‘Baby John’ Burgess has sent fans into a frenzy after being spotted at a Perth shopping centre car park, with many saying he “still looks the same” more than two decades after stepping away from prime-time television.
The 82-year-old Australian television and radio host, best known for his role on the hit show Wheel of Fortune, was recognised by fan Trish Gregson at a Perth shopping centre on Tuesday.
After snapping a photo with the star, also affectionately known as ‘Burgo’, Gregson took to social media to share the chance encounter.
“Randomly walked past this Aussie legend and shouted Burgo! Such a nice man and so is his wife, such memories watching him growing up,” Gregson posted to Facebook, quickly clocking more than 1,500 likes at the time of writing.
The comment section soon filled with nostalgic reactions and disbelief at how little the veteran host appears to have changed.
“Wow, he doesn’t look any different to how he looked many decades ago,” one fan wrote, while another added: “Remarkable for a man of 82.”
“Good to see he’s still looking great ‘Baby Faced Burgess’!” a third commenter shared, while another said: “Looks exactly the same now to when he was spinning that wheel in the 90’s.”
Many fans also lamented the absence of Burgess on television, recalling his years as a staple of Aussie screens- from Channel Seven’s Wheel of Fortune, which he co-hosted alongside Adriana Xenides from 1989 to 1996, to his own Channel Nine game show, Burgo’s Catch Phrase, which ran from 1997 to late 2003.
“Loved watching Wheel Of Fortune with Burgo and Adriana Xenides. They worked so well together. Lovely photo,” one fan commented, while another wrote: “Wish he was still on TV was the best always loved John.”
While Burgess has long since stepped away from the cameras, he quietly returned to his broadcasting roots last year, heading back into radio in October.
The veteran presenter first began his career in radio back in 1965 after being discovered by the late great John Laws, before joining network station 2GB.
He later continued his work on the airwaves alongside his hugely successful television career.
However, in 2022, Burgess faced a serious health scare after suffering a bout of sepsis that left the then 78-year-old in the intensive care unit at Royal Perth Hospital for five days.
In an interview with A Current Affair in October 2024, the media icon reflected on his six-decade-long career and his decision to return to the microphone at 6PR Perth.
“At this stage of my life, to be starting something sort of new in this business, I guess, is probably a bit unique, because I’m not the youngest person around,” he said.
“I think it’s always good to keep your mind and brain active, so that’s what I’ve always tried to do.”
Burgess now hosts ‘Saturday Morning with Burgo’ on Perth’s Forever Classic 6iX, airing every Saturday from 8am to midday.