Andrew O’Keefe
Entertainment, versatility and style.
Topic
Profile
Photo Courtesy of Channel Seven
Andrew is host of Australia’s top-rating quiz show, The Chase, as well as co-host of Australia’s favourite weekend breakfast show Weekend Sunrise.
Previous experience
TV: Andrew’s television career started with the ARIA-nominated sketch comedy Big Bite. Since then, in addition to Sunrise and 11 seasons of the hit Deal or No Deal, he has co-hosted the historic tri-network tsunami appeal Reach Out to Asia (in 2004), the Logie Awards (in 2005) and two seasons of The Rich List (2007 & 2008).
Singer: Along with his many other talents, Andrew is a classically trained singer (A MusA). In 2013, he entertained audiences nationally when he took to the stage playing the role of King Herod in the Australian tour of the Jesus Christ Superstar Arena Spectacular. Andrew again graced the stage in March 2015 in Harvest Rain’s Pirates of Penzance production held at QPAC, in a much-acclaimed turn as the swashbuckling Pirate King. In 2017, he toured a sell-out season of Gilbert and Sullivan Forever! a wild cabaret romp through the much-loved G&S repertoire.
Law: Before his entertainment career, Andrew followed in the footsteps of his father (Supreme Court Judge Barry O’Keefe), working in commercial litigation for 5 years with top-tier Australian firm Allens, and for a stint with the Public Interest Advocacy Centre NSW. But like his uncle, Australian rock and roll legend Johnny O’Keefe, Andrew’s passion for entertainment overcame any thoughts of a straight and licit career path.
Awards: In 2009, Andrew put on his producing hat to launch his own format This is Your Laugh (a chat show with comedy impro) for the Seven Network’s HD Channel. Andrew was nominated “Best New Male Talent” in the 2004 Logie Awards, was nominated for the Silver Logie for “Most Popular TV Presenter” in 2005 and 2006, and has been nominated five times for “Most Popular Light Entertainment Programme” for Deal or No Deal. He was also a part of the team that won the World Improv Championships in Montreal, Canada in 2001.
Charity: Outside of his career in entertainment, Andrew is a passionate advocate of social-justice causes, most notably in his role as a founding member and Chairman of White Ribbon Australia, a nationwide not-for-profit campaign dedicated to eliminating all forms of violence against women.
Feedback
Andrew was an exceptional Master of Ceremonies. His wit and humour were instrumental in encouraging the [audience] to donate generously. His performance as auctioneer was exceptional and he managed to keep the audience thoroughly entertained. Andrew's energy and stage presence brought an edge of professionalism to the evening.
Andrew O'Keefe’s improvisations skills and interpretation of our organisation's vision and values remains a talking point in meetings and amongst staff on site. He has been instrumental in maintaining one of our core values for the year: "big smiles" for our customers.
O’Keefe is affable, intelligent, laid-back, and doesn’t duck issues. His schmoozing technique with guests is admirable. The guy’s a natural… everyone’s saying so.
Andrew was fantastic, warm, friendly, very funny and enthusiastic in his approach. He interacted well with the audience, he mingled with them after the awards concluded, allowed photo's to be taken and did those girls line up to get one with him. We believe he was one of the best presenter's we have had for the REIV Awards Presentation. We will definitely book him again.
Andrew did an enormous amount of research work prior to presenting to our group. He is absolutely excellent and connected and engaged with the delegates on all levels.
