Jean Kittson
AM
Kittson launching the 11th Hour Campaign for the 2010 Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month campaign
Birth nameJean Kittson
Born1955 (age 67–68)
Lilydale, Victoria, Australia
MediumComedian, television
NationalityAustralian
Years active1989–present
SpousePatrick Cook

Jean Kittson AM (born 1955)[1] is an Australian performer, writer and comedian in theatre and print, on radio and television. She made her comedy debut at Melbourne's comedy venue Le Joke in a series of solo performances, and then in the stage version of Let The Blood Run Free.[2]

She came to national attention on The Big Gig. This was followed by Let the Blood Run Free, Kittson Fahey,[3][4] the Great Debate series[5] as well as Good News Week, The Glasshouse and The Einstein Factor.[2] She is also well known for her lively comedy debates for the ABC, Channel 9 and Channel Ten and was a regular guest on Channel 7's the Morning Show, Channel 9's KAK Show and 20 to One. She has also been a judge on Strictly Speaking and a guest on Talkin' 'Bout Your Generation.

Kittson is a regular guest on TGIF, ABC radio 702, Sydney and has been a regular columnist with New Weekly, Sunday Telegraph, the SMH Sydney Magazine, Inspire Magazine, and the Reader's Digest Health Smart magazine.

She is the author of Tongue Lashing, published by Penguin. She also authored a book on menopause, You're Still Hot To Me in 2014.[6]

She was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia in the 2023 Australia Day Honours.[7]

Television

Kittson is best known for her performances, particularly as a news commentator Veronica Glenhuntly, on the ABC1 evening comedy program The Big Gig,[8] which aired in the early 1990s. Kittson also starred in the TV series of Let The Blood Run Free, which was first shown on Network Ten in 1990, and ran for two seasons.[9] Kittson was a regular guest on ABC1's The Einstein Factor and The Glasshouse.

In 2022, Kittson appeared as a contestant on the sixth season of The Celebrity Apprentice Australia.[10]

Theatre highlights

Her first major role was in David Wiliamson's play, Siren in 1990.[8][11] Her theatre work also includes: A Midsummer Night's Dream; The Night of The Missing Bridegroom; and Behind The Mask. Kittson also performed Love Letters with Glynn Nicholas for the Melbourne Arts Festival and revisited the role in 2003 at the Noosa Arts and Cultural Festival with the late Campbell McComas.

Kitson played a schoolteacher in Delta Blues in 2005.[12]

Charity work

Jean Kittson is an avid supporter of multiple charities and is currently the Chair of the National Gynaecological Cancer Foundation.

In February 2010, Kittson became the official spokesperson for the Ovarian cancer awareness month for Ovarian Cancer Australia,[2] and in 2011 became the official national Afternoon Teal ambassador.

Jean is Patron of The Junction Works - Community Services[13] and an Ambassador for:

  • The Macular Disease Foundation Australia
  • Northcott Disability Services
  • The Raise Foundation – Youth Mentoring
  • Taldumande Member Foundation (Taldumande Youth Services) - Homeless youth and families in crisis.
  • Palliative Care Nurses Australia [14]

Cinema

In 2010, Kittson appeared in Bad Behaviour, starring Lindsay Farris, John Jarratt and Roger Ward, written and directed by Joseph Sims.[15]

Personal life

She is married to the cartoonist Patrick Cook; they have two daughters.[2]

Filmography

Film
Year Film Role Notes
2002 The Nugget Joyce
2005 Hating Alison Ashley Miss Belmont
2010 Bad Behaviour Jane Appeared in the 2010 Melbourne Underground Film Festival (received five awards) [16] 2011 Cinequest Film Festival[17] in California, 2011 Australian Film Festival, 2011 Another Hole in the Head Festival
Television
Year Title Role Notes
1989 The Big Gig Writer/actor
1990–1992 Let The Blood Run Free Nurse Pam Sandwich 26 episodes
1992–1993 Kittson Fahey Various characters
1999–2009 Good News Week Herself 7 episodes
2000 Gloria's House Dorothy 26 episodes
2003–2004 The Glass House Herself 3 episodes
2004–2008 The Einstein Factor Herself 17 episodes
2011 Swift and Shift Grace Cox 1 episode

References

  1. ↑ "Inside story: Jean Kittson". Herald Sun. 18 June 2011. Retrieved 18 December 2017.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Simons, Polly (9 February 2010). "Laughter is the best Medicine". North Shore Times. Archived from the original on 23 August 2011. Retrieved 12 September 2018.
  3. ↑ McDiarmid, Johanna (14 August 2015). "Jean Kittson: Tackling life's confronting issues with humour". ABC News. Retrieved 12 September 2018.
  4. ↑ Leedham, Nicole (11 October 1999). "Sister Act". The Canberra Times. p. 1. Retrieved 12 September 2018 – via Trove.
  5. ↑ "World Series Debating". Thaurunka. 11 October 1994. p. 34. Retrieved 12 September 2018 – via Trove.
  6. ↑ Cumming, Gillian (6 May 2014). "Jean Kittson wants to shed light on the biggest change that will happen in a woman's life ... Menopause". Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 12 September 2018.
  7. ↑ "Australia Day 2023 Honours: Full list". The Sydney Morning Herald. 25 January 2023. Retrieved 25 January 2023.
  8. 1 2 "Good Times The Cover's Off Jean Kittson". Canberra Times. 5 July 1990. p. 21. Retrieved 28 August 2018 – via Trove.
  9. ↑ Matthews, Kate. "Curator's notes Let the Blood Run Free – Episode 2 (1990)". ASO - Australia's audio and visual heritage online. Retrieved 12 September 2018.
  10. ↑ Knox, David (22 May 2022). "Celebrity Apprentice 2022: Meet the Cast". TV Tonight. Retrieved 22 May 2022.
  11. ↑ "Smile from a Siren". Canberra Times. 30 June 1990. p. 5. Retrieved 12 September 2018 – via Trove.
  12. ↑ "Delta blues". The Sydney Morning Herald. 11 March 2005. Retrieved 12 September 2018.
  13. ↑ Balding, Alison (9 June 2014). "Business Link and Junction Works ambassador Jean Kittson join Junk Free June fundraising goal". Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 12 September 2018.
  14. ↑ "Palliative Care Nurses Australia - Our Patron Jean Kittson". www.pcna.org.au. Retrieved 18 September 2018.
  15. ↑ Harvey, Dennis (5 June 2011). "Bad Behaviour". Variety. Retrieved 12 September 2018.
  16. ↑ "MUFF XI - The 11th Melbourne Underground Film Festival". www.muff.com.au. Archived from the original on 18 July 2011.
  17. ↑ "Cinequest : Film Festival : BAD BEHAVIOUR". Archived from the original on 23 July 2012. Retrieved 27 July 2012.
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