News Digest

40 years on, Prince Charles gets his revenge on hapless TV host Meldrum

Prince Charles has filmed a rib-tickling sketch mocking an excruciating interview he did on Australian TV 40 years ago. In the clip, he pokes fun at the car-crash exchange, which was recorded in 1977. He also has a dig at his hapless Australian interviewer, Molly Meldrum. In the affectionate video, Prince Charles jokes: “There is an old showbusiness saying ‘never work with animals or children’. But no one prepared me for Molly Meldrum.” Molly Meldrum is an Australian musician and celebrity who was a presenter of the much-loved ABC music show Countdown, which is celebrating its 40th anniversary. Prince Charles agreed to film a segment as part of a documentary about the programme.

Was it really 40 years ago? It only seems like yesterday. I wish it were tomorrow – I’d cancel it!

Prince Charles

Toe-curling archive footage from the time shows a sweating and nervous Meldrum falling over his words and struggling to compose himself in front of a young Prince Charles. “Do you not have one of these teleprompters?” a bemused Prince Charles suggests as the interview falls apart. “No,” comes the awkward reply, who breaks into expletives as he repeatedly fluffs his lines. His Royal Highness signs off his tribute saying: “Congratulations to Countdown. It’s an evening I will never forget!” ABC’s director of television, Richard Finlayson, said: “We’re absolutely thrilled His Royal Highness, The Prince of Wales, has taken time out from his royal duties to help celebrate Countdown’s birthday with us.”

I certainly learned some interesting new Australian words from Mr Meldrum. And if he could have read my mind, he would have learned some interesting new English words from me!

Prince Charles