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Posted: 2018-12-19 05:31:10

Posted December 19, 2018 16:31:10

One thing that strikes me at the end of every year when I look back over 12 months of the news is how many unexpected twists there were.

At 7.30, I have the very privileged position of being able to talk to people right at the heart of some of the biggest news stories in the world, as well as many guests who appear on the program simply because they are interesting and accomplished.

It's always difficult to pick my favourite interviews of the year but here are some of the most memorable to me in 2018.

Thanks for watching.

Yael Stone

I found Yael Stone's account of her time working as a young, up-and-coming actress, alongside superstar Geoffrey Rush, compelling viewing. What was so riveting about it was that although she was critical of Mr Rush, she also took personal responsibility for her own acquiescence and very clearly explained how the culture in film and television has created an unacceptable power imbalance, one that can become unhealthy.

Shane Warne

Ever since I started hosting 7.30 eight years ago, former Australian cricketer Shane Warne has been the top of my interview wish-list.

The reason is that I felt he held a unique position in world cricket (the cricket Bible Wisden has him in its top five players of all-time) thanks to his almost freakish talent and also a rock-solid position in Australian culture, thanks to his legendary off-field antics and messy personal life.

Yet despite both those things, and with the exception of a Michael Parkinson interview in 2007, I felt I had never seen Warne sit down on camera for a proper, serious, extensive look back over his life and career.

After waiting years to get the chance to interview him, Warne didn't disappoint.

No subject was off-limits and he answered the most personal questions with authenticity and frankness.

I'd be rich now if I had a dollar for every person who's said to me since, "I always thought Shane Warne was a bit of a yob but he actually seems like a great guy!"

James Comey

If you follow American politics, in early 2018 there was only one man everybody was talking about other than the US President Donald Trump and that was the former FBI director James Comey.

He had been sacked by Mr Trump and came back with an explosive memoir.

I had the chance to travel to New York to interview him about it.

It was fascinating to get to sit across from somebody who has played such a pivotal role in American politics and to quiz him in great detail about some of his controversial decisions as FBI director.

Michael Caine

Who doesn't love Michael Caine?

His anecdotes are hilarious, he's met everybody, been everywhere and doesn't apologise for starring in a number of clunkers during his career.

"Sometimes I do a bad movie and I get criticised for it," he said.

"But then you should have seen the house it bought for my mother. It was beautiful."

Blanche D'Alpuget

Blanche is the only interviewee to ever make me openly cry on camera.

Before we rolled, she and her husband, Bob Hawke, had been so loving to each other.

I was struck by how frail Bob looked compared to the knockabout prime minister of my childhood.

It meant that when she started to speak on camera about their planning for his funeral, it was very emotional.

Kevin McCloud

Some guests are so easy to interview and the Grand Designs host was one.

You just have the give the gentlest of steers and off they go.

He was as witty and charming as you'd imagine.

Justin Milne

It's always electrifying when a guest does something unexpected and after a week of unparalleled crisis at the ABC, Justin Milne resigning as the ABC's chairman on camera was just that (although he did warn me moments before we began filming what he intended to do).

Mathew Low

It's impossible to imagine the suffering and heartbreak Mathew Low and his children have faced since Cindy Low, their wife and mum, was killed in an horrific accident at Dreamworld.

Mathew had never spoken to the media before but he had religiously attended the coronial inquest into the accident and decided to speak publicly to ensure changes were made so that nothing similar could happen ever again.

I couldn't have had more admiration for his quiet dignity, poise and bravery — not just for doing an interview, but for simply getting out of bed every day and putting one foot in front of the other.

Neil & Liam Finn

I have a soft spot for Neil Finn and it was so exciting that he was both joining Fleetwood Mac and doing an album with his son for the first time.

Neil's been on 7.30 before but it's always a pleasure to spend some time with one of the most talented songwriters around.

Germaine Greer

Say what you like about Germaine Greer but she always challenges you and makes you think and surely that's the mark of any great polemicist.

This interview was about her book On Rape, which made me think harder than I ever had about the question of consent and what it means.

I didn't agree with all of her conclusions but she really had me on my toes intellectually.

Topics: television, abc, television-broadcasting, australia

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