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In what year were the first Logie Awards presented?

1959. In 1959 the "TV Week" awards as they were known back then were presented on "In Melbourne Tonight". They were re-named the Logie Awards the next year when Graham Kennedy came up with the name in honour of the Scottish television pioneer John Logie Baird. Kennedy took out the television star of the year in it's first year and for the first year only, to be eligible for the award you had to be a Melbourne television personality. "TV Week" magazine has had a long association with the awards and to this date (2008) is still the sponsor of the awards show where many of the awards are voted on by its readers.

In the 1960s, Logies were given out not just to Television Personalities but musicians as well.

t. It is true. Between 1961 and 1964, Logies were presented to the best male and female singers in Australia. Winners included Judy Stone of the band "The Seekers" and Col Joye.

True or false? An Australian actor or actress can be working on an overseas show and still be eligible to win a Logie award.

f. To be eligible for a Logie award, an actor or actress must be working on a local based production and have been seen on Australian television such as "Home and Away" or "Neighbours" in the 12 month period since the last awards. Anthony La Paglia would be an example of someone who wouldn't be eligible as he is working on the American produced show "Without a Trace". Overseas television shows have been awarded Logies for Most Popular Overseas Program (for example "Friends" won this award in 2003) but the actors and actresses are not eligible. This award no longer exists.

Who was the first female to win the Gold Logie Award?

Lorrae Desmond. Lorrae Desmond first won the Gold Logie in 1962 when there were two presented, the other going to Tommy Hanlon. She was a favourite on the show "A Country Practice" where she played Shirley Gilroy, the local policeman, Frank's wife. Denise Drysdale won her first Gold Logie in 1975 when she was a joint winner with Ernie Sigley, the host of "The Ernie Sigley Show". Kylie Minogue won the award in 1988 for her role as Charlene on "Neighbours". Lisa McCune won the Gold Logie four years running from 1997-2000 for her role as Maggie Doyle on "Blue Heelers".

When they won the Gold Logie in 1988, who became the youngest ever winner of the award?

Kylie Minogue. Kylie was just 19 years old when she received her Gold Logie. She at that stage portrayed Charlene on the Australian soap, "Neighbours". She is now best known for her worldwide successful singing career with hits such as "Can't Get you Out of My Head". Kate Ritchie is best known for her role as Sally on "Home and Away". She finished with the show in 2008 after being with the show since it began in 1988. Jason Donovan is a former star with "Neighbours". He portrayed Charlene's husband Scott. He is also a singer and in recent years has starred on stage in the UK. Craig McLachlan starred as Charlene's brother, Henry, on "Neighbours" and has been seen on stage and screen since then. He won the Gold Logie award in 1990.

Which Australian show has been the most successful programme in the history of the Logie Awards?

Home and Away. Up to and including 2008, "Home and Away" has won 31 awards since it premiered in 1988. The show is set in the fictional town of Summer Bay. There is only one original cast member remaining from that first episode after the departure of Kate Ritchie from the screens in 2008 and that is Ray Meagher who portrays Alf Stewart. A close second is "A Country Practice" with 30 wins. This show was set in the fictional Wandin Valley. The show aired between 1981 and 1994. "Blue Heelers" picked up 25 Logie Awards. It was set in the fictional town of Mt Thomas and ran between 1994 and 2006. "Neighbours" has picked up 22 Logie Awards. It is set in the fictional Melbourne suburb of Erinsborough. It first screened in 1985.

How many times did Graham Kennedy won the Gold Logie for most popular personality on Australian television?

6. "The King" of Australian television, Graham Kennedy, won the Gold logie 6 times, making him the personality who has won the award the most times. He was the inaugural winner of the TV star of the year which was renamed the Gold Logie the next year. He has hosted many shows such as "In Melbourne Tonight", "Blankety Blanks" and was the controversial host of "Graham Kennedy's Funniest Home Videos". Graham died in 2005 at the age of 71. Ray Martin has won the Gold Logie 5 times and Bert Newton and Lisa McCune have each won the Gold Logie 4 times. They are still appearing on Australian television screens so it is possible that they may overtake Graham at a later stage.

True or false? There were two honorary Gold Logies given out in 1970 for an amazing feat that they had performed the year before that was broadcast to millions around the world.

T. Yes it is true, 2 honorary Gold Logies were presented to the Apollo 11 astronauts, Neil Armstrong and Edwin "Buzz" Aldrin for the first ever television broadcast from the moon 20th of July 1969.

The character Norman Gunston won a Gold Logie. Which year was this?

1976. Norman Gunston is a Character created by actor Garry McDonald. He was known as "The Little Aussie Bleeder" as he was quite often shown wearing bits of tissue on his face from where he had cut himself bleeding. He hosted "The Noman Gunston Show" which originally began on the ABC from 1975 and was shown on the Seven network after that. It was revamped in 1993 again on the Seven network where Norman was shown interviewing overseas and local celebrities such as Shirley McLaine, Peter Andre, Sam Neill and the band Guns'n'roses. Norman's creator, Garry McDonald, is well known also for his work on the Australian series "Mother and Son" alongside Ruth Cracknell.

Who was the inaugural recipient of the Hall of Fame Gold Logie?

Hector Crawford. Hector Crawford was the first recipient when the Hall of Fame Gold Logie was introduced in 1984. He was the founder of Crawford Productions which produced hit Australian shows such as "Homicide", "The Flying Doctors" and "The Sullivans". Paul Hogan received the honour in 1987 when he was only 48. He is best known for his role as Mick "Crocodile" Dundee, and on television in "The Paul Hogan Show". Bert Newton was inducted in 1988. He started in the radio business early on when he was still at school before moving to his best known work in television. Bryan Brown, best known for his film roles was inducted into the Hall of Fame at the age of 42. He starred alongside Tom Cruise in the film "Cocktail". He became famous for his role in the movie "Breaker Morant", and has starred in many Australian mini-series and telemovies.