Denise Drysdale

Denise Anne Christina Drysdale (born 5 December 1948) is an Australian television presenter, variety entertainer, actress, singer, dancer and comedian. She is often affectionately known as "Ding Dong", a nickname invented by fellow performer Ernie Sigley.

By the age of six, Drysdale had won a number of dancing competitions. In 1955, she was mentioned by name, in a feature in The Age, as one of the youngest members of the cast of the pantomime Jack and Jill at the Tivoli Theatre.

At about ten years of age, she began her television career with GTV9 in Melbourne, working in the junior ballet on the Tarax Show. She was later sacked when she gained weight and developed breasts.

We'd been there about a year and a bit, and on the holidays I had put on weight, but not much, and as you know, if you put someone in a nice tutu, they don't have bosoms—they have very flat chests. Pete Smith always said, "You grew boobs, they had to get rid of you." They couldn't do it today. And I've suffered to this day. I still stand on the scales six times a day to check whether I've put on half a pound or a pound.

Drysdale was invited to tour Australia with Ray Brown & the Whispers. She was then offered a recording contract and appeared in 26 episodes of the ABC's Dig We Must.

Career In the 1960s, Drysdale appeared as a dancer on In Melbourne Tonight. In 1966, she performed on The Go!! Show, and was voted third most popular female vocalist by the readers of Go-Set. This popularity led to an invitation to perform for the troops in Vietnam for three weeks in 1967, along with Patti Newton, the Strangers, and Doug Owen. and won her second Gold Logie the following year. In the same period, she also won consecutive Silver Logies.

Drysdale has appeared on numerous television shows, including The Norman Gunston Show, Celebrity Squares, Young Talent Time, Countdown, Division 4, Homicide, Bellbird and Celebrity Name Game. She has also worked in regional television in Victoria including guest appearances on BTV-6 Ballarat and hosting a morning magazine show on GLV-8 in the 1980s. As an actress, she has appeared in the movies The Last of the Knucklemen, Snapshot, and Blowing Hot and Cold.

On stage, she has appeared in plays and musicals, including Salad Days, Grease, The Barry Crocker Show, Two Gentlemen of Verona and Hello, Dolly! in 1994. She also spent two years in Sydney appearing on television shows Beauty and the Beast and "Weekend Sydney" between 1981 and 1983 before returning to her home town of Melbourne, Victoria.

In 1989, Drysdale joined Ernie Sigley to host In Melbourne Today, and in 1991 began a Sydney version of the show In Sydney Today. The two programs later merged to a single program: Ernie and Denise. Also in 1989, she was asked to fill in on Hey Hey It's Saturday due to Jacki MacDonald being ill and subsequently leaving. Drysdale stayed with the show for over a year before leaving due to ongoing rumours of a feud between her and host Daryl Somers. Over the years both have denied such rumours. In 1994, Drysdale returned to host an episode of Hey Hey It's Saturday in Somers' absence. She also returned for one of the reunion shows in 2009.

In the late 1990s Drysdale appeared in the reboot of IMT on the Nine Network.

In 1998, she joined the Seven Network to present her own show for the first time, called Denise. This program lasted four seasons.

In 2005, Channel 9 chose Drysdale as one of the 50 most important people on television for the last 50 years.

In January 2010, Drysdale joined Network Ten's new morning show The Circle alongside Yumi Stynes, Chrissie Swan and Gorgi Coghlan as host. She remained on the show for two seasons, leaving at the end of the 2011 season. She reappeared as a special guest on the final episode in 2012.

Drysdale regularly performed around Australia on the club circuit, often with her television partner, Ernie Sigley.

It was announced Drysdale would join as permanent co-host of Studio 10 in 2016 after appearing as a regular fill-in presenter, sharing the position with Ita Buttrose.

In June 2018, Drysdale joined the cast of Neighbours as Nance Sluggett. She made her first appearance on 3 October 2018.

In March 2024, she was announced as a contestant on the tenth season of I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here!. On 10 April 2024, she was the first celebrity eliminated from the season.

Personal life Drysdale was married to scriptwriter and actor Christopher Milne for ten years until their separation in 1989. They have two sons, and a grandson. Drysdale sold her home in Victoria and moved to Queensland for its climate.

