Magda Szubanski has stepped back into the spotlight for the first time following her battle with cancer, with the iconic comedian making a wild appearance at the 2026 Logie Awards.<\/p>\n
Australia\u2019s biggest night in television came to a close with Sam Pang taking out the Gold Logie Award for Most Popular Personality on Australian Television. <\/p>\n
Host Robert Irwin, who was also nominated in the same category, brought out Szubanski to announce the winner.<\/p>\n
The actor emerged in a khaki fit donning a bandage, arm sling, and covered in various injuries as Irwin introduced her as Australia Zoo\u2019s newest team member.<\/p>\n
\u201cDon\u2019t all the trainees fall in the tiger enclosure?\u201d Szubanski asked.<\/p>\n
The pair paid homage to her Kath and Kim days when she asked if Irwin could announce the award instead, with the wildlife conservationist protesting that he could not in case he won.<\/p>\n
\u201cLike, do you really think that\u2019s gonna happen, Robert?\u201d Szubanski asked.<\/p>\n
\u201cSharon, you can\u2019t leave me. You can\u2019t leave me, Sharon. This is TV\u2019s night of nights, Sharon. Look at me. No, look at me. Look at me. I\u2019ve got one word to say to you Sharon \u2014 pleaaaase,\u201d Irwin told her, putting on his best Strzelecki voice.<\/p>\n
The appearance marks Szubanski\u2019s first public appearance in months, with the comedian announcing in February she was in remission following a battle with stage four mantle cell lymphoma. <\/p>\n
Pang received a standing ovation as he accepted the coveted Gold Logie, with the Have You Been Paying Attention panelist first thanking his family.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey know how important they are to me. I\u2019d like to thank the one in this country, and the secret one overseas as well,\u201d Pang joked.<\/p>\n
He also made special mention of his parents, who he \u201cgrew up watching television at the feet of\u201d. <\/p>\n
\u201cThey wouldn\u2019t let me on the couch,\u201d he quipped.<\/p>\n
\u201cWatching television in this country, you just never think you\u2019re going to be on it. So, it\u2019s a wonderful industry, it\u2019s a wonderful world full of talented people and amazing programs, as we\u2019ve all seen tonight.<\/p>\n
\u201cI just want to say I\u2019m very, very lucky and very, very grateful to be part of it. Thank you very much.\u201d<\/p>\n
Bittersweet win for beloved star\u00a0<\/p>\n
Sam Neill has been awarded a posthumous Logie just weeks after he died, with Heather Mitchell saying her close friend\u2019s \u201cheart would be so full\u201d during a heartfelt tribute.<\/p>\n
The Jurassic Park actor took out the gong for Lead Actor in a Drama, with the bittersweet win coming a little more than a month after he died from pneumonia in Sydney. <\/p>\n
Neill had announced he had beaten cancer just months prior.<\/p>\n
The accolade was awarded for his work on The Twelve: Cape Rock Killer. <\/p>\n
His friend, Heather Mitchell, accepted the award on his behalf. <\/p>\n
\u201cHello everyone, I\u2019m so sorry I\u2019m not Sam. I know how much this would mean to Sam,\u201d Mitchell said.<\/p>\n
\u201cLooking out here at all of you \u2026 I know his heart would be so full, and he\u2019d want to pour you all the wine and embrace you all. Thank you on behalf of Sam.\u201dThe Twelve is no stranger to the Logies, with Neill taking out the awards for most popular actor (2023) and best lead actor in a drama (2025) for his work on the popular program. <\/p>\n
The show, which sees Neill play a defence lawyer in a jury trial, was also nominated for a series of other Logies between 2023 and 2025.<\/p>\n
Mitchell said he was \u201cincredibly proud\u201d of the show and talked about it a lot.<\/p>\n
An emotional tribute to all those in the television industry who died over the last year, including Sam Neill, brought the Logies to a pause earlier in the evening.<\/p>\n
Katie Noonan and Andrea Lam performed one of Neill\u2019s favourite songs, Don\u2019t Dream It\u2019s Over (originally by Crowded House), during the ceremonies\u2019 in memoriam segment, with photos of all those who died brought up on screen.<\/p>\n
Tears as star makes history at TV awards<\/p>\n
Deborah Mailman became the very first Indigenous actor to be inducted into the Logie Hall of Fame, with the television star not the only one wiping away tears as her fellow performers cheered her on. <\/p>\n
There was hardly a dry eye in the room as Mailman made history on Sunday evening. <\/p>\n
The Bidjara and Maori actor wiped away tears as the crowd rose in a standing ovation to recognise her illustrious career. <\/p>\n
Mailman, who has starred in a plethora of shows including Offspring and Total Control, said she was \u201coverwhelmed to be the first Aboriginal person to receive this honour\u201d. <\/p>\n
\u201cAnd as I look around the room I\u2019m so proud to see so many of our mob being celebrated tonight,\u201d Mailman said.<\/p>\n
