Name Gary Reilly | Role Television writer | |
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Books Leave Your Money on the Fridge: A Good Bloke's Life : Ted Bullpit, The Betty Wilson Secretarial Companion Similar People Sarah Monahan, Julie McGregor, Robert Hughes, Simone Buchanan, Ben Oxenbould | ||
Gary Reilly (born New Zealand, 1945) is an Australian television producer and writer. He is most famous for his work on a variety of comedy series such as The Naked Vicar Show, Kingswood Country, Hey Dad..! and Bullpitt!. He also has a strong friendship and was once neighbours with Australian artist and sculptor Mike Worrall. He is married to actress Julie Haseler.
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Career
Gary started work as a trainee with the New Zealand Broadcasting Corporation in 1964, working in various production roles before he moved to advertising; working mostly freelance in most of the industry's creative departments: as writer, art director, production manager, director and emcee both in New Zealand, Great Britain and Europe, then finally from 1970, in Australia. Around 1972 he teamed up with Tony Sattler, initially to make 'serious' commercials then with the advent of the ABC's youth radio station 2JJ, to create humorous pieces: "anti-ads" satirizing their industry, mock soap-operas (The Novels of Fiona Wintergreen), space-operas (Chuck Chunder of the Space Patrol) and hospital shows (Doctors and Nurses). But the pivotal radio show for their company RS Productions was The Naked Vicar Show broadcast nationally from 1976 to 1977 with Channel Seven commissioning a television version broadcast in 1977 and 1978, which in turn provided the basis for the Logie-winning Kingswood Country. From 1984 Gary has worked independently with a separate company Gary Reilly Productions. From 1986 to 1994 Gary produced a series Hey Dad.. for Channel Seven with writer John Flanagan, then Bullpitt! in 1997, featuring the main character ('Ted Bullpitt') from Kingswood Country, now in a retirement home.
Gary is a keen horseman and from 1998 to 2000 staged the "Daybreak Horse Trials" on his Yarramalong property; one of the world's biggest equestrian events, in 2000 it featured Olympic teams from the United States and Australia. Gary retired in 2001.
Controversy
Recently Gary Reilly has come under media scrutiny with regards to the TV show Hey Dad where child abuse allegations have been raised about Robert Hughes by at that time child actor Sarah Monahan. In interviews Gary Reilly has denied knowing of incidents involving Sarah Monahan but indicated that in a separate case with another young actor a chaperone was provided.