A superhero in suit pants
‘ Most of the time you are hoping the cameraman keeps rolling and he doesn’t take off while you get smacked. And if you do get smacked, the only good thing about it is you know you’ve got good television - if you survive it.’ KEVIN MILNE
Fair while making the most of the inhouse TVNZ bar, and asked if he wanted a new job. There was no hesitation.
The show had been running for seven years when he joined in 1983, which, to many people, meant he was signing his career death certificate. After all that time, how much longer could it have in it, really? But for Milne, the lure of the show, and then-host Brian Edwards, was too strong.
‘‘So if it meant I only got to do it for a year, that was fine by me. Brian was a hero to me, and the biggest TV star of the time, by miles. I still consider he is one of the most significant broadcasters we’ve ever had, him and Holmesy.’’
Of course, Milne is no slouch himself. He quickly made himself at home, and made a mark. In fact, he says when he added it all up, he and the team got back millions of dollars for viewers over the years STUFF from his cases alone.
He left the show almost eight years ago, but for many viewers, he is still the person they think of when they think of Fair Go.
‘‘[being there for 27 years] felt unbelievable, and in a way, it was kind of embarrassing to stay in a job that long,’’ he says.