In a truly fitting farewell for the man known as ‘Mr. Television’, Bert Newton’s state funeral will be live-streamed by Channel 9 and 9Now, with coverage kicking off around 10 am Melbourne time.
The funeral itself will be held at St Patrick’s Cathedral in Melbourne, with over 500 people reportedly set to attend.
“Bert was to me Mr. Television,” said actor and close friend Paul Hogan, speaking on The Today Show this morning.
“He’s the first sort of person I can remember from television and he was always so good and so professional. He’s irreplaceable.”
Presenter Susie Eleman also told the program that she expected the service to be “bittersweet.”
“We thought he was going to be around forever,” she said.
“I’ve got lots and lots of extra tissues with me.
“I’m sure there is going to be a few laughs along the way because that’s how Bert would have wanted it.”
Newton passed away two weeks ago at the age of 83 after a long and successful life lived in the public eye
He began his career in radio broadcasting, before moving to the screen and becoming a fixture in living rooms around the country from 1956 onwards.
A regular on both the Nine and Ten networks, his work included hosting duties of In Melbourne Tonight, New Faces, Good Morning Australia, 20 to 1, and Bert’s Family Feud.
