Craig Reucassel

Craig Reucassel
Reucassel in 2013
Birth name	Craig Bruce Reucassel
Born	South Africa
Medium	Radio, television, print and stage
Nationality	Australian
Years active	1999–present
Genres	Satirical comedy
Spouse	Keisha Hopgood[citation needed]
Children	2
Notable works and roles	The Chaser The Chaser Decides (2001, 2004, 2007) CNNNN (2002–03) The Chaser's War on Everything (2006–07, 2009) The Chaser's Age of Terror Variety Hour (2008) Yes We Canberra! (2010) The Checkout (2013–2018) The Hamster Decides (2013) War on Waste (2017–23)
Website	chaser.com.au

Craig Bruce Reucassel is a prominent figure in Australian entertainment, celebrated for his wit and satirical prowess across television and radio platforms with the Australian Public Broadcaster ABC.

As a member of the renowned satirical team, The Chaser, Reucassel has left an indelible mark on Australian comedy.

One of his notable hosting roles was on the Australian adaptation of Balls of Steel, which premiered in April 2011. This program showcased Reucassel's ability to engage audiences with his comedic style while pushing boundaries with daring stunts and skits.

Since 2013, Reucassel, alongside fellow Chaser member Julian Morrow, has been a main presenter on the ABC program "The Checkout." This show delves into consumer rights and exposes unethical business practices, empowering viewers with valuable information about their purchases.

In 2017, Reucassel embarked on a significant environmental initiative with the four-part ABC TV series "War on Waste." This groundbreaking program shed light on Australia's alarming rates of clothing and food waste, highlighting their environmental consequences and advocating for sustainable solutions.

Following the success of "War on Waste," Reucassel continued his environmental advocacy with the 2018 series "Fight For Planet A: Our Climate Challenge." This installment focused on the detrimental impact of single-use plastics, such as straws, on the environment, urging viewers to adopt eco-friendly practices.

Expanding his repertoire beyond comedy and environmental activism, Reucassel ventured into directing with the two-part ABC TV series "Big Deal" in 2021. This investigative program, hosted by actor Christian Van Vuuren, explored the influence of lobbying and donations on Australia's political landscape, providing valuable insights into the country's democratic processes.

In 2024, Reucassel embarked on a new endeavor as the presenter of "Breakfast" on ABC Radio Sydney, further solidifying his position as a multifaceted media personality. Through his various projects, Reucassel not only entertains audiences but also educates and inspires them to engage with important social and environmental issues.

Early life[edit]

Reucassel was born in South Africa and moved to Adelaide at a young age with his parents.^[1][2][3] There, he attended Semaphore Park Primary School.^[4] The family relocated to the Southern Highlands of New South Wales, and Reucassel attended Bowral Public School and Bowral High School.^[5][1] In 1993, he represented Bowral High School at The Sydney Morning Herald Plain English Speaking competition.^{[citation needed]}

Reucassel attended the University of Sydney, and completed a Bachelor of Economics (Social Science) degree in 1999 and graduated with a Bachelor of Laws degree in 2002. With a strong dedication to extracurricular activities on campus, Reucassel ran the arts revue and the canoe club, and was an editor of the student newspaper Honi Soit.^[6] He also debated at several World Universities Debating Championships, ranking 30th in the World at Manila in 1999^[7] and 167th in Glasgow in 2001.^[8] In 2000 he competed in the Philip C. Jessup Cup international law mooting competition, his team winning the Australian rounds.^[9] He graduated from the Sydney Law School, along with Chaser colleagues Julian Morrow, Dominic Knight and Chas Licciardello.^[10]

Triple J[edit]

In 2004 and 2005, Craig Bruce Reucassel embarked on a radio journey, co-hosting the drive-time show "Today Today" on Triple J alongside his fellow Chaser, Chris Taylor^[11][12]. This dynamic duo brought their trademark wit and humor to the airwaves, entertaining audiences with their unique brand of comedy.

Their partnership on "Today Today" was not only a source of entertainment but also showcased their versatility as comedic talents beyond television. The show provided a platform for Reucassel and Taylor to engage with listeners in a more intimate setting, further solidifying their presence in the Australian media landscape.

Following their successful stint on drive-time radio, Reucassel and Taylor reunited for their Sunday afternoon show, "Bloody Sunday," which saw them return for relief shifts in mid-2006 and during the summer of 2006–07. This return to the airwaves demonstrated their enduring appeal and ability to captivate audiences across different time slots and formats.

