Gretel Killeen

{{short description|Australian television host, author and comedian (born 1963)}} {{Use Australian English|date=May 2015}} {{Use dmy dates|date=March 2022}} {{Infobox person |name = Gretel Killeen |image = |birth_name =  |birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1963|2|3|df=yes}} |birth_place = Sydney, New South Wales, Australia |death_date = |death_place = |death_cause = |education = |other_names = |employer = |occupation = {{hlist|Comedian|television presenter|author|media personality}} |years_active = 1989–present |spouse = |partner = |parents = |children = 2 |relatives = |website = |television = |awards = }} '''Gretel Killeen''' (born 3 February 1963)<ref name="bio">{{cite web |title=Gretel Killeen Wiki |publisher=Gretel-Killeen.com |url=http://www.gretel-killeen.com/wiki/index.php?title=Main_Page |access-date=18 February 2009}}</ref> is an Australian television presenter, media personality, comedian and author. She is known for being the host of ''Big Brother Australia'' from its inception in 2001 until the 2007 season (including ''Celebrity Big Brother'' in 2002).<ref name=":0">{{Cite news |url=https://www.news.com.au/entertainment/tv/reality-tv/big-brother-reboot-rumours-would-gretel-killeen-like-the-reality-show-to-return-to-tv/news-story/70e4179bc6c463f57e1e6d0aac8f2386 |title=Here's how Gretel Killeen feels about a new series of Big Brother |date=30 September 2019 |newspaper=News.com.au |access-date=12 October 2019 |last1=Bucklow |first1=Andrew}}</ref> Killeen hosted the 2009 ''TV Week'' Logie Awards.<ref name="smh.com.au">{{Cite web |url=https://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/celebrity/killeen-tries-to-forget-that-logies-experience-20090628-d13v.html |title=Killeen tries to forget THAT Logies experience |date=29 June 2009}}</ref> Most recently, she was announced as the new host of ''The Traitors Australia''<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-09-28 |title=Gretel Killeen to host The Traitors for 10 {{!}} TV Tonight |url=https://tvtonight.com.au/2025/09/gretel-killeen-to-host-the-traitors-for-10.html |access-date=2026-01-27 |website=tvtonight.com |language=en-AU}}</ref>

==Career==

===Television===

====Midday==== From 1989 to 1991, Killeen was a regular on ''Midday with Ray Martin'' on the Nine Network.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.illawarramercury.com.au/story/5570199/gretel-killeen-heads-to-wollongong-with-her-comedy-show/ |title=Gretel Killeen heads to Wollongong with her comedy show |last=Savage |first=Desiree |date=7 August 2018 |website=Illawarra Mercury |language=en |access-date=12 October 2019}}</ref> She wrote and featured in the sketch ''A Town Like Dallas'', a parody of the genre of soap opera.

====Coast to Coast==== In 1990, Terry Willesee, John Mangos and Killeen hosted ''Coast to Coast'' for the Nine Network after the departure of Graham Kennedy from the program, but the program in the new format was short-lived.

====Big Brother==== Killeen was host of Big Brother Australia, from its first season in 2001. She hosted each series up until its seventh season in 2007.<ref name=":0" />

On 28 October 2007, ''The Sunday Telegraph'' reported that, as a part of a revamp of the show, Killeen was being replaced as host by Kyle Sandilands and Jackie O from 2Day FM.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.news.com.au/perthnow/story/0,21598,22659067-5005368,00.html |title=Big Brother evicts controversial host Gretel Killeen |access-date=28 October 2007 |date=27 October 2007 |publisher=The Sunday Times (Western Australia)}}</ref><ref>[http://www.news.com.au/entertainment/story/0,23663,22658060-10229,00.html Gretel Killeen axed from Big Brother] – The Sunday Telegraph, ''28 Oct 2007''</ref><ref name="GKAFBB">{{cite news |first=Jonathon |last=Moran |url=http://www.news.com.au/entertainment/story/0,23663,22658060-10229,00.html |title=Gretel Killeen axed from Big Brother |access-date=28 October 2007 |date=28 October 2007 |work=The Sunday Telegraph}}</ref>

====The Traitors==== In late 2025, she was announced as the new host of ''The Traitors Australia'', set to air in 2026. She replaces Rodger Corser.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-09-28 |title=Gretel Killeen to host The Traitors for 10 {{!}} TV Tonight |url=https://tvtonight.com.au/2025/09/gretel-killeen-to-host-the-traitors-for-10.html |access-date=2026-01-27 |website=tvtonight.com |language=en-AU}}</ref>

====Other television roles==== Killeen, along with Daniel MacPherson, co-hosted the Sydney New Year's Eve 2006–07 telecast and also the Australia Day eve celebrations on 25 January 2006. She was also the host of Ten's coverage of the Australia Day ceremony in 2007.

