Glenn Maxwell Robbins (born 30 December 1957) is an Australian comedian, writer, actor, television and radio presenter. He is best known for The Comedy Company, portraying Kel Knight in Kath & Kim and adventurer Russell Coight in All Aussie Adventures. Robbins has appeared on The Panel, Thank God You're Here and Have You Been Paying Attention?.
Early life Robbins attended Strathmore High School and graduated in 1975. He later studied drama and media at the Melbourne State College and graduated with a Bachelor of Education degree in 1979. He first moved into performing in 1981.
Career Television Robbins began his acting career in 1984, appearing in two episodes of Prisoner and one episode of Special Squad. In 1985 he appeared on the sketch show The Eleventh Hour. He shot to fame in 1988 when he starred in another sketch show, The Comedy Company, in which one of his characters, "Uncle Arthur", became very popular. In 1991 he joined the team of Fast Forward for two seasons. Other sketch shows in which he has appeared include Full Frontal (1993), Jimeoin (1994–95) and Something Stupid (1998).
In 1998, Robbins became a panellist on the weekly television show The Panel. This aired on Network Ten. The show lasted eight seasons, going into hiatus in 2005.
Robbins played Australian adventurer Russell Coight in All Aussie Adventures from 2001 until 2002 and again in 2018 on Network Ten, as well as the 2004 telemovie.
From 2002, he played the role of Kel Knight in the television comedy series Kath & Kim. He also appeared in the Da Kath & Kim Code telemovie in 2005. The series ended in 2007. In 2022, Robbins reprised the role of Kel for a special celebrating the series, it aired on channel 7 with new skits and unseen footage.
In 2006, Robbins appeared in two episodes of Network Ten's Thank God You're Here. He is executive producer of the Network 10 sketch comedy show The Ronnie Johns Half Hour. In 2008, he launched a new game show on the Seven Network entitled Out of the Question. In 2011 he was the guest on the fourth episode of the comedy program The Joy of Sets on the Nine Network.
From 2013, Robbins has appeared in the ABC comedy series Upper Middle Bogan as Wayne Wheeler, and has a semi-regular guest spot on Have You Been Paying Attention?.
Film In 2001, Robbins played the role of Pete O'May in the award-winning Australian film Lantana. In 2006 he co-starred with Mick Molloy in the comedy feature BoyTown as an '80s pop-star called "Benny G.". In 2011 he appeared in the comedy Scumbus. In 2012 he reprised his role of Kel Knight in the movie Kath & Kimderella.
Radio Robbins has a weekly one-hour radio segment on Melbourne radio station 3AW as part of The Weekend Break with Grubby and Dee Dee Sunday edition.
Awards Robbins has been nominated at the Logies several times. He was nominated for Most Popular Actor in 2003 and 2004 for his role in Kath & Kim and again nominated in 2005 for his role in the telemovie Da Kath & Kim Code.
Personal life The third son of Arthur and Gwen, Robbins is married to Selina,http://www.life.com/celebrity-pictures/80889770/celebrities-attend-melbourne-cup-carnival-2006-aami-victoria-derby-day who is a nurse, and currently lives in Melbourne.
Filmography Film Year Title Role Notes 1987 The Bit Part Man #2 1988 Rikky and Pete Newspaper Foreman Evil Angels Young Father 2001 Lantana Pete O'May 2006 The Deal Mike Short film BoyTown Benny G 2012 Kath & Kimderella Kel Knight Scumbus Brett Chester
Television Year Title Role Notes 1984 Prisoner Detective / Husband 2 episodes 1985A Thousand Skies Hudson Fysh Miniseries The Eleventh Hour also writer Special Squad 1 episode: "A Wild Oat" The Video Comedy Show Himself 1986 The Flying Doctors Mac 1 episode: "Acceptance" While You're Down There also writer (5 episodes) 1987 Theatre Sports Himself 1988–90 The Comedy Company Uncle Arthur / Gary Dare / Darren (1988–89) also writer 1990 Tonight Live with Steve Vizard Himself also writer 1991–92 Fast Forward also writer, season 3–4 (37 episodes) 1991 Turn It Up Bob Unscreened pilot 1993 Full Frontal Guest performer 7 episodes, also writer 1993–95 (20 episodes) A Royal Commission Into the Australian Economy Policeman / President George Bush (Retired) Television film The Making of Nothing Barry Mappin Television film, also writer 1994 Standing on the Road Himself Television documentary, also writer, producer Frontline Himself 1 episode: "Add Sex and Stir" 1994–95 Jimeoin also writer 1996 Eric Television film 1997–2001 Headliners co-creator, director, creative producer 1998 The Russell Gilbert Show Himself 1 episode: "Episode 1.1", also writer, creative consultant Something Stupid also writer 1998–2007 The Panel Himself 183 episodes, also co-producer 1999 The Mick Molloy Show Himself 1 episode: "Episode 1.5" The Micallef P(r)ogram(me) Himself 1 episode: "Episode 2.2" 2001–02, 2018 All Aussie Adventures Russell Coight 2001, 2006, 2009 Rove Himself / Russell Coight 3 episodes 2002–04, 2007 Kath & Kim Kel Knight 2003 Fast Forward: One More Round Himself / Various characters Television special 2004 Saturday Night Darren and Brose Himself 1 episode: "Episode 1.1" Good Morning Australia Himself 1 episode Russell Coight's Celebrity Challenge Russell Coight Television film, also creative consultant, casting director 2005 Australia Unites: Reach Out to Asia Himself Telethon 2005–06 The Ronnie Johns Half Hour executive producer 2005 Da Kath & Kim Code Kel Knight Television film 2006, 2024 Thank God You're Here Himself / Russell Coight 2 episodes, creative consultant (2006–09), 1 episode, cameo 2006 The Crocodile Hunter: A Tribute to Steve Irwin Himself / Russell Coight (uncredited) Television documentary Australian Idol Himself Top 7 Results Show 2006–07 Dancing with the Stars Himself / Kel Knight / Himself - audience member 3 episodes 2007 The Nation Himself 1 Episode: "Episode 9" 2008 Out of the Question Host also producer 2010 Santo, Sam and Ed's Cup Fever! Himself 1 episode: "Episode 21" 2013 Twentysomething Jess's Dad 1 episode: "Tricks of the Trade" 2014 Shaun Micallef's Mad as Hell ABC Sports Correspondent (uncredited) 1 episode: "Episode 3.10" 2015 Open Slather also creative consultant, writer (5 episodes) Dirty Laundry Live Young Lawrence Mooney 1 episode: "Episode 3.12" 2013–16 Upper Middle Bogan Wayne Wheeler 2013–Present Have You Been Paying Attention? Himself 29 episodes 2015 Russell Coight Guest Quiz Master 2017 True Story with Hamish & Andy Harold 1 episode: "Emidio" 2019 Have You Been Paying Attention? New Zealand Himself 2 episodes 2021 I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here! Russell Coight 1 episode2021FiskDean3 episodes2026Glenn & Mick's Celebrity Interventionhimself8 episodes
Bibliography Contributor
References
External links
Working Dog television and film production company website Russell Coight's Celebrity Challenge satirical site