Darrell Eastlake (born 11 July 1942) is a former Australian television presenter. He started his career as a Qantas baggage handler. Later, he began making surfboards and ran a surf shop. His career in media began in the 1960s when he gave surf reports on Sydney radio station 2UW.[1]
Eastlake had been calling rugby league for NBN-3 in Newcastle before he began working for the Nine Network in 1982, commentating on the weightlifting at the 1982 Commonwealth Games.[2] At Nine, Eastlake commentated on many sports, including British Open golf, motor racing (with his friend Barry Sheene), rugby league, Commonwealth Games, Olympic weightlifting, surfing, Winter Olympics and ironman events. He often commentated on sports that are not considered 'mainstream' and declined to call the final of the 1999 Cricket World Cup.
During his media career, Eastlake was noted for his over-the-top voice and loud antics aimed at raising the excitement of listeners or viewers.[2] This trait was parodied by Billy Birmingham in his The Twelfth Man sporting commentary impersonations.[3]
Eastlake retired from the media in 2005 and became very ill in 2010. He is suffering from Alzheimer's disease, dementia and emphysema.[1]