The Australian TV industry celebrated its biggest night of the year on Sunday, July 30, 2023, with the 63rd TV Week Logie Awards. The star-studded event, hosted by comedian Sam Pang, was held at The Star Sydney and broadcast live on Channel 7. The night was full of surprises, emotions, and entertainment, as the best and brightest of Australian TV were honoured for their achievements.
The most coveted award of the night, the Gold Logie for Most Popular Personality on Australian TV, went to Sonia Kruger, who hosts The Voice, Dancing with the Stars, and Big Brother on Seven Network. Kruger beat out fellow nominees Hamish Blake, Julia Morris, Leigh Sales, Mark Coles Smith, Osher Günsberg, and Shaun Micallef for the top prize. In her acceptance speech, Kruger thanked her fans, colleagues, family, and friends for their support and dedicated the award to her late father, who passed away earlier this year.
The Silver Logie for Most Popular Actor was won by Sam Neill for his role in The Twelve, a drama series on FOXTEL and BINGE that follows the lives of 12 jurors who are sequestered in a hotel while deliberating a high-profile murder case. Neill thanked his co-stars, crew, and creators of the show for their collaboration and praised the quality of Australian TV. He also joked that he was glad to win the award before he retired from acting.
The Silver Logie for Most Popular Actress went to Ada Nicodemou for her role as Leah Patterson-Baker in Home and Away, the long-running soap opera on Seven Network. Nicodemou has been playing Leah since 2000 and has won two previous Logies for her performance. She expressed her gratitude to the viewers, the cast, and the crew of Home and Away and said that she felt lucky to be part of such an iconic show.
The Silver Logie for Most Outstanding Actor was awarded to Patrick Brammall for his role in Colin from Accounts, a comedy series on BINGE that follows the misadventures of a hapless accountant who gets involved in various schemes and scams. Brammall thanked his co-creator and co-star Harriet Dyer, who also won the Silver Logie for Most Outstanding Actress for her role in the same show. He also thanked BINGE for giving them the opportunity to make their show and said that he hoped to make more seasons.
The Silver Logie for Most Outstanding Actress was shared by Brooke Satchwell for her role in The Twelve and Harriet Dyer for her role in Colin from Accounts. Satchwell played a juror who had a dark secret in The Twelve, while Dyer played a con artist who teamed up with Brammall’s character in Colin from Accounts. Both actresses thanked their co-stars, directors, writers, and producers for their work and said that they were honoured to be recognised among such talented nominees.
The Silver Logie for Most Outstanding Supporting Actor went to Damon Herriman for his role in Black Snow, a thriller series on Stan that follows a group of strangers who are trapped in a remote ski resort after a snowstorm. Herriman played a mysterious guest who had a hidden agenda in the show. He thanked Stan for taking a risk on the show and said that he was proud to be part of such a diverse and talented cast.
The Silver Logie for Most Outstanding Supporting Actress was won by Virginia Gay for her role in After The Verdict, a drama series on 9Network that follows the aftermath of a controversial court case that divided the nation. Gay played a lawyer who represented one of the parties involved in the case. She thanked 9Network for backing the show and said that she was humbled to be part of such an important story.
The Graham Kennedy Award for Most Popular New Talent was won by Amy Shark, who made her acting debut as a judge on Australian Idol, the singing competition show on Seven Network. Shark is also a successful singer-songwriter who has won multiple ARIA Awards and APRA Awards. She thanked Seven Network for giving her the chance to be on Australian Idol and said that she had so much fun working with the other judges and contestants.
The Bert Newton Award for Most Popular Presenter was won by Tony Armstrong for his show A Dog’s World with Tony Armstrong, a lifestyle program on ABC that explores the bond between humans and dogs. Armstrong is also a former AFL player and a sports commentator. He thanked ABC for supporting his show and said that he loved sharing his passion for dogs with the viewers.
The Hall of Fame Award was posthumously given to Brian Walsh, a TV legend who died earlier this year at the age of 79. Walsh was a pioneer of Australian TV who worked as a producer, director, writer, host, and executive for various shows and networks. He was best known for creating shows such as Hey Hey It’s Saturday, The Footy Show, and Australian Idol. He was also a mentor and friend to many in the industry. A tribute video was played in his honour, featuring messages from some of his colleagues and collaborators, such as Daryl Somers, Eddie McGuire, Rove McManus, and Osher Günsberg. His wife and children accepted the award on his behalf and said that he would have been thrilled to receive such a prestigious honour.
The Most Outstanding Drama Series, Miniseries or Telemovie was won by The Twelve, which also won the Silver Logie for Most Popular Actor and the Silver Logie for Most Outstanding Actress. The show was praised for its gripping plot, complex characters, and stellar performances. The show’s creator and executive producer, Sarah Lambert, thanked FOXTEL and BINGE for their support and said that she was overwhelmed by the response to the show.
The Most Popular Entertainment Program was won by Lego Masters Australia, the reality show on 9Network that challenges contestants to build amazing creations with Lego bricks. The show is hosted by Hamish Blake, who also won the Silver Logie for Most Popular Presenter last year. Blake thanked 9Network for letting him host the show and said that he loved working with the contestants and the judges.
The Most Popular Comedy Program was won by Fisk, the sitcom on ABC that follows the misadventures of a corporate lawyer who is forced to work in a suburban law firm. The show is created by and stars Kitty Flanagan, who also won the Silver Logie for Most Popular Actress for her role in the show. Flanagan thanked ABC for giving her the freedom to make her show and said that she was grateful to the viewers for embracing her humour.
The Most Popular Reality Program was won by I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here!, the reality show on Network 10 that features celebrities living in a jungle camp and facing various challenges. The show is hosted by Julia Morris and Dr Chris Brown, who also won the Silver Logie for Most Popular Presenter for their roles in the show. Morris thanked Network 10 for trusting them with the show and said that she loved working with Brown and the celebrities.
