Australian media darling Myf Warhurst has been gracing our airwaves and screens for the past two decades. Warhurst, along with her friend, co-host and partner in crime, Zan Rowe, invites Canberra audiences to join them for a night of laughs in Bang On Live at Canberra Theatre Centre on Friday 12 April. CD caught up with Warhurst ahead of the show to talk friendships, careers and passions.

What can audiences expect to see in Bang On Live?

They’ll see how Zan and I make our podcast, live, and share a lot of laughs in a room full of like-minded people who we call our Bang Fam.

There’s obviously all the usual chat that fills the podcast, but some special treats as well including a fashion parade that involves some of the more ridiculous fashion we’ve highlighted over the years on the pod and I’ve cobbled together in imitation. It’s hilarious!

The shows so far have been utterly joyous, full of laughter and a celebration of the community of people who have joined us on this wild ride. It’s been a hoot and completely heartwarming and we can’t wait to finally meet our loyal Canberra listeners.

When did you first fall in love with music and art?

I’ve adored music since I was a little kid. I grew up in a musical household, my dad and brothers all played instruments, so it was inevitable.  Dad was an artist too, and mum was an art teacher, so there was always art around us.

I was very lucky to be exposed to such things, as I also grew up in the country and it wasn’t as easy to access things as it is now (we grew up when there was no internet, yes, I am ancient!) I think that’s why I fell in love with music and art and identified with it so much. It was a portal to the wider world and I just wanted to take it all in and be a part of that world. 

How has it been to have a career based around these passions?

I feel very lucky that I’ve been able to make it work. I mean, I used my passion to get into writing and radio, which made sense, but who could have ever predicted that my ridiculous knowledge of music and pop culture would be useful on a TV quiz show like Spicks and Specks that would become loved by many over the years? I could never have predicted that! But it happened and I’m terribly grateful for it all.

Do you have any career highlights?

So many! Spicks and Specks was such a wild ride, getting to work on a show that gives me and many others great joy with two fellas (Adam and Alan) who I adore to this day, would have to be a highlight, and hosting Eurovision with my darling friend Joel Creasey too. I feel so lucky to have been matched with these folks and then get to make things with them.

Doing these live shows with Zan for Bang On is also fast becoming a life highlight too. It’s not often that you get to work with someone you admire and have a friendship with, but to finally see the audience and see how special the podcast is to them, there’s nothing like it. It’s why we do what we do. The audiences are loads of fun, they’re our people and it’s lovely to have built such a community.

Working across many different mediums, do you have a favourite?

I think I’ll always love the immediacy of radio. It’s been nice to have a break from it the last couple of years, and certainly doing Bang On gives me a slight hit of what I love, but our podcast is much more relaxed and intimate than doing daily radio. Daily radio is a buzz. I might get back into it one day. Never say never.

What’s next for you?

I’ve just finished filming a three-part series for ABC’s Catalyst on the science of emotions which will screen later in the year. I’ve got Eurovision coming up AND we’re recording a brand-new season of Spicks and Specks. It’s going to be a huge year, topped off by meeting our beautiful listeners of Bang On. I can safely say, I’m chuffed!  

Catch Myf Warhurst and Zan Rowe on stage in Bang On Live at Canberra Theatre Centre on Friday 12 April 6:30 pm; canberratheatrecentre.com.au

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