Gary Reilly

Who is Gary Reilly?

Gary Reilly is an Australian television producer and writer born in New Zealand in 1945. He is most famous for his work on a variety of comedy series such as The Naked Vicar Show, Kingswood Country, Hey Dad..! and Bullpitt!. He also has a strong friendship and was once neighbours with Australian artist and sculptor Mike Worrall. He is married to actress Julie Haseler.

Gary started work as a trainee with the New Zealand Broadcasting Corporation in 1964, working in various production roles before he moved to advertising; working mostly freelance in most of the industry's creative departments: as writer, art director, production manager, director and emcee both in New Zealand, Great Britain and Europe, then finally from 1970, in Australia. Around 1972 he teamed up with Tony Sattler, initially to make 'serious' commercials then with the advent of the ABC's youth radio station 2JJ, to create humorous pieces: "anti-ads" satirizing their industry, mock soap-operas, space-operas and hospital shows. But the pivotal radio show for their company RS Productions was The Naked Vicar Show broadcast nationally from 1976 to 1977 with Channel Seven commissioning a television version broadcast in 1977 and 1978, which in turn provided the basis for the Logie-winning Kingswood Country. From 1984 Gary has worked independently with a separate company Gary Reilly Productions. From 1986 to 1994 Gary produced a series Hey Dad.. for Channel Seven with writer John Flanagan, then Bullpitt! in 1997, featuring the main character from Kingswood Country, now in a retirement home.