Vizard Uncut

Book excerpt: VIZARD UNCUT is the unauthorised and largely untold story of Steve Vizard's life. Drawn from extensive interviews and comprehensive research, VIZARD UNCUT seeks to demystify the enigma that is Steve Vizard: underpants salesman, corporate lawyer, Gold Logie winner, philanthropist, victim of a multi-million-dollar fraud and subject of a high-profile investigation by ASIC. In the early 1990s, Vizard revolutionised television comedy with the ground-breaking Fast Forward and Full Frontal, with characters such as Roger Ramshett, Hunch and the airline stewards Wayne and Darryl. He is also well remembered as the wise-cracking, stunt-pulling host of Tonight Live who interviewed everyone from Kylie Minogue to Gerard Depardieu. The late 1990s saw him become a part of the Melbourne establishment, especially in the arts, entertainment and sport. Then, in one swift blow, Steve Vizard went from icon to pariah. Steven Bedwell gives us the complete, complex story of the man, pieced together from never-before-seen documents and testimonies. VIZARD UNCUT brings to light the events of recent years that have shrink-wrapped themselves over a remarkably full and diverse life.