This delicious dose of silliness is brought to you by Jeanne Little and Mike Walsh. Asked to explain the Nine Network's new telepoll technology, Jeanne improvises her answer and the results are pure comedy gold. Walsh plays the straight man as ever.

The two worked together on The Mike Walsh Show from 1974 until the show finished in 1985.

This excerpt is taken from a compilation called The Mike Walsh Show Archive No. 503 which contains episodes of the show from the early 1980s.

Notes by Beth Taylor

Knife throwing, paragliding, singing, dancing and riding an elephant – just some of Jeanne Little's hilarious highlights of working on The Mike Walsh Show from 1974 to 1982.

Jeanne says here she hasn't broken any bones, but in 1985 she did actually break her ribs (and came close to breaking her back) when she rode a motorbike with John-Michael Howson in the sidecar for the first episode of the evening version of The Mike Walsh Show.

The compilation includes an excerpt of Jeanne singing Irving Berlin's 'Heat Wave' (1933). The tempo of her cover is slower than famous versions of the song, originally sung by Ethel Waters for the 1933 musical As Thousands Cheer. The snippet holds up remarkably well given the calibre of those who sang the song previously, including Marilyn Monroe, Ella Fitzgerald, Ethel Merman and Bing Crosby. Rather than being discouraged by being amongst such luminaries, Jeanne relishes the opportunity and gives the track her own style (including the stunning, colourful costume she created).

Jeanne and Mike Walsh sing an amusing duet where she contrasts herself as being more like Sydney and him more like Melbourne. She equates Mike with Camberwell Junction (in Melbourne) and herself with Kings Cross in Sydney. The song seems to be an original written for the show and it's a beautiful vehicle for their characters to shine through. Jeanne speaks in a broad Australian accent and fluffs the words in keeping with her daffy persona. Mike meanwhile looks the part of the high-class host. The two make a fabulous team, having worked together closely for 11 years. It's refreshing to see Mike laugh when the segment goes pear-shaped – he usually plays the straight man to Jeanne.

The reaction of US comedian George Burns to her story about Aunty Lottie falling out of a minibus at her wedding reception is perfect. He can barely understand a word Jeanne says!

Jeanne can be characterised as a relatively rare example of a female larrikin – a rough, uncultivated Australian in a similar vein to Paul Hogan. Like Hogan, she tells funny stories about her life with her broad Australian accent and can laugh at herself.

Other segments in this clip feature Brian Bury, Dr James Wright and Sydney's Centrepoint Tower, which opened in 1981.

The excerpt is from the 2000th episode of The Mike Walsh Show: Episode 2109, broadcast on 7 July 1982. Please note that the sound for this clip is distorted in parts.

Notes by Beth Taylor

At her best when she's telling stories about her life, Jeanne Little talks about her hair falling out when a home perm job goes wrong.

Referring here to the sight of herself in the mirror with no hair, clothes or make-up as 'vile', this is an example of Jeanne's self-deprecating comedy.

'Here I am with a flat chest, three strands of hair and the worst voice in Australia. I think I’ve really capitalised on having little to offer.'
'Hello Darling': The Jeanne Little Story by Siobhan O'Brien (2006)

On a side note, Jeanne's garbage-bag dress here helped to inspire the popular Glad Bag Fashion Show competition on The Mike Walsh Show in 1982.

Adept at making fashion from everyday items she famously fashioned dresses out of toast, steel wool, lavatory chains, milk bottle tops and three thousand $1 coins, as well as hats out of sausages, ice cream cones, pizza and french fries. Mike Walsh referred to her as the show's 'cut-rate couture princess'.

Excerpt taken from The Mike Walsh Show: Episode 2005 broadcast on 12 February 1982.

Notes by Beth Taylor

Jeanne Little performs this rendition of Marlene Dietrich's signature song 'Falling in Love Again (Can't Help It)' in 1984.

The homage to Dietrich is lovingly rendered without Jeanne's usual gags and daffiness. A projected photograph of Dietrich effectively sets the scene and tone for the performance, with the photo dissolving into vision of Jeanne in the same pose, dressed in character.

