Mike Leyland passes away

[Interceptor]

Many people here would've grown up watching the Leyland Brothers and with their show, they became household names.

Leyland brother Mike dies


Pioneering Australian documentary filmmaker and one half of the Leyland Brothers, Mike Leyland, has died aged 68 from Parkinson's disease-related complications.

The Leyland Brothers rose to fame as explorers and documentary filmmakers, best known for their popular Channel Nine television show, Ask the Leyland Brothers.

Ask the Leyland Brothers ran on Australian television from 1976 until 1984, becoming part of Australian television history.

At the show's peak, over 2 million viewers tuned in to watch the weekly program, where the brothers travelled to far away destinations around Australia after viewers wrote in to ask them to visit.

Mike was eight and his brother Mal was five when they migrated with their parents from England to Newcastle in New South Wales in 1950. Mike remained in Newcastle for the duration of his days.

Mike Leyland is survived by his widow, Margie, daughters Kerry, Sandy and Dawn; step-daughters Sarah and Alison; and seven grandchildren.

A service to celebrate his life will be held later this week.

The family has asked that in lieu of flowers, mourners please send donations to Parkinson's NSW.

source: http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/09/14/2685521.htm

[Dogwatcher]

Gee - sad to hear.

I'd hate to be in the funeral procession, 'cos you know what it would do.....

[Pseudo]

Gee - sad to hear.

I'd hate to be in the funeral procession, 'cos you know what it would do.....

.. travel all over the countryside?

[A Mum]

That is sad to hear.

I remember my family watching that show religiously.
I remember them even coming to little old Kangaroo Island,
Pre tourism days and it was like royalty visiting

Thankyou for being part of my childhood.
RIP

[dedja]

Vale ... http://www.televisiontunes.com/Ask_the_ ... thers.html

[A Mum]

(Memories - lol)

That was so cool Dedja.
Thankyou

[Blacky]

i remember their first doco was called down the darling river
pity they didnt do one now
you can walk down it now
would make good tv

[Thiele]

RIP Mike

[Booney]

We cant ask the Leylands anymore....

[Dogwatcher]

You can ask a Leyland.

[Choccies]

You can ask a Leyland.

Oh brother....

Was a good show though and I was always jealous of the Leyland kids who seemed like they never went to school or anything and just spent the years in caravans on holidays !!

[Farmy]

You can ask a Leyland.

Oh brother....

Was a good show though and I was always jealous of the Leyland kids who seemed like they never went to school or anything and just spent the years in caravans on holidays !!

Would have been poor form sending inbreds to school with more genetically diverse kids.

[therisingblues]

Dude... show some respect!

Loved the TV show. Another piece of my childhood fades away.

[dedja]

First episode of Ask The Leyland Brothers series.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9MyS9uCcbgg

Gotta love the wet t-shirts in the theme song!

[whufc]

My last name is Whalan, over the years many people have thought is was actually Leyland.

Useless fact no. 9836392

[Magpiespower]

Many people here would've grown up watching the Leyland Brothers and with their show, they became household names.

Gotta admit.

Even though I grew up with that show.

I friggin' hated every minute of it...

[Farmy]

Many people here would've grown up watching the Leyland Brothers and with their show, they became household names.

Gotta admit.

Even though I grew up with that show.

I friggin' hated every minute of it...

Like watching grass grow, or paint dry, or Sydney play a game of Footy.