42 Facts About Derryn Hinch

Derryn Nigel Hinch was born on 9 February 1944 and is a New Zealand-born media personality, politician, actor, journalist and published author.

Derryn Hinch is best known for his career in Australia, on Melbourne radio and television.

Derryn Hinch served as a Senator for Victoria from 2016 to 2019.

Aged 72 at the time, Hinch was, when elected, the oldest federal parliamentarian ever to be elected for the first time.

Derryn Hinch lost his senate seat in the 2019 election.

Derryn Hinch remained host of his weekly program Hinch Live until the election campaign period officially commenced, in a decision supported by Sky News Live.

Derryn Hinch has been the host of 3AW's Drive radio show, and a National Public Affairs commentator for the Seven Network on Sunday Night, Today Tonight and Sunrise.

Derryn Hinch has been convicted of contempt of court three times, serving two prison sentences and one sentence of house detention.

Derryn Hinch began his career at the age of 15 with the Taranaki Herald in New Plymouth, New Zealand in 1960.

Derryn Hinch hosted Beauty and the Beast on the Seven Network between 1982 and 1983.

From 1987 to 1991, Derryn Hinch hosted his own current affairs show on the Seven Network titled Derryn Hinch, which later moved to Network Ten where it ran from 1992 to 1994.

In 1994, Derryn Hinch joined the Nine Network and hosted The Midday Show for a year.

Derryn Hinch has appeared on Dancing with the Stars, Underbelly and Millionaire Hot Seat as a guest playing for charity.

In September 2012, Derryn Hinch rejoined the Seven Network as national public affairs commentator, though there were rumours that Derryn Hinch might make a comeback.

From February 2015, Derryn Hinch hosted a twice weekly news opinion program, Derryn Hinch Live, over the weekend on Sky News Australia.

In 1979, Derryn Hinch moved to 3AW, hosting a successful morning program for eight years.

Derryn Hinch was often absent from the programs due to suspension, poor health and house arrest.

Derryn Hinch is the Melbourne correspondent for New Zealand radio network Newstalk ZB and often presents political commentaries on the station.

In September 2008, Derryn Hinch had a four-week run as The Criminologist in the Australian tour of The Rocky Horror Show.

Derryn Hinch appeared as himself, in a minor role, in the 2000 film The Wog Boy with Nick Giannopoulos, and reprised the role in its 2022 sequel, Wog Boys Forever.

Derryn Hinch made cameo appearances on Fast Forward, which was the same sketch show where he was parodied as Hunch, played by Steve Vizard.

Derryn Hinch played the role of Senator in 2016 movie The Colour of Darkness.

In February 2024, Derryn Hinch announced that he will run in the 2024 Melbourne City Council election.

In 1985, Derryn Hinch reported that Michael Glennon, who had previously been convicted of indecent assault against a minor, was operating a youth camp while facing new charges.

Derryn Hinch, who says he was concerned that parents were unknowingly sending their children to Glennon's camp, first appealed privately to then Victorian Premier John Cain and the then-Attorney-General, as well as the head of the Roman Catholic Church in Australia, but in Derryn Hinch's words, they "washed their hands" of the situation.

Subsequently, Derryn Hinch publicly identified Glennon during his trial on the third set of charges, in spite of the strong sub judice rule under Australian jurisprudence.

Derryn Hinch appealed his case as far as the High Court of Australia, which affirmed his conviction.

On 24 June 2008, while Derryn Hinch was discussing the celebrity status of underworld crime figures during his drive program, Mick Gatto phoned in and had a brief confrontation with Derryn Hinch, ending with a death threat.

On 30 July 2007, John Laws and Derryn Hinch attended the 40 Years of Radio Legends, after which Derryn Hinch complained the "event had been turned into a tribute to Laws", among other comments which caused ill feeling between the two.

On 5 December 2007, Derryn Hinch was abused verbally with obscenities by John Laws while dining at lunch with 2CH personality Bob Rogers in a restaurant at the Finger Wharf in Woolloomooloo, Sydney.

In 2013, Derryn Hinch wrote that after 30 years, the woman had contacted him and said he was wrong about her age.

Derryn Hinch said she was born in 1961 and they met shortly after he joined 3AW in 1979.

Derryn Hinch served 12 days in prison and was fined 15,000 in 1987 for contempt of court after he publicly revealed paedophile Roman Catholic priest Michael Charles Glennon's prior conviction while a trial was still pending.

On 16 January 2014, one day prior to the expiration of the 90-day period, Derryn Hinch advised that he would not pay the fine 'on principle'.

Derryn Hinch was greeted by his partner Natasha Chadwick, other friends and a substantial media contingent.

Derryn Hinch married Chanel Hayton in February 2006 and they separated in late 2012.

In March 2017, Derryn Hinch told the New Zealand Herald that he had been molested by a brother of one of his father's friends as a nine-year-old boy in his childhood home in New Plymouth in 1953.

On 27 April 2007, Derryn Hinch returned to hospital for additional scans.

On 4 August 2007, Derryn Hinch revealed he had inoperable liver cancer.

On 20 September 2010, Derryn Hinch confirmed the liver cancer diagnosis, and said that he expected to undergo surgery to remove a third of his liver, and that this would take him off-air for several weeks.

On 4 November 2010, Derryn Hinch told his listeners that his doctors had told him that without a liver transplant, his maximum survival would be 12 months.

On 6 July 2011, Derryn Hinch underwent liver transplant surgery at the Austin Hospital in Melbourne.