Matthew Hardy

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This article is about the comedian. For Matt Hardy, the professional wrestler, please see here Matt Hardy

Matthew Hardy is a Melbourne-based comedian who was the first Aussie to cement himself full-time on the UK live circuit, spending eight years there in the 'nineties, including regular appearances at Jongleurs and The Comedy Store in Leicester Square.

A regular at many stand-up comedy events, he has written the best-selling book Saturday Afternoon Fever (Random House), a light-hearted and hilarious look at his life in the 1980s as a supporter of the St Kilda Football Club, which became a sold-out multi-media one-man show at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival.

Hardy also appeared in the last Melbourne International Comedy Festival with his own take on Charlie and the Chocolate Factory along with special guest Julie Dawn Cole, who portrayed Veruca Salt in the 1971 film version.

TV credits include hosting two series of The Big Schmooze, Foxtel's only Tonight Show on The Comedy Channel and appearing as a panellist plus roving reporter on ABC-TV's The Fat. He was part of the BAFTA-winning The Sketch Show writing team for ITV in the UK, and subsequently wrote for Kelsey Grammer's sketch series on FOX in the US.

[edit] Radio career

A keen sports fan, Hardy joined Melbourne station SEN 1116 in 2004 to co-host a drivetime show called The Run Home with Dermie (Dermott Brereton) and Huddo (Anthony Hudson), leaving at the end of 2005.

Hardy was then appointed by the Nova 100 (DMG Radio Network) to do a comedy afternoon show throughout the Commonwealth Games. Nova program manager Todd Campbell said "Matthew is funny, relaxed and knows his stuff. We know he will give the games a unique spin for our youth-based audience".