Gretel Killeen is a best-selling author, award-winning comedy writer and host of award-winning TV who's worked in every sector of the media and arts industries (excluding ballet and opera - but there's still hope.) She started her career after dropping out of law studies and accidentally performing comedy while reading a serious poem.

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Since then Gretel has sung as The Octopus on TV’s The Masked Singer, poisoned guests on Come Dine With Me, advocated for refugees and asylum seekers on Go Back to Where You Came From, competed in The Amazing Race Celebrity Edition with her daughter, appeared regularly as a social and political commentator on The Project and Sunrise and been the host of the smash hit Big Brother from 2001-2007.

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Over the years Gretel has written for many of the nation's major news publications, appeared on hundreds of TV and radio shows as a comic and commentator and, while a Good Will Ambassador for UNICEF, directed a documentary on AIDS orphans in Zambia, and CSA’s in Bangladesh and Laos to broaden understanding of poverty and unexploded ordinance. In 2022 Gretel wrote and directed a five part TV documentary series, The Best 30 Years which focused on optimising our final years. 

 

With Forces Entertainment Gretel has entertained Australian troops around the world from Afghanistan to Iraq, Egypt, The Solomon Islands and East Timor. As a travel writer she's journeyed to Antarctica, Turkey and Namibia. As a stand-up comic and actor she's performed on stage and screen in Berlin, The Adelaide Fringe Festival, Perth Comedy Festival and Sydney Fringe Festival, and nationally she's produced shows for clients ranging from local pubs to the NSW Government, on stages from 'wooden crates' to The Sydney Opera House.

 

Gretel has written/ filmed and been a spokesperson for humanitarian organisations both nationally and internationally for many decades whether speaking as a staunch ally of the LGBTQI  community, co-directing a mini-doc for Vets Without Borders in India or traveling to Pakistan to write on the work of The Fred Hollows Foundation.

 

Gretel is a skilled communicator in all mediums. Her humour, intelligence and interviewing skills  make her much sought after in the corporate and media space.  As a media trainer and communications specialist she's worked with a range of top secret clients. And now, while continuing to write, act and perform live as a humorist Gretel is currently working on her next Art Exhibition. The theme of which is ...