Through their radio ventures, Reucassel and Taylor continued to demonstrate their comedic prowess, cementing their status as formidable talents in the Australian entertainment industry. Their contributions to Triple J's lineup added yet another dimension to their already impressive body of work, further endearing them to audiences nationwide.

The Chaser's War on Everything[edit]

Craig Bruce Reucassel played a pivotal role as a founding member of the acclaimed satirical group, The Chaser team. His contributions extended across various media platforms, including their satirical newspaper and several television programs aired on ABC TV. Notable among these were "The Election Chaser," "CNNNN," "The Chaser Decides," and "The Chaser's War on Everything."

Reucassel's involvement with "The War" has been significant, spanning from its pilot episode to its subsequent successes. Additionally, his personal life includes a partnership with his wife Keisha, with whom he shares three children. Interestingly, their son Ollie has even made appearances in sketches featured on "The War."

Known for his daring and humorous confrontations, Reucassel was often the chosen one to engage with prominent figures, such as former Prime Minister John Howard. One particularly memorable encounter involved an axe stunt during one of Howard's morning walks, a moment that etched itself into the annals of Australian political satire.

Speedos incident[edit]

On March 19, 2007, a memorable incident unfolded during a campaign event for the New South Wales State Election involving the then opposition leader, Peter Debnam, and the comedic antics of Craig Bruce Reucassel. Dressed in nothing but Speedos and a baseball cap^[13], Reucassel humorously parodied Debnam's penchant for campaign appearances in swimwear.

As TV cameras shifted their focus to Reucassel rather than Debnam, the comedian seized the opportunity to inject humor into the situation, quipping, "Sorry, I'm not Peter Debnam, he's over there. Just because I'm wearing this doesn't mean I'm Peter Debnam." Despite his comedic efforts, Reucassel's attempts to elicit a response from the opposition leader were met with silence, and even his gesture to shake Debnam's hand went unnoticed.

This incident not only showcased Reucassel's irreverent humor but also underscored the power of satire in the political arena. By cleverly subverting the seriousness of a campaign event, Reucassel drew attention to the theatricality of political campaigns and the often scripted nature of public appearances by politicians.

The axe stunt[edit]

On 2 August 2006, Reucassel responded to a news story about a private school student who had hugged then-Prime Minister John Howard while holding a screwdriver during one of Howard's morning walks. To test the Prime Minister's security arrangements, he approached Howard during a morning walk and asked for a hug while holding a large plastic battle axe. Reucassel did receive the hug, but a later approach while holding a running chainsaw was not so successful. There was much debate surrounding whether to turn on the chainsaw and whether they would be shot at for doing this.^[14][15] Cut out from this segment was an unsuccessful attempt that took place between the axe and the chainsaw, in which Reucassel was holding a four-point-star mace.^[16]

Other work[edit]

In 2012 Reucassel was a patron of the Left Right Think-Tank, Australia's first independent and non-partisan youth think-tank.^[17]

In 2019 he began acting as one of the hosts of The Drum on ABC TV.^{[citation needed]}

Since 2024, Reucassel has been presenting Breakfast on ABC Radio Sydney. ^[18]

Television[edit]

• CNNN – (2002–2003)
• The Panel – (3 episodes) (2003, 04, 07)
• The Chaser's War on Everything - (2006–2009)
• Spy Shop^[19] – (1 episode) (2007)
• Good News Week – (3 episodes) (2008–10)
• Q&A – (3 episodes) (2008–11)
• Top Gear Australia – (1 episode) (2010)
• Balls of Steel Australia – (20 episodes – Host) (2011–2012)
• You Have Been Watching – (1 episode) (2011)
• The Joy of Sets – (1 episode) (2011)
• The Silic & Lee Show at the Logies: Red Carpet Special 2012^[20][21] – (1 episode) (2012)
• The Checkout – (2013–2018)
• War on Waste – series (2017–2023)^[22][23]
• Fight for Planet A – series (2020)^[24]
• Big Weather (and how to survive it) – series (2020)^[25]
• Big Deal – two-part documentary series on the political lobbying industry (2021). Presented by Christiaan Van Vuuren, this was Reucassel's directorial debut.^[26][27][28]

References[edit]

External links[edit]

• Craig Reucassel at IMDb
• August 2006 Sydney Morning Herald article