The Most Popular Lifestyle Program was won by Travel Guides, the travel show on 9Network that features ordinary Australians reviewing various holiday destinations. The show is narrated by Denise Scott, who also won the Silver Logie for Most Popular Presenter for her role in the show. Scott thanked 9Network for giving her the opportunity to narrate the show and said that she enjoyed watching the travel guides have fun and adventures.
The Most Outstanding Entertainment Program was won by Upright, the comedy-drama series on FOXTEL and BINGE that follows a man who travels across Australia with a piano and a hitchhiker. The show is created by and stars Tim Minchin, who also won the Silver Logie for Most Outstanding Actor for his role in the show. Minchin thanked FOXTEL and BINGE for believing in his vision and said that he was proud of the show.
The Most Outstanding Comedy Program was won by Colin from Accounts, which also won the Silver Logie for Most Outstanding Actor and Actress. The show was hailed for its originality, wit, and charm. The show’s co-creator and co-star Harriet Dyer thanked BINGE for allowing them to make their show and said that she had a blast working with Brammall.
The Most Outstanding Reality Program was won by MasterChef Australia: Back To Win, the cooking competition show on Network 10 that featured former contestants returning for another chance to win. The show is hosted by Jock Zonfrillo, Melissa Leong, and Andy Allen, who also won the Silver Logie for Most Popular Presenter for their roles in the show. Zonfrillo thanked Network 10 for revamping the show and said that he loved working with Leong, Allen, and the contestants.
The Most Outstanding Children’s Program was won by Bluey Season 3, the animated series on ABC Kids that follows the adventures of a blue heeler puppy and her family. The show is created by Joe Brumm and produced by Ludo Studio. Brumm thanked ABC Kids for supporting his show and said that he was delighted to see how much children and parents loved Bluey.
The Most Outstanding Sports Coverage was won by State of Origin 2023: Game III, which aired on 9Network. The game saw Queensland defeat New South Wales in a thrilling decider at Suncorp Stadium. The coverage featured commentary from Ray Warren, Phil Gould, Andrew Johns, Paul Vautin, Darren Lockyer, Brad Fittler, Billy Slater, Wally Lewis, James Bracey, Erin Molan, Sam Thaiday, Allana Ferguson, Peter Sterling, Ruan Sims, Danika Mason, Neil Breen, Ben Dobbin, Emma Lawrence, Mat Thompson and Johnathan Thurston. Warren thanked 9Network for entrusting him with calling the game and said that he was honoured to be part of such a historic moment for rugby league. He also congratulated both teams for putting on a great show.
The Most Outstanding Factual or Documentary Program was won by Revelation, the investigative series on ABC that exposed the shocking abuse and cover-up within the Catholic Church. The show is presented by Sarah Ferguson, who also won the Silver Logie for Most Outstanding Presenter for her role in the show. Ferguson thanked ABC for backing her project and said that she was determined to expose the truth and seek justice for the victims.
The Most Outstanding News Coverage or Public Affairs Report was won by Four Corners: Inside the COVID-19 Crisis, which aired on ABC. The report revealed the behind-the-scenes stories of how Australia responded to the coronavirus pandemic, featuring interviews with health workers, politicians, scientists, and ordinary citizens. The report was produced by Sally Neighbour and reported by Louise Milligan, Sean Nicholls, Peter Cronau, and Mary Fallon. Neighbour thanked ABC for supporting their work and said that they were proud to serve the public interest and inform the nation.
The Most Outstanding Current Affairs Report was won by 60 Minutes: The Face of Evil, which aired on 9Network. The report exposed the horrific crimes of Bradley Edwards, the Claremont serial killer who murdered three young women in Perth in the 1990s. The report was produced by Grace Tobin and reported by Liam Bartlett. Tobin thanked 9Network for trusting them with the story and said that they were honoured to give a voice to the victims and their families.
The Most Outstanding Public Service Journalism was won by The Feed: Black Summer, which aired on SBS. The report covered the devastating bushfires that ravaged Australia in 2019-2020, highlighting the impact on communities, wildlife, and the environment. The report was produced by Patrick Abboud and reported by Alice Matthews, Marty Smiley, Alex Lee, and Marc Fennell. Abboud thanked SBS for valuing their journalism and said that they were humbled to share the stories of resilience and hope.
The Most Popular Australian Podcast was won by Shameless, a pop culture podcast hosted by Zara McDonald and Michelle Andrews. The podcast features discussions on topics such as celebrities, social media, feminism, and current affairs. McDonald and Andrews thanked their listeners for their support and said that they were thrilled to be recognised among such amazing podcasts.
The night also featured musical performances from Amy Shark, Delta Goodrem, Guy Sebastian, Jessica Mauboy, Keith Urban, Kylie Minogue, Sheppard, Tones And I, and Vance Joy. Some of the presenters who handed out the awards included Asher Keddie, Carrie Bickmore, Claudia Karvan, Deborah Mailman, Eddie Perfect, Hamish Blake, Hugh Sheridan, Joel Creasey, Lisa Wilkinson, Luke Jacobz, Magda Szubanski, Miranda Tapsell, Nazeem Hussain, Rebecca Gibney, Richard Wilkins, Rove McManus, Sam Frost, Shane Jacobson, and Sonia Kruger. The night also featured a special tribute to the TV stars who passed away in the past year, such as Brian Walsh, Bob Hawke, Jeanne Little, John Cornell, and Magda Subanski’s dog, Sunny.
The Australian Logies 2023 was a night to remember, as the TV industry celebrated its achievements, diversity, and creativity.
