Charlie Pickering
A sharp-witted comedian who dissects the news with accessible humor, making political satire a weekly appointment for Australian audiences.
Born 1977 (age 49)·Australian comedian and presenter·Birthday: August 29·Generation X
Biography
Charlie Pickering emerged from the Melbourne comedy circuit, a lawyer who found his true calling in the spotlight. His early work on shows like 'The Project' showcased a talent for blending incisive commentary with a disarming, everyman charm. This skill set found its perfect vehicle in 'The Weekly,' which he launched in 2015. The show transformed the ABC's comedy lineup, offering a digestible and often deeply funny autopsy of current events that felt like a conversation with a clever friend. Beyond the desk, Pickering is a deft interviewer and author, his voice carrying a particular weight in Australian cultural discourse, respected for its intelligence and lack of pretension.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Charlie was born in 1977, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Charlie Was Born
The biggest hits of 1977
#1 Movie
Star Wars
Best Picture
Annie Hall
#1 TV Show
Happy Days
Charlie's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1977Born
Star Wars premieres; Elvis dies
Gas: $0.62/galHome: $31,800Min wage: $2.30/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Tonight's the Night" — Rod StewartBest Picture: Annie Hall
1982Started school
Michael Jackson releases Thriller
Gas: $1.22/galHome: $55,200Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Physical" — Olivia Newton-JohnBest Picture: Gandhi
1990Became a teenager
Hubble Space Telescope launched; Germany reunifies
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.80/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Hold On" — Wilson PhillipsBest Picture: Dances with Wolves
1993Could drive
European Union officially established
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $86,600Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"I Will Always Love You" — Whitney HoustonBest Picture: Schindler's List
1995Could vote
Oklahoma City bombing; Windows 95 released
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $96,500Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Gangsta's Paradise" — CoolioBest Picture: Braveheart
1998Turned 21
Google founded; Clinton impeachment
Gas: $1.06/galHome: $107,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Too Close" — NextBest Picture: Shakespeare in Love
2007Turned 30
iPhone released; Great Recession begins
Gas: $2.80/galHome: $172,600Min wage: $5.85/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Irreplaceable" — BeyonceBest Picture: No Country for Old Men
2017Turned 40
#MeToo movement; solar eclipse crosses the US
Gas: $2.42/galHome: $195,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Shape of You" — Ed SheeranBest Picture: The Shape of Water
2026Age 49 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Created and hosts 'The Weekly with Charlie Pickering,' a defining news satire program on the ABC.
- Co-hosts the innovative interview and cooking hybrid series 'Tomorrow Tonight' with Annabel Crabb and Adam Liaw.
- Authored the book 'The Beginner's Guide to the World Economy,' demonstrating his skill in explaining complex topics.
- Won the prestigious Director's Choice award at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival in 2009.
Did You Know?
He initially pursued a career in law, graduating with a Bachelor of Laws from Monash University.
Pickering performed a stand-up comedy set at the Sydney Opera House as part of the Just For Laughs festival.
He is a passionate advocate for mental health awareness, often speaking openly about his own experiences.
Before 'The Weekly,' he was a team captain on the ABC music quiz show 'Spicks and Specks.'
“The news is not there to make you feel good. Comedy is not there to make you feel good. They're there to make you think.”
