel is best known as Disney Dan, former host of Saturday Disney kids program from 2000 to 2007. He has worked on Home & Away, Ground Force, The Big Arvo, Last King of the Cross, NCIS: Sydney, Harrow, RFDS, Colin From Accounts, The One, Sunrise, and has made several other guest appearances.

Radio career Dan's radio career started at Hope 103.2 Sydney formerly 2CBA. With his exposure on Disney Dan, Aaron Wright from the breakfast team invited Dan to join the station as co-host at the suggestion of Stephen "Supertech" Wilkinson. His foray into radio began in 2007 as half of the comedy breakfast team Aaron and Dan on Sydney Radio Station Hope 103.2 with Aaron Wright. When asked how he broke into Radio Dan responded, 'Aaron asked me.' He presented and produced local radio on Norfolk Island for three years from 2011 to 2013. During this time he also ran the island's television station, TVNI.

Film Primarily a presenter, Daniel has also guest starred in various films including the American film A Colt is My Passport, Get Free, Book of Job, Equivocal Redemption & Suing the Devil. Also the community film in 2018's feature Xavier's Harvest.

Writer Dan was one of the writers for the TV Series Home and Away.

Early 2010 Dan finished an illicit drug edu-doco in partnership with the Centre for Customs and Excise Studies at the University of Canberra, explaining the origins of major drugs and the effects they have on the human body.

Late 2010 he underwent a 6-month method acting assignment with a professional body builder for a body builder doco, spending 6 months in the life of a body builder, eating measured amounts six times a day, consuming protein content, working out six days a week, the same routine as a professional body builder.

Film/TV

Writer/awards Year Title Type 2010 Knowledge Beyond Borders Documentary 2011 Superset Me Documentary 2010 Rendezvous 6 Film 2010 Illicit Drugs Documentary 2009 Aaron & Dan's Christmas Carol Radio Drama 2008 The Lonely Elf Who Saved Christmas Day Radio Drama 2008 Ways of Our Lives Radio Drama 2007 10 Days, 9 Months Radio Drama 2007 Home and Away Ep. 4389 TV Drama 2006 Home and Away Ep. 4284 TV Drama 2006 Home and Away Ep. 4242 TV Drama 2006 Home and Away Ep. 4214 TV Drama 2006 A Page in Time Children's Mini Drama 2005 The Act of Fabrication Stage Play 2003 Tell Tale Trio Stage/TV Skits 2002 The Boxing Guy Short Film Year Award Entry 1999 Young Australian of the Year Finalist The Act of Ventrication-Stage Play 1999 Collin's Booksellers Arts Award The Act of Ventrication-Stage Play 1999 Canberra Area Theatre Award The Act of Ventrication-Stage Play 1999 Young Australian Playwright's Finalist Our Inner Selves-Stage Play