In 2009 Killeen hosted the Logies and was lowered onto the stage in an angel costume.<ref name="smh.com.au"/>

She played nurse Angela Mercie in two episodes of the YouTube web series The Horizon in 2013.<ref>{{cite news |first=Nick |last=Bond |url=http://www.dnamagazine.com.au/articles/news.asp?news_id=20546 |title=Two Sleeps Until The Horizon |date=30 October 2013 |publisher=dnamagazine.com.au |access-date=8 January 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140108220710/http://www.dnamagazine.com.au/articles/news.asp?news_id=20546 |archive-date=8 January 2014 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

In 2015, Killeen co-hosted ABC TV series ''How Not to Behave'' with Matt Okine.<ref>{{cite news |title=How Not to Behave |url=http://about.abc.net.au/press-releases/how-not-to-behave/ |access-date=4 November 2015 |publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation |date=4 June 2015}}</ref>

In 2019, Killeen appeared as a contestant on the Australian version of ''The Masked Singer'' as the Octopus, and was voted off in the first episode.

Killeen is a regular guest on morning/talk-shows such as; ''Studio 10'', ''Sunrise'', ''Today Australia'' and ''Today Extra Australia'' and ''The Project.'' Killeen has also appeared on ''Beauty and the Beast'', ''Midday'', ''SlideShow'', ''Good Morning Australia'', ''Celebrity Name Game'', ''Q&A'', ''Good News Week'', ''You Have Been Watching'' and ''Talkin' 'Bout Your Generation''.

In 2025, she competed in ''The Amazing Race Australia: Celebrity Edition'' with her daughter Epiphany.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Thomas |first=Tia |date=2025-08-22 |title=Meet the celebrity contestants joining The Amazing Race Australia in 2025 |url=https://www.nowtolove.com.au/entertainment/the-amazing-race-australia-2025-contestants/ |access-date=2025-10-12 |website=Now To Love |language=en-AU}}</ref> They were eliminated after the twelfth leg, ultimately placing fifth.

=== Radio ===

==== Nova 100 ==== In 2003, Killeen filled in on Nova 100's ''Hughesy, Kate & Dave'' whilst Kate Langbroek was on maternity leave.

===Literary works=== As an author of a number of books,<ref>{{cite web |title=Gretel Killeen Wiki |publisher=Gretel-Killeen.com |url=http://www.gretel-killeen.com/wiki/index.php?title=Books |access-date=18 February 2009}}</ref>

{| border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" |- | width="50%" valign="top" | *''The Night my Bum Dropped'' (2009), {{ISBN|978-0-670-07295-8}} *''How To Live With a Sausage in a Bonnet'' (1991), {{ISBN|0-09-182583-0}} *''Baby on Board: A Beginner's Guide to Pregnancy'' (1991), {{ISBN|1-86330-106-2}} *''Every Girl's Geek Guide'' (1992), {{ISBN|0-09-182697-7}} *''Visible Panty Line'' (1998), {{ISBN|0-14-028891-0}} | width="50%" valign="top" | *''Cherry Pie'' (1999), {{ISBN|0-09-183749-9}} *''What'll We Get for Grandma?'' (1999), {{ISBN|0-09-183869-X}} *''You're Joking!'' (2001), {{ISBN|1-74051-772-5}} |- | colspan="2" |

====Fleur Trotter series====

|- | width="50%" valign="top" | *''My Life Is a Toilet'' (1994), {{ISBN|0-09-182850-3}} *''The 'My Life Is a Toilet' Instruction Book: How To Make the Most of Your Pathetic Existence'' (1995), {{ISBN|0-09-183270-5}} *''My Life Is a Wedgie'' (2000), {{ISBN|0-09-183955-6}} | width="50%" valign="top" | *''My Life Is a Boob Tube'' (2002), {{ISBN|1-74051-758-X}} *''My Life Is a Girdle'' (2003), {{ISBN|1-74051-899-3}} |- | colspan="2" |

