She was the controversial presenter of one of the most important shows on Australian television.
And now fans have gone wild for Big Brother icon Gretel Killeen, 61, and called for her return to fame after a famous clip of her from 2006 resurfaced on Instagram this week.
In the video, shared by nostalgic TV account korporatekarina, Gretel can be seen displaying her signature sass in a “patronising” interview with Michael McCoy.
Known for her witty digs, Gretel took no nonsense from the Big Brother contestant following her eviction and rubbished his claims of “editing” on the show.
Michael famously claimed that his infamous “kiss” with fellow Big Brother housemate David Graham was edited, before later admitting that they staged the moment for the cameras.
Not believing his “editing” claims, presenter Gretel continually interrupted the TV star and poured cold water on his claims in a famous interview that shocked viewers.
“How do you know (the kiss video) was well edited if you haven’t seen it?” he argued at one point.
“I’m going by hearsay,” Michael admitted, and Gretel responded passionately, “Well, that’s always a good basis.”
Fans have gone wild for Big Brother icon Gretel Killeen (pictured in 2003), 61, and called for her return to the spotlight after a famous clip of her from 2006 resurfaced on Instagram this week.
In the video, Gretel can be seen displaying her trademark sass in a “condescending” interview with Michael McCoy as she passionately rejects his claims of editing.
The iconic moment from the interview was re-shared on Instagram with the caption ‘That boss who doesn’t listen’ and fans went absolutely crazy in the comments section.
Nostalgic Big Brother fans have shared their memories of Gretel, who hosted every season of Big Brother from 2001 to 2007, and wondered where the famous presenter is now.
“One of the original Karens,” one follower commented on the post, while another praised Gretel’s style as “patronising at its finest.”
Another praised her, calling her “lovely”, while another added: “I thought she was the smartest one in the shed. Where is she now?”
Shortly after rising to fame on Big Brother, Gretel spoke about why she enjoyed doing the show.
“I love doing Big Brother because there’s that element of surprise,” he told the Sydney Morning Herald in 2002.
“I have no idea what anyone is going to say because no one knows how they are going to handle being in a house under constant surveillance.”
Gretel also said that when she looks back on her career, which never included a nine-to-five job, she thinks it is “great” and there has been “a lot of colour and movement”.
Gretel was replaced as Big Brother host by duo Kyle Sandilands and Jackie ‘O’ Henderson in 2008.
Although Gretel left her prominent television role while the franchise was at its peak, the media veteran has continued to forge a distinguished career as a commentator and author.
The mother-of-two has been no stranger to viewers, with regular appearances as a panellist on Network 10’s The Project and Seven’s Sunrise.
Nostalgic Big Brother fans shared their memories of Gretel, who hosted every season of Big Brother from 2001 to 2007, and wondered where the famous presenter is now (pictured in 2004)
She has also appeared regularly as a guest speaker on Today.
Gretel began her television career in the late 1980s in daytime alongside another media veteran, Ray Martin.
Known then as a comedian, Gretel attracted a cult following as the “star” of the soap opera A Town Like Dallas, which became a regular segment on Martin’s Channel Nine lunchtime show.
In 1990, she landed a brief job as an anchor on the nightly news program Coast to Coast.
After reaching new heights of fame on Big Brother, Gretel memorably presented the Logie Awards in 2009.
She also appeared with comedian Matt Okine on the reality series How Not to Behave, which aired on ABC in 2015.
Gretel, who is often outspoken on issues such as social justice, surprised fans in 2018 when she appeared on the SBS series Go back to where you came from.
She had previously described Australia’s treatment of refugees as “barbaric” before appearing on the series.
For the show, Gretel traveled to Turkey and joined a Red Cross team to deliver food to war victims on the Syrian border.
Shortly after that harrowing experience, Gretel returned to her reality TV roots and joined the cast of The Masked Singer in 2019.
However, he failed to impress as Octopus and was shown the door in the first episode.
Gretel was back in the spotlight when there was much talk of her returning for the Big Brother reboot in 2020.
However, the role eventually went to Sonia Kruger, 59, who had already hosted the show in 2012.
A prolific author, Gretel has published 30 books, including a children’s series and two “fictional memoirs”: The Night My Bum Dropped and Jimmy and Gret Don’t Do Sex.
Gretel was back in the spotlight when there was much talk that she would be returning for the Big Brother reboot in 2020. However, the role eventually went to Sonia Kruger.
That same year, Gretel appeared on a comedy podcast, Handsome and Gretel.
Gretel is a prolific author and has published 30 books, including a children’s series and two “fictional memoirs”: The Night My Bum Dropped and Jimmy and Gret Don’t Do Sex.
Notoriously private about her private life, Gretel shares two adult children with her ex, Mark Morgan.
The couple divorced in 1993 after marrying in 1987. She then raised her children, Ezekial Morgan, 34, and Epiphany Morgan, 30, as a single mother.
Her two children appear in the book series My Sister by Gretel.