7NEWS Spotlight Presents: 70 Years of Seven airs on Channel 7 – Michael Usher will bring together seven familiar faces for a prime-time anniversary special on Sunday 11 October at 8.00pm on Channel 7 and 7plus.
7NEWS Spotlight Presents: 70 Years of Seven marks seven decades since Seven first went to air in 1956. It arrives on the eve of the network’s official 70th birthday, looking back at its entertainment, news, sport and live-event coverage.
For viewers, the special offers more than a run of anniversary clips. Seven is placing presenters from different corners of the network around the same table to revisit the programmes and events that became shared television memories.
Who joins Michael Usher?
Usher is joined by Bruce McAvaney, Georgie Parker, Larry Emdur, Sonia Kruger, Johanna Griggs, Natalie Barr and Effie. Their conversation will be accompanied by rare archival footage, previously unseen bloopers, personal reflections and, according to Seven, a few surprises.
The programme traces a path through Cop Shop, Kingswood Country and A Country Practice, as well as later favourites including Gladiators, Popstars, Fast Forward, Acropolis Now and Kath and Kim. The anniversary also takes in Olympic triumphs, royal weddings, breaking news and other live moments.
Usher says bringing the group together was an enormous task, but their friendships made room for stories, laughter and powerful recollections. “This has been possibly the best TV show I’ve ever worked on. It’s a big television event,” he said.
He added that the participants approached the show as viewers and television fans as well as broadcasters. Sharing favourite moments, he said, was a reminder of television’s continuing place in Australian life.
Watch the official preview
7NEWS Spotlight Presents: 70 Years of Seven airs Sunday 11 October at 8.00pm on Channel 7 and 7plus. For more TV Central Channel 7 stories, head to our Channel 7 section. Viewers can also find the programme through the public 7NEWS Spotlight site and 7plus.