Filmography Film Year Film Character Type 1979 Snapshot (aka The Day After Halloween) Lily Feature film 1979 The Last of the Knucklemen Whore Feature film 1989 Blowing Hot and Cold Shelley Feature film

Television Year Title Character Type 1973 Matlock Police Shop Assistant / Maid TV series, 2 episodes 1973, 1974 Homicide Kate / Margaret Brett / Midge / Jenny / Sue TV series, 5 episodes 1973, 1974 Division 4 Gloria / Jill Bates / Wendy / Meredith Mckenzie / Shirley TV series, 5 episodes 1975 Bellbird TV series 1976 The Bluestone Boys Nurse Peachum TV series 1976 Me & Mr Thorne Sally TV movie 1978 The Truckies TV series, 1 episode 1979, 1980 Cop Shop Josie Brown / Rhonda Mather TV series, 3 episodes 1981 And Here Comes Bucknuckle TV series 1985 Neighbours Yvette TV series, 1 episode 1987 Hey Dad..! 'Have a Go' judge TV series, 1 episode 1989 The Flying Doctors Marge Malarvy TV series, 1 episode 2010 Sleuth 101 Marjorie TV series, 1 episode 2014 The Flamin' Thongs Brenda Thong (voice) TV series, 26 episodes 2014 Please Like Me Ginger TV series, 5 episodes 2018 Neighbours Nance Slugget TV series, 2 episodes

