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Molly Meldrums interview with Prince Charles on the set of Countdown did not go to plan. Courtesy ABC Countdown
- Herald Sun
- 18 Oct 2014
- News
MOLLY Meldrum will be inducted into this year’s ARIA Hall of Fame.
Meldrum will be the first non-recording artist to achieve the honour, acknowledging his work as a music producer, TV host, music critic and journalist.
This year’s ARIA Hall of Fame will also induct Countdown, the iconic TV program which first went to air 40 years ago on November 8 1974.
The ARIAs take place on November 26 at the Star in Sydney, and will be broadcast by Channel 10.
Molly Meldrum ... First non-recording artist to be inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame. Picture: David Caird.
“It’s a big honour, and I’m very grateful but there’s other people far more worthy to have an award like that,” a humble Meldrum said. “But I’m glad it’s not just for me, it’s for Countdown too.”
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Soundtrack to youth ... Molly Meldrum on Countdown. Source: News Corp Australia
Last week Meldrum released his autobiography The Never, Um, Ever Ending Story (written with journalist Jeff Jenkins) which is based around the Countdown years.
It will be used as the basis of the Channel 7 miniseries Molly, which will air next year, with Meldrum today confirming Samuel Johnson has been officially cast to play him.
“He’s the perfect person for the job and I’ve seen a photo of him in the hat and the likeness is uncanny,” Meldrum said.
Music guru ... Molly Meldrum on the set of Countdown in 1984. Source: Supplied
Meldrum, 71, will also be the subject of two tribute specials airing on the ABC and Foxtel later this year.
Countdown: Do Yourself a Favour will air November 16 and 23 on the ABC and features not only interviews with Meldrum but key artists who performed on Countdown.
Big names ... Molly Meldrum interviews ABBA in Stockholm in 1976. Source: News Corp Australia
MAX’s Molly Meldrum: The Artist’s Story will air on Sunday December 7 on Foxtel and includes interviews with Kylie Minogue, Jimmy Barnes and Daryl Somers.
Living the 70s ... Molly Meldrum interviews Elton John on Countdown in 1979. Yes, Elton has a unicorn hat on. We repeat, it was 1979. Source: News Corp Australia
Meldrum is now on a national book tour to promote his autobiography.
“Between the book and the TV shows and this Hall of Fame there’s way too much Molly around at the moment, even for me,” he said. “I can’t wait until this is all over so I can stop talking about myself.”
Divine guest ... Molly Meldrum has a chat with Bette Midler in 1980. Source: News Limited
Meldrum is no stranger to the ARIA Hall of Fame, having inducted Kylie Minogue, John Paul Young and Normie Rowe in the past.
ARIA are now working through the realm of possible inductees for Meldrum.
Good mates ... it’s 1986 and Molly Meldrum meets Kylie Minogue and her uber-perm at his Richmond house. Source: News Corp Australia
Kylie Minogue’s European tour finishes on November 17, meaning she could possibly head to Australia to return the favour and induct Meldrum, who she met when filming an episode of Neighbours at his house.
“I can’t think of another person who deserves this honour,” Minogue said of Meldrum’s induction. “Was it really 40 years ago that Countdown launched?! It became such a tradition for families across Australia to huddle by the TV to watch you interview our idols and see our favourite bands perform on the show. The Australian music industry is blessed to have had you in our lives for over four decades and I love that the rest of Australia can celebrate you.”
Meldrum received an ARIA Special Achievement Award in 1993 for his services to the Australian music industry and received the Order of Australia in 1986 for his services to music and charities.