The camera barely changes throughout the song as Jeanne fills the frame. The effect is quite mesmerising and draws the viewer into the performance.

This performance is indicative of Jeanne's rich and evocative voice and performance style. It's a fine example of her ability to act and mimic other performers, which she used to good effect when touring Australia with her one-woman cabaret show Hello Dahling! in 1991. The show included numbers made famous by Dietrich, as well as songs by Cole Porter, Noel Coward and Janis Ian.

In 1994 she launched Marlene – A Tribute to Dietrich, a show she wrote with her husband Barry, and toured it around Australia and the US for the next 10 years. Jeanne's other cabaret shows include More of Little and MM – A Tribute to Marilyn Monroe.

The song, written by Friedrich Hollaender, was originally performed by Dietrich on the soundtrack of German film The Blue Angel (Der Blaue Engel, Josef von Sternberg, 1930).

Other singing performances of Jeanne Little's include 'Heat Wave', 'Born to Be Wild' with Maria Venuti and 'You and Me' with John-Michael Howson.

This excerpt is taken from a compilation called The Mike Walsh Show Archive No. 503.

Notes by Beth Taylor

Jeanne Little delights in showing Mike Walsh a number of amusing potential novelty Christmas gifts.

She starts with the relatively safe fake wine bottle dust but goes for the comedy jugular by handing Mike a sex toy. The studio audience loves it.

This was daytime television in 1980 and Jeanne got away with behaviour that others wouldn't have, by using comedy and a daffy persona.

This clip is a great example of Jeanne's style of improvised comedy. Although her segments look effortless, a lot of preparation went into them.

Each of the weekly segments (on live television) often lasted for 10 to 15 minutes unscripted – which is an impressive achievement.

To learn and see more, visit the Jeanne Little curated collection.

Excerpt taken from The Mike Walsh Show: Episode 204 broadcast on 20 November 1980.

Notes by Beth Taylor

A tribute to the world of pinball parlours and motorbikes, which Maria Venuti and Jeanne Little performed on The Mike Walsh Show in 1984.

The clip weaves together covers of the 1960s hits 'Born to Be Wild', written by Mars Bonfire and first sung by Steppenwolf in 1968, and 'Leader of the Pack', written by George 'Shadow' Morton, Jeff Barry, and Ellie Greenwich and popularised by The Shangri-Las in 1964.

Watching the clip it's obvious that Jeanne relishes the chance to get dressed up and perform in character, which makes the clip more enjoyable. Her broad Australian snarl lends a welcome local flavour to the two American songs.

This performance of a rock song followed by a pop song (given a rock spin) exemplifies Jeanne's impressive performance range, especially when compared with her covers of 'You and Me' from the Victor/Victoria musical and the classic orchestral 'Falling in Love Again (Can't Help It)' by Marlene Dietrich. At her strongest when she's bouncing off someone, teaming her with fellow Australian comedian Maria Venuti here is a perfect choice.

Jeanne looks fabulous with a mohawk, and wearing leather and chains for the second song. She makes the clothes for her appearances and this outfit was no exception. In an interview after the song she tells host Mike Walsh about her amusing trip to the hardware store to buy the heavy chains for the costume.

Musical numbers like this one – complete with high production values and note-perfect backing from Geoff Harvey's band – were an important part of The Mike Walsh Show and very popular with audiences.

Excerpt taken from The Mike Walsh Show: Episode 4131 first broadcast on 14 August 1984.

Notes by Beth Taylor

Jeanne Little teams up with Mike 'Shirley Temple' Williams, floor manager of The Mike Walsh Show, as Zelda for a magic act with an unforeseen hilarious punchline. It's live television at its most unpredictable!

This excerpt is taken from a compilation called The Mike Walsh Show Archive No. 503 from the early 1980s.

Notes by Beth Taylor

Resident fashionista Jeanne Little is beyond excited as the finalists in the Glad Bag Fashion Show parade for the audience.

