Obituary: Jonathan Coleman

Television and radio personality Jonathan Coleman has died surrounded by family after a four-year battle with prostate cancer. He was 65 years old.

His son Oscar issued a statement on behalf of the family earlier today:

Born in the UK in 1956, he was working in advertising in Australia and came to fame as a reporter on the children’s show Simon Townsend’s Wonder World in 1979. His reporting style, and the comical characters that he portrayed in the show, made him a favourite with viewers.

He formed a successful on-air partnership with Ian ‘Dano’ Rogerson on radio station Triple J and then at Triple M. They worked together on television hosting Wavelength for the Nine Network and later Have A Go, Saturday Morning Live and Late Night With Jono And Dano for the Seven Network. Coleman also appeared on Australia Live on New Year’s Day in 1988.

He returned to his native United Kingdom and had a successful radio and television career there for over 15 years, while continuing to maintain ties to Australia, appearing on Tonight Live With Steve Vizard and Hey Hey It’s Saturday and appearing as a UK correspondent on Sunrise.

Returning to Australia, Coleman continued to work on radio and television, most recently as a presenter on Studio 10 and as narrator on the children’s program, The Koala Brothers. He also made a cameo appearance on Neighbours and guest appearances on Spicks And Specks, The Celebrity Apprentice Australia and Talkin’ ‘Bout Your Generation. 

In 2015 he was awarded an Order of Australia Medal (OAM) for service to the broadcast media industry, and to the community..

Jonathan Coleman is survived by his wife of 30 years, Margot, and children Oscar and Emily.

Source: TV Week, 25 October 1980. IMDB.

 

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