Jonathan Coleman

Jonathan Coleman nicknamed Jono (born 29 February 1956 in Hackney, London, England), is an Australian television personality, radio announcer and writer and performer of comedy.

Career

Television

Coleman's broadcasting career started in the late 1970s in Australia when he was chosen a member of the reporting team for the popular afternoon children's TV magazine show "Simon Townsend's Wonder World", created and hosted by journalist Simon Townsend, who had been a prominent anti-Vietnam War activist in Australia in the late 1960s.

This was followed by several years as a DJ and presenter on the ABC's youth radio network Triple J, including a stint as co-host (with Ian Rogerson) on the popular Sunday afternoon comedy program "Off The Record", a program that featured the talents of comedy group The J-Team, which included comedians Lance Curtis and Angela Webber.

In 1992, Coleman worked as an announcer and sidekick on the Lifetime game show "Born Lucky" hosted by former one-time "Wheel of Fortune" and "Entertainment Tonight"'s Bob Goen.

In 1996, Coleman appeared in an episode of the ITV sitcom Is It Legal? as a DJ on the fictional station Hounslow FM.

UK Radio

Coleman's UK radio career began at BBC GLR, before moving to Virgin Radio in May 1993, presenting the Sunday - Thursday evening show from 7-10pm. In July 1993, he co-presented the Breakfast show alongside Russ Williams, where he remained until October 1997, moving to the drivetime show upon Chris Evans' arrival at the station.

Coleman was fired from Virgin Radio in early 1998 and moved to London's Heart 106.2, presenting the Breakfast show. He co-hosted the show with Harriet Scott from mid 2002.

In early 2005 , despite his breakfast show contributing to Heart 106.2 becoming the most listened to commercial radio station in London, he was axed, moving to sister station LBC 97.3, where for a short time he took over the weekend mid-morning show from 10am-1pm.

On 25th July 2005 Coleman took over the 3-5pm Afternoon show on BBC London 94.9 and from 17th October 2005, he took over the Breakfast show from Danny Baker, co-presenting with JoAnne Good. In late 2006, he had left BBC London and the UK to be near his 81-year-old mother Sylvia, in Sydney, Australia. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/6272465.stm Jonny come home] ]

Return to Australia

Coleman now presents The Jonathan Coleman Experience with RockWiz presenter Julia Zemiro at 5-7pm across Australia on the 'Classic Hits' network.

Since returning to Australia he has become a regular reporter for Channel Seven's morning news program Sunrise, for which he had previous appeared presenting entertainment news from London. His regular segment is reviewing movies.

He has also presented many television programmes for the BBC and appears regularly for many international television crossovers from the United Kingdom for Australian television. Coleman also wrote for "Punch magazine" titled Coleman's Bowls. He currently writes a weekly column for the national newspaper "The Daily Star".

He has also appeared in the British television programmes, "Celebrity Fit Club", "Celebrities Under Pressure", "I'm Famous and Frightened!" and "Have I Been Here Before?", and provides the voice of the narrator for the children's show "The Koala Brothers".

Coleman has also provided many voice-overs and narrations for many products both in Australia and internationally for companies such as Tooheys, Foster's, Qantas, the Australian Tourist Commission, and BBC TV, as well as in-flight programs for Qantas, Air New Zealand and Britannia.

His earlier Australian television work included regular appearances on children's show "Simon Townsend's Wonder World" as a reporter and regular TV appearances with his partner Ian Rogerson such as "Saturday Morning Live ". He also worked on radio in Sydney with him as the duo "Jono and Dano" with Ian Rogerson.

Jonathan Coleman is also the voice of the popular Australian 70s 80s and 90s music radio program "My Generation", heard on the Australian Radio Network stations Gold 104 (Melbourne), 2WS-FM (Sydney), 4KQ (Brisbane), Mix 102.3 FM (Adelaide), Mix 106.3 FM (Canberra), and over 50 regional radio stations throughout Australia.

In 2007, he filmed a cameo for long running Australian soap opera "Neighbours", which he was one of the witnesses at Karl and Susan Kennedy's wedding.

uspension from Sunrise

On 2 August 2007, Coleman was suspended indefinitely from Sunrise for revealing the supposed end to Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows on air. He later said that he had not read the book and the Seven Network released a statement regarding his actions. [cite web |url=http://www.seven.com.au/sunrise/moreinfo_070802_jonocoleman |title=Sunrise - Statement on Jono Coleman |publisher=Seven Network |date=2007-08-02 |accessdate=2007-08-03] Sunrise announced that their viewers would decide whether he would be fired. [cite web |url=http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,22177509-5012974,00.html |title=Coleman suspended for spoiling Harry Potter ending |publisher=Herald Sun |date=2007-08-02 |accessdate=2007-08-03] He kept his job with 70% of the vote.

Personal life

He lived in North London from 1990 until his return to Australia in 2005. He now resides in Sydney, and is married with two children.

References

External links

* [http://www.jonocoleman.com/ Official Website]
* [http://www.harrymmiller.com.au/Jonathan_Coleman.html Jonathon Coleman at Harry M. Miller]
* [http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2004/04/03/1080941724288.html How a jolly expat and $600m are set to change our image] - "Sydney Morning Herald", April 4, 2004
* [http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4153/is_20050506/ai_n14616324 London Evening Standard Article on leaving Heart]
* [http://www.news.com.au/adelaidenow/story/0,22606,22177510-5005962,00.html Jonathan Coleman temporarily dumped by Seven's Sunrise program after revealing the ending of the final Harry Potter book]