The Kingmaker– John Brennan is a moving and entertaining Foxtel Original documentary that pays tribute to the late legendary figure who dominated Sydney radio for six decades.
The one-hour special premieres on Sunday, October 10 at 7.30pm on Foxtel’s dedicated documentary destination, FOX DOCOS and On Demand.
He was known as the Radio Kingmaker – responsible for launching the careers of notable radio personalities Alan Jones, Mike Walsh, Ray Hadley and Stan Zemanek. Receiving an OAM in 1989, John Brennan had an impact on radio that spanned decades, with the insight to harness the power of talk back giving voice to the every man.
Brennan died in March of this year, aged 89. Stars like Rugby league icon Phil Gould mourned him as a “great man” with a “beautiful family”.
Narrated by Tim Webster and combining exclusive vision and interviews with media personalities past and present, The Kingmaker – John Brennan is both the story of one man, and a nostalgic salute to Australian radio, and many of its talented stars.
Among those relating their memories of Brennan through the years are Ray Hadley, Alan Jones, Deborah Knight, Kerri-Anne Kennerley, Peter Overton, Ben Fordham, Bob Rogers, and Geraldine Doogue, as well as the late Mike Gibson, Frank Hyde, Frank Crook and Stan Zemanek.
The story is held together with extensive excerpts from an archive interview with the man himself in which he provides unique, historic and incisive observations on the many trends and upheavals that defined Sydney radio for generations of listeners, showcasing radio’s influence on Australian popular culture.
Beginning with his early days as a country radio announcer, the production follows Brennan’s triumphs in programming Top 40 music and celebrity disc jockeys, talkback, rock music, and the provocative and controversial shock-jocks. What emerges is a fascinating portrait of an immensely creative and successful media executive, widely loved and respected; the man everyone knew as “Brenno”.
The Kingmaker – John Brennan was produced by Graham McNeice at Shadow Productions for Foxtel.
