‘HE WAS THE HAPPIEST PERSON ON TELEVISION'

A raft of Aussie TV’s finest pay tribute to their colleague and friend

- Craig Bennett

Ask any of his showbiz colleagues and they’ll tell you larger-than-life TV and radio funnyman Jono Coleman kept smiling and cracking jokes right up until his sad passing on July 9 after a heartbreaking four-year battle with prostate cancer.

Legendary TV host Simon Townsend will never forget the first time he met the Australian showbiz legend while hiring reporters for his new afternoon kids’ show.

“It was 1979 and his personality was enormous. He had undeniable magic, was completely outrageous, and had a wonderful way of making everyone laugh,” recalls Simon, who counted Jono as one of his closest friends.

FABULOUSLY CRAZY

“My first impression was that he’d be a handful, totally out of control and so I was reluctant to employ him. I was talked into letting Jono screen-test... his audition tape was brilliant, and the rest is history.

“It may have been Simon Townsend’s Wonder World!, but Jono became the true star of the show and I’m the first to admit it.

“His first story saw him dress up in a ‘penguin suit’ – a tuxedo – and while trying to interview penguins he fell into their pool. Fabulously crazy. That’s how it began,” says Simon. “Jono worked in advertising before getting his start on TV. Despite him parking in my parking spot, being habitually late, and constantly asking for a pay rise, it was hard not to love Jono. I can’t imagine a world without him. I never thought I’d outlive Jonathan Coleman.”