William McInnes Targets Australian Story

Now this sounds like fun.

Actor William McInnes next week turns the Australian Story cameras on....Australian Story.

With his tongue firmly in cheek, McInnes gives a behind-the-scenes look at what is involved in behind a subject on the ABC series.

McInnes was pursued by Australian Story for four years before he finally succumbed to participating in 2005. In fact, he'd often ring the office with obscure ideas, leaving ABC researchers unsure whether he was being serious, or just mucking around. From a comfy armchair in his wildly eccentric Melbourne warehouse, McInnes provides his unique brand of commentary on what it’s like to be the subject of the program.

‘Well, once he got started, there was simply no stopping him. Nothing was off limits…and no-one either….well, we did ask for it,’ says Caroline Jones.

Press Release:Popular actor and author William McInnes turns the tables on Australian Story in this irreverent, behind-the-scenes take on the filming process.

Before Australian Story airs each week, subjects often don’t know who will introduce them, who else has been interviewed - and most importantly, what they might have said.

From a comfy armchair in his wildly eccentric Melbourne warehouse, McInnes provides his unique brand of commentary on what it’s like to be the subject of the program.

‘Well, once he got started, there was simply no stopping him. Nothing was off limits…and no-one either….well, we did ask for it,’ says Caroline Jones.

Along the way, he fills viewers in on what's been happening in his life and crucially reveals ‘how to not look like a plank’ on a busy commuter train with a TV camera crew in tow.

McInnes spent four years on the Australian Story 'hit-list' before he finally succumbed in 2005.

Being a fan of the show, he'd often ring the office with obscure ideas, leaving our researcher unsure whether he was being serious, or just mucking around.

When filming commenced, it coincided with an intense time of his life — his first book was about to be published; his wife and muse, Sarah Watt was finishing her first feature film and was diagnosed with breast cancer.

Since then, William has written two books; Sarah is in remission and has achieved international critical and popular acclaim for Look Both Ways.

The family home and rambling garden are still there, although the chooks and the old dog Dougie have died and the shed has bitten the dust in a flurry of renovations.

WARNING: Watching William Tells may induce snort-chuckling.