Always ingenious with the materials she uses, as we see in her hats made out of foods, Jeanne put the challenge out to the audience to design fashion using only Glad-brand plastic material – from rubbish bags to Glad Wrap and everything in between.

Five thousand entries later, the finalists vie for a new car. Jeanne Little is the chairperson and the judges are fashion designer Prue Acton OBE, Andrew Harris and 1983's Miss Australia, Lisa Cornelius.

Jeanne's unique voice, over-the-top personality, false eyelashes and eccentric fashion sense endeared her to Australian audiences. She won the 1976 Gold Logie for her work on The Mike Walsh Show.

In addition to a dress made of garbage bags, which started the competition off, Little also famously fashioned clothing creations out of toast, steel wool, lavatory chains, milk bottle tops and 3,000 $1 coins.

This clip comes from The Mike Walsh Show: Episode 2202 broadcast on 17 November 1982.

Notes by Beth Taylor

Jeanne Little models edible hats she has made out of food including pizza, french fries, crumpets, bangers and mash, ice cream cones and frankfurters in honour of Melbourne Cup day.

This segment follows her regular formula with her modelling her creations and bantering with show host Mike Walsh, prompting much laughter from the live studio audience.

Little was a regular guest on The Mike Walsh Show. She first appeared on the show when she was eight-and-a-half months pregnant in 1974 to plug her ailing dressmaking business. She was such a hit that they asked her back again and again and a star was born.

Her unique voice, over-the-top personality, false eyelashes, wigs and eccentric fashion sense endeared her to Australian audiences. She won the 1976 Gold Logie for her work on The Mike Walsh Show.

She went on to star in stage and television shows such as panel show Beauty and the Beast on the Ten Network, but retired from television in the mid-2000s.

Notes by Beth Taylor

Running out with a trademark 'Oooh! Aaaah!' Jeanne Little sings her part in a 1989 'Golden Girls' tribute to past female Gold Logie winners.

Jeanne won the Gold Logie in 1977 for most popular television personality of 1976 for her work on The Mike Walsh Show.

The song is exactly what you would expect from an award show performance, complete with cheesy lyrics, and a derivative, catchy live score designed so that audiences will find it familiar and easily digestible. Jeanne is joined on stage by other Gold Logie winners Lorrae Desmond, Hazel Phillips, Pat McDonald, Denise Drysdale and Rowena Wallace.

Each woman's performance has its own feel and Jeanne's sense of fun and the ridiculous is mirrored well in her component. It's obvious she understands what audiences remember her for and she is happy to make fun of her voice singing 'You could strip the paint with my voice'.

We also see footage of her outrageous costumes in excerpts from The Mike Walsh Show, including the famous toast dress. The ending where she references showing the 'darling clever dick' critics is reminiscent of the sentiments she expresses in her 1976 song 'Dahling, Are You Paying Attention'.

The performance is dated to the late 1980s by the production design in the background including a single big screen image rendered on a bank of separate screens.

Excerpt from The 31st TV Week Logie Awards broadcast on 17 March 1989 by the Seven Network.

Notes by Beth Taylor

Guest host Derek Nimmo interviews Jeanne Little about her distinct voice on The Mike Walsh Show.

Jeanne recounts her appearance on the British talk show Parkinson (hosted by Michael Parkinson) on 21 January 1981. She says in her biography 'Hello Darling': The Jeanne Little Story by Siobhan O'Brien (2006) that the story she tells here about the Oxford professor was a yarn she made up for the show.

'One thing you never do with Jeanne Little – that's the first time you see her – you don't switch off. You have to stick with it and see, "Is she real?" ... Fifty percent love her and fifty percent think she's a Martian'. Michael Parkinson

There's an interesting background story to Jeanne's striking voice. Her biography posits that a bout of diphtheria as a baby damaged her vocal chords and is responsible for the raspy quality of her voice. Intriguingly, her singing voice is unaffected as you can hear when she sings 'Born to Be Wild', 'Falling In Love Again (I Can't Help It)' and 'You and Me'.

The woman sitting next to Jeanne Little is actor Judy Lynne.

Excerpt taken from The Mike Walsh Show: Episode 0065 broadcast on 12 May 1980.