Television (as self) Year Title Character Type 1956 The Tarax Show Herself TV series 1962 Sunnyside Up Herself TV series 1963 In Melbourne Tonight Guest TV series 1966 Four Corners Go-go dancer TV series, 1 episode 1966–1967 The Go!! Show Go-go dancer TV series, 11 episodes 1966–1967 Kommotion Go-go dancer TV series 1967 Start Living Herself TV series 1967 Dig We Must Herself TV series, 26 episodes 1968 Uptight Guest performer (singing "Rescue Me") TV series, 1 episode 1973 The Barry Crocker Comedy Hour Guest TV special 1973 The Graham Kennedy Show Guest TV series, 5 episodes 1974–1976 The Ernie Sigley Show Barrel girl TV series, 179 episodes 1974 Countdown Guest performer (singing "The Loving Song") TV series, 3 episodes 1975 Countdown Guest performer (singing "Green") TV series, 1 episode 1975 Yooralla Telethon Herself TV special 1975 The 17th Annual TV Week Logie Awards Gold Logie winner TV special 1975 The Norman Gunston Show Guest performer (singing "Having My Baby" with Norman Gunston) TV series, 1 episode 1975, 1976 Celebrity Squares Panellist TV series, 4 episodes 1976 The 18th Annual TV Week Logie Awards Gold Logie winner TV special 1976 Ernie Guest TV series 1976 Countdown Guest performer (singing "I'll Be Your Baby Tonight") TV series, 1 episode 1976 Bandstand '76 Herself (singing "Love May Be The Answer") TV series, 1 episode 1976 The Bob Maumill Show Guest TV series, regular 1977 The Celebrity Game Panellist TV series 1977 Royal Children's Hospital Good Friday Appeal Herself TV special 1977 Six Tonight Guest TV special 1978 The 20s and All That Jazz Herself TV special 1978 The Peter Couchman Show Guest TV series, 1 episode 1979; 1980 Young Talent Time Guest TV series, 2 episodes 1980 Celebrity Tattletales Panellist TV series, 1 episode 1980; 1981; 1985 The Mike Walsh Show Guest TV series, 3 episodes 1981 The Don Lane Show Guest performer (singing "Hey Paula" with Ernie Sigley) TV series, 1 episode 1981–1982 Beauty and the Beast Regular panellist TV series 1982 John Laws' Beauty and the Beast Panellist TV series, 4 episodes 1982 Mastermind Contestant TV series, 1 episode 1983 The Daryl Somers Show Herself / Mary Loo Bannister in 'Detergent Place', Detergent Ad Lady / Mrs Jenkins TV series, 4 episodes 1983 Weekend Sydney Host TV series 1989–1990, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2009, 2010 Hey Hey It's Saturday Co-host / "Red Faces" guest / Guest host TV series 1984 The Love Game Panellist (with Andrew Clarke & Red Symons) TV series, 1 episode 1984–1988 Channel Seven Perth Telethon Herself TV special 1984 Life's a Risky Business Herself Film documentary 1985 Daryl Somer's Blankety Blanks Panellist TV series 1985 It's a Knockout Contestant TV series, 1 episode 1986 Moomba Procession Herself TV special 1986 Channel Ten Telethon Herself TV special 1986 Late Night with Jono and Dano Guest TV series 1986 Star Search Guest judge TV series, 1 episode 1987 Have a Go Regular guest judge TV series 1987 Say G'Day Regular guest TV series 1987 You've Got to Be Joking Guest TV series, 1 episode 1988 Life Education Television Appeal Herself TV special 1989, 1996 Burke's Backyard Celebrity Gardener TV series, 1 episode 1989–1990 In Melbourne Today Co-host TV series 1989 Carols By Candlelight Herself TV Special 1991–1992 In Sydney Today Co-host TV series 1992 Supermarket Sweep Contestant TV series, 1 episode 1992, 1994, 1995 What's Cooking Guest TV series, 3 episodes 1992 Sex Guest TV series, 1 episode 1992 People's Choice Awards Presenter TV special 1993–95 Ernie and Denise Co-host TV series 19931996 Sale of the Century Herself TV series, 2 episodes 1993 Ernie and Denise in Paradise Herself TV special 1994 Martin St James Herself TV special 1994 The Beatles In Australia: 30th Anniversary Herself TV special 1994 Live It Up Herself TV series, 1 episode 1994 Midday with Derryn Hinch Guest TV series, 1 episode 1994 Homicide... 30 Years On Herself TV special 1995 TV Week Logie Awards Herself TV special 1995 TVTV Herself TV series, 1 episode 1995, 1996, 1997 This Is Your Life? Herself TV series, 3 episodes 1995 50 Fantastic Years Herself TV special 1996, 2005 Good Morning Australia Guest TV series, 2 episodes 1996 Monday to Friday Guest TV series, 1 episode 1996–98 In Melbourne Tonight Guest TV series 1996, 1997 Burke's Backyard Celebrity Gardener TV series, 2 episodes 1996 Midday with Kerri-Anne Guest TV series, 1 episode 1996 Television: The Way We Were Herself TV special 1997 Between the Lines Herself TV series, 1 episode 1997 Blankety Blanks Contestant TV series, 2 episodes 1997 This Is Your Life: Denise Drysdale Special Guest TV series 1996 40 Years of Logies Host TV special 1997 Our House Herself TV series, 1 episode 1998–2001 Denise Host TV series 1998 Celebrity Wheel of Fortune Contestant TV series, 1 episode 1998 Eleven A.M. Herself TV series, 1 episode 1999 All Star Squares Contestant TV series, 1 episode 1999 I Believe In Angels Herself TV special 2001 The Bob Downe Show Herself (singing "Hey Paula" with Bob Downe) TV series, 1 episode 2001 The Big Schmooze Guest TV series, 1 episode 2001 The Election Chaser Herself TV series, 1 episode 2002–03 Dig & Dine Host TV series 2002 New Idea: 100 Fabulous Years Herself TV special 2003 This Is Your Life: The Showbiz Greats Herself TV special 2003 This Is Your Life: The Australian Women's Weekly 70th Birthday Party Herself TV series, 1 episode 2003 You Must Remember This Herself TV series, 1 episode 2005 The Price Is Right Contestant TV series, 1 episode 2005 50 Years 50 Shows Herself TV Special 2006 Get This Herself Podcast series 2006 Talking Heads Guest TV series, 1 episode 2006 Dusty: Little By Little Guest (with Ross Coleman) TV series, 1 episode 2006 A Current Affair Guest TV series, 1 episode 2006 Today Tonight Guest TV series, 1 episode 2006 Made In Melbourne Guest (with Bud Tingwell) TV special 2006 TV Turns 50: The Events That Stopped a Nation Herself TV special 2006–2014 Spicks and Specks Contestant TV series, 6 episodes 2007 Bert's Family Feud Game team captain TV series, 1 episode 2008 Million Dollar Wheel of Fortune Contestant TV series, 1 episode 2008 This Is Your Life? Bert Newton Herself TV series, 1 episode 2009 The Real Graham Kennedy Herself ABC TV Special 2009 Talkin' 'Bout Your Generation Panellist TV series, 1 episode 2010 The Project Guest TV series, 1 episode 2010 You Have Been Watching Panelist (with Adam Richard & Tommy Dean) TV series, 1 episode 10: "Beauty and Fashion" 2010 Lights! Camera! Party! Television City Celebrate Guest performer (singing "Hey Paula" with Ernie Sigley) TV special 2010–2011, 2013 The Circle Co-host TV series 2011 You Have Been Watching Guest TV series, 1 episode 2012 Today Tonight Guest (with Carmen Duncan & Hazel Phillips) TV series, 1 episode 2013 Celebrity Splash! Australia Herself TV series, 2 episodes 2013 Tractor Monkeys Contestant TV series, 1 episode 2014 Dirty Laundry Live Herself TV series, 1 episode 2014 Young Talent Time Guest judge TV series, 1 episode 2014 When The Beatles Drove Us Wild Herself TV special 2014, 2015 A Current Affair Guest TV series, 2 episodes 2015 Darren & Brose Herself TV series, 2 episodes 2015–2023 Studio 10 Co-host TV series 2017 Stop Laughing... This Is Serious Herself TV series, 1 episode 2018–19 One Fat Lady and One Thin Lady Herself (with Jessica Rowe) Podcast series 2018 Back In Time For Dinner Herself TV series, 1 episode 2019 Celebrity Name Game Contestant TV series, 1 episode 2021 Who Do You Think You Are? Herself TV series, 1 episode 2023 Christmas with the Australian Women's Weekly Herself TV special 2024 The Project Guest TV series, 1 episode 2024 I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here! 12th place Contestant TV series, 11 episodes

