John Blackman, the Australian radio and television presenter best known as the voice of Hey Hey It’s Saturday, has died at the age of 76. His death was announced on Channel Seven’s Morning Show by entertainment reporter Peter Ford. No cause was given, but Blackman had been diagnosed with an aggressive form of skin cancer in 2019, which led to the removal of his jaw. The cancer reappeared in 2022, requiring further extensive surgeries.
Blackman grew up in Mount Waverley, Victoria, and began his radio career in his early 20s, working at stations including 2GN Goulburn, 2CA Canberra, 2UE Sydney, 3AK Melbourne, Triple M Adelaide, and 3AW in Melbourne. In 1971, he joined the Nine Network’s Hey Hey It’s Saturday, providing voiceovers and voicing characters such as Dickie Knee. He remained with the show until 1999 and returned for reunion specials in 2009 and 2021.
Tributes have poured in, with Melbourne radio veteran Neil Mitchell calling Blackman a “top class broadcaster”. Ford said, “Australia is a sadder place with this news.” In his later years, Blackman’s time on Hey Hey It’s Saturday was reappraised, particularly regarding the treatment of people of colour. He faced criticism for his conduct towards Malaysian-Australian singer Kamahl, including jokes about his race and an incident where white powder was thrown in Kamahl’s face. Blackman defended his actions as being of their time, saying, “none of it with any intended malice.”
In 2007, Blackman had a seizure and was diagnosed with a benign brain tumour, which was successfully removed. He continued to have health issues and was diagnosed with basal-cell carcinoma in 2019. Reflecting on his diagnosis, he said, “It’s like I ploughed into a tree and my life changed forever,” and added that it gave him “a new appreciation for someone who looks different and sounds different.” Blackman is survived by his wife, Cecile, and their daughter.
