ArtistInfo

Deadly Earnest And The Grave Situation

Band, AU
Rock, Pop and Soundtrack
A.k.a. Ian Bannerman

Deadly Earnest was a late-night horror host active on Australian television between 1961–78. Originated as a live (pre-video machine) host of a horror film package for Perth's TVW-7 by 1961, the character was most active between 1966 and 1972 when adopted by the 0-10 Network. Broadcast weekly, Deadly Earnest's Aweful Movies featured mainly b-grade horror movies introduced by local actors with a tongue-in-cheek characterization. The program was notorious for showing the absolute dross of supernaturally themed cinema, even going so far as to present the Worst Movie of the Year on at least one occasion. Ian Bannerman in particular was notable for his dry wit, withering ad-libs and black humour parodies of contemporary advertisements. Billed as a 'Dead-Pan Ghoul', Bannerman's Earnest resembled an undead 1960s 'mod' complete with sideburns and horn-rimmed glasses. In addition to Bannerman's solo appearances, Deadly Earnest was sometimes accompanied by two 'ghoulish assistants' during commercial breaks – possibly members of Bannerman's sideline band, The Grave Situation. Although the character's occupation was never specified, the show's opening sequence suggested he was some kind of 'zombified' undertaker (as suggested by his wheeling a casket across the rooftop of the then newly constructed Channel 10 Television Centre at North Ryde and through the studio's darkened corridors). [u]Actors portraying Deadly Earnest[/u] Ralph Baker (ATV-0 Melbourne) Ian Bannerman (TEN-10 Sydney) Max Bostock (TVW-7 Perth 1961) Hedley Cullen (SAS-10 Adelaide 1967–1974, 1975, 1978; TVW-7 Perth 1975) Shane Porteous (TVQ-0 Brisbane)

ArtistInfo App

Acknowledgements

ArtistInfo for Mac, iPad, and iPhone