Notes by Beth Taylor

Jeanne Little talks about seeing a hypnotherapist before hosting The Mike Walsh Show in 1976.

Jeanne developed a stutter as a teenager and sought treatment when it resurfaced in 1983. She developed her drawling catch cry 'Oooooh, aaaahhhh Daaaaahling!' as a way of moderating her stutter. She was a patron of The Australian Stuttering Foundation.

Jeanne first appeared on The Mike Walsh Show in 1974 modelling maternity wear from her ailing dressmaking boutique 'Jeanne Mitchell'. Three guests had cancelled that day and producers saw a photo of her in Sydney's Daily Mirror newspaper, modelling one of her creations, and invited her on the show.

Despite never having intended to work in television, she was an instant hit and the phone lines were jammed with people wanting to know if she was for real. She was invited back and became a regular.

Most of the episodes of the show from its years on 0-10 (now Network Ten) have been lost, so there are no known copies of that first appearance.

She mentions producer David Mitchell who was a longtime collaborator.

Excerpt taken from the last episode of The Mike Walsh Show on 0-10 (now Network Ten) broadcast on 10 December 1976.

Notes by Beth Taylor

Jeanne Little – dressed in one of her special Christmas outfits that she made herself – brings the magic of Christmas to viewers of Good Morning Australia in 1994.

She sings the classic track 'We Need a Little Christmas' from Jerry Herman's broadway musical Mame.

Angela Lansbury performed the song in the first production of the show on Broadway in New York in 1966 and Jeanne gives an accomplished rendition here.

Known for her comedy, Jeanne's sophisticated singing talent was first revealed on The Mike Walsh Show in the 1980s. She went on to perform in musicals such as Jerry's Girls and her one-woman shows Hello Dahling! and Marlene - A Tribute to Dietrich.

The song shows off Jeanne's rich voice beautifully and the arrangement is simple yet elegant. Musical television mainstay John Foreman provides accompanyment on piano.

Jeanne is a storyteller first and foremost, setting the scene before she sings. This performance is a great example of Jeanne's mix of original costuming, music and comedy to tell stories.

Learn more about the Gold Logie – winning entertainer in the Jeanne Little curated collection.

Excerpt from Good Morning Australia: Episode 693, broadcast 16 December 1994.

Notes by Beth Taylor

Recorded in 1976 two years after Jeanne Little burst onto Australian television screens on The Mike Walsh Show, Jeanne adds singing and songwriting to her comedy and dressmaking talents.

Love her or hate her, people were most certainly paying attention when Jeanne won the coveted Gold Logie in 1976.

A fine example of the rich Australian tradition of novelty songs (such as Joe Dolce's 'Shaddap You Face', 1980), it capitalises on her cheeky persona. The words focus on Little's catch-cry 'Dahling!' as well as referencing her voice and how she polarises audiences.

The catchy song unfortunately only offers glimpses of Jeanne's vocal talent with much of it rendered in a sing-song spoken word fashion (known as 'Sprechgesang').

Jeanne went on to star in the musicals Jerry's Girls, Stepping Out and Legends at the Sydney Opera House and toured Australia with her one-woman cabaret shows Hello Dahling!, Marlene – A Tribute to Dietrich, More of a Little and MM – A Tribute to Marilyn Monroe. Marlene toured for 10 years, including to the US.

The track was co-written and co-performed with The Silver Studs. The B-side is 'Oceana Roll'.

The cover image comes from Jeanne Little's appearance on The Mike Walsh Show: Episode 5008 broadcast on 14 March 1985.

Notes by Beth Taylor

Jeanne Little and John-Michael Howson perform 'You and Me' by Henry Mancini from the Julie Andrews musical Victor/Victoria (Britain-USA, Blake Edwards, 1982) on The Mike Walsh Show circa 1984.

This totally delightful clip exemplifies Jeanne Little as the full package for daytime television – dressed to the nines, dancing beautifully with Howson, hitting all the right notes and oozing charm and cheekiness. The studio set's 1920s Art Deco theme contextualises the song and dance routine and the camera direction is first class, particularly the high crane shots that enhance the sense of glamour.

