Jeremy Cordeaux

Jeremy Nicholas Cordeaux (born 18 September 1945) is an Australian radio and television presenter best known for his work in the talkback radio format.

Cordeaux worked in radio from 1962 to 2021, rising from runner, to presenter and host, to managing director of a radio station. Cordeaux was the host of the Australian TV dating show Blind Date in 1970 and co-anchored the Adelaide edition of Seven News in the late 1980s. His career has also been marred by controversy, from implication in a cash-for-comment affair in 1999, to two DUI charges, to his 2021 sacking for on-air comments about alleged rape victim Brittany Higgins.

Cordeaux has been named Best Talk Show Host in the World three times, and has been inducted into the Australian Commercial Radio Hall of Fame. In 2003, Cordeaux was made a Knight of the Order of St. John (KStJ) for services to broadcasting and the community and, in 2006, he was made a Member of the Order of Australia (AM).

Career Radio work Born in Sydney, Cordeaux began his career in radio during 1962, at the age of 16, when he became an errand boy for John Laws at 2GB.

In 1976, Cordeaux moved to Adelaide. There he hosted The Court of Public Opinion on 5DN for almost thirty years. He returned to radio in 2014, commencing work with FIVEaa.

In December 2016, Cordeaux announced he was leaving FIVEaa, after mistakenly believing the station wanted him to move to another timeslot to replace Alan Hickey, assuming Hickey's employment was being terminated. However, after being informed that Hickey was leaving the station to undergo cancer treatment, Cordeaux elected to stay.

Cordeaux was sacked by FIVEaa in March 2021 following on-air comments about alleged rape victim Brittany Higgins.

Television work Cordeaux's best known television role was as host of Australian dating show Blind Date in 1970.

In the late 1980s, Cordeaux anchored the Adelaide edition of Seven News, alongside Graeme Goodings.

He also hosted his own show on Adelaide community station in the early 2010s on Channel 44.

Cordeaux was a guest on ABC Television's weekly panel show Q&A in 2013.

Charity work Cordeaux was the founding chairperson of the Variety Club of South Australia, and has been associated with the Royal Institute for Deaf and Blind Children, the Motor Neurone Disease Association, Red Cross, SA Great and The Smith Family.

Cash for comment affair In 1999, Cordeaux was implicated in the cash for comment affair when ABC Television's Media Watch program aired allegations by former 5AD news director Neil Wiese. Wiese claimed he had been pressured to tailor news bulletins to incorporate an endorsement deal for 5AD's advertisers in 1993, which guaranteed them undisclosed and subtle preferential treatment during general on air programs and news bulletins.

In response, Cordeaux said Wiese was a former employee who had been terminated for dishonesty, and who had orchestrated a "ten-year campaign of venom and vindictiveness", and who had since been employed by the ABC. Cordeaux later said the memo was an internal document which originated from a "think tank" discussion, and the endorsement deal outlined in the memo never eventuated. The ABC found Cordeaux's undisclosed personal sponsorship deals with the likes of Adelaide Casino, Network Ten, GIO and Optus had influenced the content on his programs.

Cordeaux later said in a 2004 interview that there was nothing covert about the relationship he had with the businesses as everyone had known about his close association with the sponsors.

The conviction and punishment were handed down in Cordeaux's absence, as he had failed to attend the court appearance at Adelaide Magistrates Court.

Vintage car collection Cordeaux is known for his collection of vintage and classic cars, which he keeps in a purpose-built showroom, collectively valued at approximately $2 million.

In 2011, Cordeaux was involved in a legal dispute with Vartzokas Constructions over leaks in his custom-built showroom.

Dog killing incident In July 1995, Cordeaux's two Jack Russell Terriers "Bollie" and "Bellini" were killed by an Angora goat breeder Peter Dansie, who claimed the dogs had killed two goats and injured ten others on his property. The man claimed he used a rabbiting knife to kill the two dogs, but would have shot them had he had a gun.

He won three Gold Medals from the International Radio Festival of New York in 1987, 1988 and 1989 for Best Talk Show Host in the World.

He was inducted into the Commercial Radio Hall of Fame at the 2015 Australian Commercial Radio Awards.

In 2003 Cordeaux was made a Knight of the Order of St John (KStJ) for services to broadcasting and the community.