Stage / Theatre Year Title Role Type 1968 Say It with Music Singer Lido Theatre Restaurant, Melbourne 1968 Say It with Music, Edition Two Singer Lido Theatre Restaurant, Melbourne 1968 Gaslight Gaieties The George Hotel, St Kilda 1972 Buttons 1972 Salad Days St Martins Theatre 1972 Grease Cha-Cha Metro Theatre, Melbourne 1972 Mirrors Barbara La Mama Theatre 1974 Dimboola The Bride Chevron Hotel, Melbourne 1976 The Sentimental Bloke 1979 The Barry Crocker Show 1980 Two Gentlemen of Verona 1983 Salad Days 1994–95 Hello, Dolly! Ernestina Money State Theatre, Melbourne, Lyric Theatre, Brisbane, Her Majesty's Theatre Sydney, Festival Theatre, Adelaide, His Majesty's Theatre, Perth 2001 Upfront 7 Comedian Melbourne Town Hall 2007 Ding Dong Downe Comedu duo (with Bob Downe) Melbourne Athenaeum, Sydney Opera House 2014, 2018 Denise Drysdale Comedian Hopgood Theatre, Adelaide, Noarlunga Centre, Adelaide 2019 Saturday Night Fever Cameo appearance Sydney Lyric Theatre 2023 Alive and Kicking Comedy duo (with Craig Bennett) Glen Street Theatre & Australian tour 2024 The Two of Us Comedy duo (with Normie Rowe) Penrith Panthers

Discography Charting singles + List of singles, with selected chart positions Year Title Peak chartpositions Certification AUS 1974 "Hey Paula" 2 AUS: Gold "The Loving Song"/"Green" 42

Awards and nominations Go-Set Pop Poll The Go-Set Pop Poll was coordinated by teen-oriented pop music newspaper Go-Set and was established in February 1966 and conducted an annual poll during 1966 to 1972 of its readers to determine the most popular personalities. 1966 herself Female Vocal

Logie Awards The Logie Awards (officially the TV Week Logie Awards) is an annual gathering to celebrate Australian television, sponsored and organised by magazine TV Week, with the first ceremony in 1959, known then as the TV Week Awards, the awards are presented in 20 categories representing both public and industry voted awards. Drysdale has won two Gold Logie awards for Most Popular Female Personality on Australian television.

In January 2008, Drysdale was awarded the 'Australia Day Citizen of the Year' award by Baw Baw Shire.

In 2018, Drysdale was honoured by Australia Post with her portrait featuring on a special collection of post stamps issued as part of "The Legends of Television" series.