This clip, which sees Jeanne in drag king mode, is an excellent example of her drag sensibilities. Inspired by the drag queens at Sydney's first gay bar the Purple Onion in the late 1960s, Jeanne played with gender in her one-woman cabaret show Hello Dahling!. She played the first half of her show as a man singing Cole Porter songs and the second half as a woman paying tribute to Marlene Dietrich and others.

Jeanne's on-screen collaboration with John-Michael Howson began the very first time she appeared on The Mike Walsh Show in 1974. With Walsh on leave, guest host Howson thought the producers were having a laugh and had sent a drag queen with a fake baby bump (Jeanne was eight-and-a-half months pregnant); Jeanne loved Howson's camp aesthetic. Howson likens her appearances to sketches from the  television comedy I Love Lucy (USA, 1951–57) in their sheer ridiculousness and freshness.

Howson and Little performed in popular Mike Walsh Show pantomimes including Off White and the Seven Wharfies and Gone with the Wind Up.

This excerpt is taken from a compilation called The Mike Walsh Show Archive No. 503.

Notes by Beth Taylor

Jeanne Little's young daughter Katie features in this clip telling a joke and singing the Jamaican traditional song 'Mama Says No Play'.

Little was eight-and-a-half months pregnant with Katie when she first appeared on The Mike Walsh Show on 11 September 1974 and Jeanne often talked about her, so the audience knew her well.

Katie's heartwarming rendition – complete with dance moves – is obviously the product of some rehearsal. The performance is made all the sweeter by Jeanne's obvious love for her daughter – she is bursting with pride. Playing for comedy as ever, Mike Walsh is the grinch who sends the show to a commercial break before Katie is finished.

Having young children on live television is always going to be risky but Mike and Jeanne manage not to make the experience intimidating for Katie. The studio crew no doubt conspired to be as unobtrusive as possible and effectively create a level of intimacy between the trio.

As an adult Katie has written a book about growing up with her mother called Catch a Falling Star (2018). After Jeanne's Alzheimer's disease diagnosis in 2009 Katie created the Jeanne Little Alzheimer's Research Fund.

Excerpt taken from The Mike Walsh Show: Episode 9143 which was first broadcast on 24 August 1979.

Notes by Beth Taylor

Katie Little and her daughter Charlotte Poulton pay tribute to Katie's mother Jeanne's amazing career in this clip from 2017.

Jeanne Little was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease in 2009.

The clip features images from Jeanne's career which illustrate her impact and long-lasting appeal on Australian television. Jeanne Little is shown with her husband and creative partner Barry, who was often mentioned in her comedy.

Excerpt from The Morning Show broadcast 21 December 2017 on the Seven Network. Hosts are Larry Emdur and Kylie Gillies.

You can see Katie as a little girl when she appeared on The Mike Walsh Show with her mother in 1979.

Notes by Beth Taylor

Jeanne Little and her husband Barry loved to travel. She also visited China, Japan, Thailand, the Philippines, Fiji and the US on assignment for The Mike Walsh Show.

Especially fond of Japanese fashion, Jeanne models clothes she brought back from her latest trip. Designers Issey Miyake and Kansai Yamamoto feature.

As always, Jeanne is extremely self-deprecating in her humour. Other great Jeanne Little fashion moments: Glad Bag Fashion Show, her edible hats and her leather and chains costume in 'Born to Be Wild'.

Little also made public appearances around Australia including Darwin, Walgett, Melbourne, Brisbane, Broome, Goulburn, Gosford, Griffith, the Torres Strait Islands, Tamworth and Perth.

Excerpt from The Mike Walsh Show: Episode 5008 broadcast 14 March 1985.

Notes by Beth Taylor

Jeanne Little interviews Australian musician Smoky Dawson and meets his beloved horse Flash, who is 31 years old. The interview is set on the fictitious Jindawarrabell Station – which was a mythical setting developed by Dawson for his music and The Smoky Dawson Radio Show.