The stalwart of Australian film paid particular attention to young star Eloise Hart, who was nominated for a Logie at just 10-years-old for her work on the program Goolagong.<\/p>\n
She thanked all her loved ones including her husband, and made special mention of her parents who encouraged her acting journey.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen I had the dream to be an actor and go to university my parents met my dream with nothing but love and encouragement,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd every time I made that 24 \u00bd hour bus ride on the Greyhound Bus from Brissy back home to Mt Isa, my mum and dad were always there waiting for me.\u201d<\/p>\n
Cate Blanchett, Claudia Karvan, and Miranda Tapsell were among those who sang Mailman\u2019s praises in a video played to the ceremony, with her school drama teacher even making a cameo. <\/p>\n
\u201cShe always brings such depth and intelligence to Australian work,\u201d Tapsell said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s more than just meat pies and vegemite \u2026 there\u2019s more to Australian stories than that and she brings that nuance to it all.\u201d<\/p>\n
Blanchett hailed her a \u201ctrailblazer\u201d.
\u201cDeb, to go back over your incredible library, not only work but your achievements and your influence \u2014 it makes me proud to be Australian, and I\u2019m very proud to be your friend. Congratulations.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2018Never\u2019: Denton\u2019s James Packer life lesson<\/p>\n
Andrew Denton was also inducted into the Hall of Fame on Sunday evening, with the greatest hits of his career played with commentary from his loved ones and former colleagues.<\/p>\n
It took a hilarious twist when Australian billionaire James Packer was brought up on screen to sing the praises of the television producer and comedian. <\/p>\n
\u201cCongratulations for an amazing career. If I was there, I\u2019d sit on your lap,\u201d Packer said, paying homage to when Denton sat on him at the 1999 Logies.<\/p>\n
Denton shared a few lessons from his career including too, including the importance of backing yourself, preparing to fail, and praising others \u201ceven if they\u2019re your rival\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s it, that\u2019s everything I\u2019ve learned, other than never to lap dance James Packer,\u201d Denton said.<\/p>\n
He also expressed his joy to be receiving the accolade on the same night as Mailman.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf you don\u2019t adore Deborah Mailman, you\u2019re on the wrong planet and I suggest you leave it right now,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m also very relieved, and I\u2019m sure she is too, that this finally puts to bed the rumours that have dogged us for years that she and I are the same person.\u201d<\/p>\n
Irwin rips out lizard, snakes at awards<\/p>\n
Irwin has stripped down to his khakis and ripped out multiple reptiles, first handing off a blue tongue lizard to Dr Chris Brown. <\/p>\n
Brown had earlier asked the wildlife conservationist if he was planning on following in his father\u2019s footsteps and reuniting Tim Webster with a snake on stage at the awards. <\/p>\n
Steve Irwin brought out a live snake at the 2003 Logies which went on to bite Webster. <\/p>\n
\u201cIf there are any animal malfunctions, I know you got my back, mate,\u201d Irwin said on the red carpet. <\/p>\n
\u201cI appreciate that. A bit of e-reptile dysfunction, if you will,\u201d Brown replied.<\/p>\n
After passing off the lizard to Brown Irwin took out two snakes, passing them through the crowd.<\/p>\n
Creator of iconic Aussie show honoured<\/p>\n
The creator, writer and producer of the popular Australian show A Country Practice, James Davern, has been honoured as the show was inducted into the Logie Hall of Fame.<\/p>\n
Davern died in 2023 at the age of 90, with his son, Pat Davern, accepting the award on his behalf.<\/p>\n
\u201cDad\u2019s number one rule for making quality television was never underestimate the intelligence of your audience. That belief guided he storylines that cemented the show in the national conscience,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
A group of actors, writers, directors and crew joined Davern on stage in a moving display.<\/p>\n
\u201cDad would have wanted to thank each and every one of you, but since he isn\u2019t here to do it, I will \u2026 Thank you, all of you,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u2018Never forget\u2019: Tribute to Bondi victims<\/p>\n
Journalists and producers from Seven honoured the 15 innocent people who were killed in the alleged terror attack at Bondi Beach as the network won the Logie for best news or current affairs report.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is not a moment for celebration \u2026 I think in many ways this is a moment of reflection,\u201d they said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe should never forget those 15 innocent lives that were lost.<\/p>\n
