While radio gave John Burgess his first big break in media, television made him a household name. John reflects on nearly 60 years in the television industry.
As a young man, I dreamed of becoming a tennis star, following in the footsteps of my hero Ken Rosewall. If you told me I’d end up as the host of one of Australia’s most popular family television shows, I wouldn’t have believed you.
I grew up in Sydney and tennis (and later, 10-pin bowling), was everything to me, but any suggestion that I’d become a household name in Australian television, would have given me a good laugh. Life has a way of spinning you in unexpected directions — just like the wheel I’d later stand beside for so many years.
I’ve told the story before of how my journey in radio began and it was my radio connections, hosting Sydney concerts and introducing some of the world’s great musicians that led me into television.
Television came calling in 1968. I was hosting a lot of shows for visiting artists, when a guy called Ken Brodciak, an entrepreneur who was bringing a lot of the big artists to the country. He came up with an idea for a television show called Turning On, which was on strangely enough at 5.30pm on Channel 7, Monday to Friday.
I was asked to host the show and it was my first experience of being on television, when it was still relatively young.
I was working in radio in Sydney and to make Turning On I had to fly to Melbourne every Monday. We’d shoot five programs on the Monday afternoon and night. And then Tuesday I’d fly back to Sydney for my radio show.
I’d only been working in the media for about a minute so it was quite exciting.
Turning On, was a teenage music show on the Seven Network. It was a fun experience — a chance to dip my toes into a new medium. But it wasn’t until 1984 that everything changed. That year, I took on the role that would define my career: hosting Wheel of Fortune.
I’d just been knocked back to do another television show which I was really disappointed about, but then a week later I got a call to say, ‘we’d like you to do Wheel of Fortune’.
I took over from Ernie Sigley, so I was stepping into some big shoes, but I was determined to make the show my own and audiences loved it.
For more than a decade Wheel of Fortune was a staple of evening television and I had the incredible privilege of welcoming contestants from all walks of life to spin that wheel, solve puzzles, and – hopefully – walk away with life-changing prizes.
I loved it when contestants won big. It was a joy to see their faces light up.
And of course, I got to work with Adriana Xenides. Adriana was elegance personified, a true professional, and a wonderful friend.
She also had her own personal struggles, including health issues. When she passed away on June 7, 2010, at the age of 54, due to complications from a ruptured intestine, I was devastated. It was just a few days after my birthday.
We had such a great camaraderie on set, and I think audiences could feel that. We weren’t just colleagues; we were a team. Together, we helped make Wheel of Fortune not just a game show, but a part of Australian culture.
Hosting a show like Wheel of Fortune wasn’t just about spinning the wheel and reading clues. It was about creating an atmosphere — putting nervous contestants at ease, keeping the energy high, and making sure viewers at home felt like they were part of the fun. And, of course, there were the catchphrases. “Good luck, everybody!” became something of a signature line for me. It was a simple sentiment, but it carried a lot of weight — because I truly did wish every contestant the best.
In 1989 my time on Wheel of Fortune came to an end, but my journey in television was far from over. I went on to host other shows like Burgo’s Catch Phrase which incidentally was also on at 5.30pm, except this time it was on Channel 9. Burgo’s Catch Phrase also rated really well and gave me the chance to keep doing what I love: entertaining audiences and connecting with people.
And TV was a bit different to radio. On radio, you can go to work, do your radio show, it doesn’t matter what you look like, you don’t have to bother about dressing up or anything.
In my early days nobody could see you, although now of course they’ve got a camera in the studios where people can log on and see you – it’s pretty scary.
But television was a different kettle of fish completely. The camera picks you to death. Some days I’d sit and watch myself doing whatever I was doing, Wheel of Fortune or Catch Phrase, and I’d have to get up and leave the room.
I couldn’t watch myself because I looked immediately for all my faults. Maybe I didn’t like the way I looked or didn’t like the way my hair was, or I didn’t like what I was wearing because I’d made a poor choice of tie or something.
I would have to literally get up and leave the room. That’s just the way I was.
Looking back, my career has been full of highs and a few challenges, but I wouldn’t change a thing. I’m incredibly grateful for the opportunities I’ve had and the people I’ve met along the way. To this day, I’m touched when someone stops me to say, “Hey, Burgo, I used to watch you on Wheel of Fortune with my family every night.” Knowing that I’ve been a small part of people’s lives, that I’ve brought a bit of joy or laughter into their homes — that’s the greatest reward of all.
The wheel of life has spun me through radio, television, and beyond, and it’s been one heck of a ride. And who knows? Maybe there are still a few more spins to come.
Call it luck or just being in the right place at the right time, I’m not sure. Everything I’ve done hasn’t come about in the normal way of things.
Most people apply for a job and they either get it or they don’t. The only job I ever applied for was my first radio job, everything since then has been offered to me, they just all happened.
Until next time, Burgo.