Jeanne's clown costume, complete with blue wig, seems incongruous – although it's possibly an explanation for her slapstick entrance.

Jeanne Little left The Mike Walsh Show at the end of 1976 before the show moved from 0-10 (Network Ten) to the Nine Network.

Conceived of as a mini-Mike Walsh Show, Jeanne's Little Show (1977) ran on the Seven Network for six months in a 3:30pm timeslot. That same year she won the coveted Gold Logie.

In 1978 she starred in the sitcom Cuckoo in the Nest (1978) which ran for four episodes before being dropped.

She later returned to The Mike Walsh Show, when it was on the Nine Network. One of the most popular guests on the show (which ran until 1985), she had a natural flair for comedy, musical performances and fashion.

Excerpt taken from Jeanne's Little Show first broadcast on 16 September 1977.

Notes by Beth Taylor

This segment featuring Bert Newton and Jeanne Little on Good Morning Australia is supposed to be about wrapping Christmas presents. But, savvy as ever, Jeanne understands that she is there for the laughs – to show 'how inept I really am'.

As always she has designed and made a ridiculous eye-catching gown (this one is made of wrapping paper in what must have been a nightmare for the sound technicians).

The two old friends discuss the demise of Midday (1985–1994) and The Mike Walsh Show (1973–1985) with refreshing candour, managing to make their conversation feel natural and spontaneous. It's interesting to note that after this went to air Midday returned and remained on Australian screens until 1998.

Jeanne Little was a regular on Good Morning Australia from 1989 to 2005. The stills of some of her appearances on The Mike Walsh Show provide an interesting overview of her career and her decades-long contribution to daytime television.

Content warning: this clip contains blackface, yellowface and racist stereotypes.

Excerpt from Good Morning Australia: Episode 693, broadcast 16 December 1994.

Notes by Beth Taylor

From the sublime to the ridiculous – take a look at Jeanne Little's televisual curated collection of merchandise commemorating the wedding of Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer.

As well as the obligatory tea towels and crockery there's waving Charles and Di cut-outs, coat hangers and a special commemorative Rubik's Cube!

Jeanne Little was a regular guest on The Mike Walsh Show. She first appeared on the show in 1974 to plug her ailing dressmaking business. She was such a hit that they asked her back again and again and a star was born.

Her unique voice, over-the-top personality, false eyelashes and eccentric fashion sense endeared her to Australian audiences. She won the 1976 Gold Logie for her work on The Mike Walsh Show.

She went on to star in stage and television shows such as panel show Beauty and the Beast on the Ten Network, but retired from television in the mid-2000s.

This clip comes from The Mike Walsh Show: Archive No. 503.

Notes by Beth Taylor

The fabulous Jeanne Little, dressed up to the nines in a white wig and dress, interviews English post-punk, new wave musician Adam Ant of Adam and the Ants. Their single 'Antmusic', released in 1980, had topped the Australian charts.

In a departure from many of Little's segments where she is the interview subject, here she is the interviewer. Jeanne and Adam Ant talk about fashion and she asks if it's true that he sometimes doesn't wear 'underclothes'. Jeanne asks dramatically how can Britain be saved, and he says that the recent royal wedding of Charles and Diana showed how England could come together.

Excerpt from The Mike Walsh Show: Episode 1157 broadcast on 23 September 1981.

Notes by Beth Taylor

Intrepid Wonder World! reporter Jonathan 'Jono' Coleman, is pictured here with singer Elton John on 20 November 1980 at a press event to announce a tour of Australia. 

The event was held at the Sydney Cricket Ground and Jono was there for a Simon Townsend's Wonder World! exclusive interview dressed in a bumble bee costume in the colours of Elton's football team, Watford FC, known as 'the hornets'.

Elton, who happened to have seen Jono on Wonder World! earlier that day, loved the costume. That interview was the first of many chats Jono had with Elton, including several for UK radio and television.

Also pictured in this photograph is entertainer Jeanne Little, famous for her regular segments on daytime television program The Mike Walsh Show. The photo ran in TV Times and TV Week magazines.

Notes by Mel Bondfield