====The My Sister series====

|- | width="50%" valign="top" | *''My Sister's a Yoyo'' (1997), {{ISBN|0-09-183479-1}} *''My Sister's an Alien'' (1998), {{ISBN|0-09-183902-5}} *''My Sister's a Sea Slug'' (1999), {{ISBN|0-09-183954-8}} | width="50%" valign="top" | *''My Sister's a Burp'' (1999), {{ISBN|0-09-183962-9}} *''My Sister's a Full Stop'' (2000), {{ISBN|0-09-183968-8}} *''My Sister's a Nightmare'' (2000), {{ISBN|0-09-184079-1}} |- | colspan="2" |

====Hot Buns & Ophelia series====

|- | colspan="2" | *''Hot Buns & Ophelia Get a Bloke'' (2000), {{ISBN|0-14-029965-3}} *''Hot Buns & Ophelia Get Shipwrecked'' (2001), {{ISBN|0-14-029966-1}} |- | colspan="2" |

====The Very Naughty Mother series====

|- | width="50%" valign="top" | *''The Very Naughty Mother Goes Green'' (2002), {{ISBN|1-74051-763-6}} *''The Very Naughty Mother Runs Away'' (2003), {{ISBN|1-74051-764-4}} | width="50%" valign="top" | *''The Very Naughty Mother Goes Invisible'' (2003), {{ISBN|1-74051-906-X}} *''The Very Naughty Mother Is a Spy'' (2004), {{ISBN|1-74051-907-8}} |}

===Movie roles=== Killeen has a cameo in the Australian film ''Gettin' Square'' as Rhonda Halliwell.<ref name="bio"/>

===Stage roles=== Killeen appeared as the Narrator in a stage production of The Rocky Horror Show in Sydney and Melbourne in 2008 and in Sydney in 2024.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,23863738-662,00.html |title=Gretel loves freedom |access-date=15 June 2008 |date=15 June 2008 |work=Herald Sun |first=Jonathon |last=Moran}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.celebrityspeakers.com.au/brspeaker_bio.asp?Speaker_Index_Text=141 |title=Professional Speaker Australia : Compere Speakers |website=www.celebrityspeakers.com.au |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040520113912/http://www.celebrityspeakers.com.au/brspeaker_bio.asp?Speaker_Index_Text=141 |archive-date=2004-05-20}}</ref>

==Personal life== Killeen was born in Sydney and has two adult children from her former marriage to Mark Morgan.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.newidea.com.au/gretel-killeen-how-well-do-you-know-her |title=Gretel Killeen: How Well Do You Know Her? |website=New Idea |date=29 November 2018 |access-date=12 October 2019}}</ref>

==Awards== ===Mo Awards=== The Australian Entertainment Mo Awards (commonly known informally as the Mo Awards), were annual Australian entertainment industry awards. They recognise achievements in live entertainment in Australia from 1975 to 2016. Gretel Killeen won one award in that time.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.moawards.com.au/awardwinners|title=MO Award Winners|website=Mo Awards|access-date=16 March 2022|archive-date=7 March 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220307064432/https://www.moawards.com.au/awardwinners|url-status=dead}}</ref> {{awards table}} (wins only) |- | 2000 | Gretel Killeen | Female Comedy Performer of the Year | {{won}} |- {{end}}

==References== {{reflist}}

==External links== {{Portal|Children's literature}} *{{official|url=http://www.gretelkilleen.com.au/}} *{{IMDb name|0993110}} *[https://web.archive.org/web/20060628050324/http://www.penguin.com.au/authors/author-author-profile.cfm?AuthorId=0000002429 Gretel Killeen at Penguin Books]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Killeen, Gretel}} Category:1963 births Category:Australian people of German descent Category:Australian people of Irish descent Category:Australian stand-up comedians Category:Australian radio personalities Category:Australian women children's writers Category:Australian women radio presenters Category:Australian children's writers Category:Australian game show hosts Category:Living people Category:Comedians from Sydney Category:Australian women comedians