\u201cTonight \u2026 we should think about doing whatever we can \u2026 to ensure that something like this never happens again in this country.\u201d<\/p>\n
Karvan\u2019s heartfelt speech<\/p>\n
Karvan won the Silver Logie for Best Supporting Actress in a Drama for her work on the program Homebodies, with the iconic actor\u2019s speech met with enormous applause. <\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve won a few of these, and without throwing shade on any of my previous wins, this one feels like the most significant and important one. First trans story at the Logies,\u201d Karvan said.<\/p>\n
\u201cMay all trans parents and kids \u2014 parents of trans kids and trans kids \u2014 feel seen and heard.\u201d <\/p>\n
Stefanovic, Hanson butt of the joke at awards<\/p>\n
Karl Stefanovic was the butt of several jokes at Australia\u2019s biggest night in television, with multiple stars taking aim at the former Today host just weeks after his dramatic exit from Nine.<\/p>\n
Irwin took aim at Stefanovic at the beginning of the ceremony, revealing he had saved a seat for the former Today co-host.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re about to get going, but before we do, just a quick little bit of housekeeping,\u201d Irwin said.<\/p>\n
\u201cUnfortunately, Karl Stefanovic didn\u2019t RSVP tonight, which means we didn\u2019t have to hire quite as many bartenders. But we\u2019ve kept him a spare seat just in case. <\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s over there to the right, the far right.\u201d<\/p>\n
Guy Montgomery was next in line with a Stefanovic wisecrack, asking if anyone thought the former Today host had \u201cnot been the same since he got the Covid vaccine\u201d. <\/p>\n
He then announced that Kyle Sandilands was not at the awards, which was met with scattered applause from the crowd.<\/p>\n
Pauline Hanson also came under fire when actor Shane Jacobson struggled to open an envelope on stage.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy god! If Pauline Hanson\u2019s mouth was this hard to open, wouldn\u2019t the world be a better place?\u201d Jacobson said.<\/p>\n
Stefanovic was up for a gong for his work on Today just weeks after he left the program.<\/p>\n
Australians woke up with Stefanovic for decades, with the veteran broadcaster working for the Nine Network for 26 years before they parted ways back in June. <\/p>\n
His exit came shortly after he interviewed far-right activist Tommy Robinson on his personal project, the Karl Stefanovic Show. <\/p>\n
His departure from Today played out just four days after voting for the Logies opened, with Stefanovic now just hours from finding out whether he will be crowned the country\u2019s most popular presenter.<\/p>\n
He was up against his former Today co-host Sarah Abo, who recently welcomed her first child, Sonny.<\/p>\n
Ally Langdon ultimately took out the award.<\/p>\n
Former Logies host Sam Pang gave Irwin a bit of advice during the ceremony, telling the young star he was doing a \u201cwonderful job\u201d but to \u201cmove it along\u201d. <\/p>\n
The jest came just after Irwin had asked A Current Affair presenter Ally Langdon how her night was going, with Langdon replying: \u201cI\u2019ll ask the questions, thank you\u201d. <\/p>\n
\u2018I bleed khaki\u2019: Irwin wins first ever Logie<\/p>\n
Irwin has taken out the Bert Newton Award for Most Popular Presenter for his work on I\u2019m a Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here. <\/p>\n
The young star thanked his co-star, Julia Morris, before telling the crowd he is a wildlife conservationist first and foremost.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy heart beats from Australia Zoo, and I bleed khaki,\u201d Irwin said. <\/p>\n
He said his family, who are on a crocodile expedition in Far North Queensland, were watching the awards via a satellite connection, thanking them and his Australia Zoo team for their support before making a touching tribute to his father, Steve Irwin.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat an honour it is for all of us together to work toward a mission that my dad started. That is the honour of a lifetime, and I never thought I\u2019d get to bring that mission to this stage,\u201d he said.
\u201cBut here we are, and thank you.\u201d<\/p>\n
Other big names up for accolades included the likes of Jacob Elordi, Odessa Young, Thomas Weatherall, Asher Keddie, and Simon Baker. <\/p>\n
More to come<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Magda Szubanski has stepped back into the spotlight for the first time following her battle with cancer, 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