After leaving Seven in August 2020 after 25 years with the network, Melissa Doyle is making her return. This time around, Doyle will be cracking open the Big Red Book as she hosts the newest series of This Is Your Life.
Mediaweek spoke to Doyle ahead of the first episode airing 7.00pm Sunday, July 24 on Channel Seven and 7plus.
“I love nothing more than telling someone’s story, it feels like such a privilege,” says Doyle. “To be able to hand over the Big Red Book, that was quite an iconic moment – I’ve got to say, I was very humbled when I was handed the responsibility of holding on to that and giving it to our talent.
“Like everyone else, I grew up watching the show. It’s a really precious program that I think all of us who remember watching it have in a special place in our hearts.”
This Is Your Life first aired on Channel Seven in 1975 with the late Mike Willesee as the host, and has left a legacy that earned it a spot in television history. Doyle says that she was aware of the weight of the role, and wanted to make sure that the new series kept the tone that people know and love.
“I felt so incredibly proud to be given that role. It does feel so iconic. It felt very important, and to hold the Big Red Book, I will admit to having a moment of feeling quite overwhelmed.
“I wanted to make sure that we maintain the legacy, and I think we have – it’s not sensational or tacky in any way, it’s beautiful, it’s respectful, it’s gentle. It’s about learning a little bit more and having these incredible, iconic Australians trust us to tell their story.”
First off the starting block will be Ian Thorpe, with the episode airing ahead of the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games.
“Yes, there’s a public persona – we all know things about him, we know what he’s achieved on the Olympic podium and how brilliant he is, and we might have heard some of his amazing motivational speaking,” says Doyle. “But there’s so much more to him.
“He’s got the most wicked sense of humour. I must admit, I didn’t know quite how funny he was! That was great to learn a little bit more about different sides of him. To be able to dive deeper into some of those parts of his life was really precious, and to have him trust us and let us do that was wonderful.”
Ian Thorpe and Melissa Doyle
It’s been nearly two years since Doyle, a reporter and former Sunrise host, announced that she was leaving Seven. As she steps back onto the screen for the network, she jokes that “luckily for me, the faces were familiar at Seven!”
“I’ve been chatting to the Sunrise team, and walking in the door and seeing everyone again felt like a bit of a school reunion!”
Of course, Seven weren’t the only team working on This Is Your Life.
“It was done with ITV. We did it over at Fox Studios, and they’re an incredible team – just the best of the best.
“Oh my gosh, the work that’s gone into it! The briefing documents I had were novels in themselves. It’s just wonderful to work with so many brilliant people and do what I love, which is tell stories on telly and share people’s lives.”
In May, Nova’s smoothfm blew out 10 birthday candles, after launching back in 2012. Having joined the station in 2013 to host Weekend Breakfast, Doyle has had a front row seat to the growth of the station.
“One of the things that’s been really fantastic is that it’s a natural evolution. When we first started, we built a station around a feeling. We wanted listeners to just feel good, and play all of our favourite songs that just make you feel happy and put a smile on your face. That was the premise from the very beginning.
“To have that evolve naturally, and for listeners to find us and love what we do, that’s such a genuine way to grow something.”
smoothfm originals still on air: Richard Wilkins, Mel Doyle, David Campbell and Cameron Daddo
The more things change, the more they stay the same, however, with one core aspect of smoothfm remaining steady.
“I think the thing that I hold most dear is that the music is the star. There’s not a single person in there that ever thinks they’re bigger than the music that we play.”
See More: Richard Wilkins on the smoothfm decade: ‘It has been a bloody good ride’