Merrick Watts

Merrick Watts (born 18 November 1973) is an Australian comedian, radio and television presenter. He is best known for performing stand-up comedy and radio works as part of the comedy duo Merrick and Rosso with Tim Ross.

Merrick Watts
Born (1973-11-18) November 18, 1973
Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
NationalityAustralian
OccupationComedian, radio and television presenter
Years active1996−present
Spouse(s)Georgie Sulzberger
Children2
Websitehttp://www.merrickwatts.com.au/

Career

Stand up

Watts began his career in comedy and first came together with Tim Ross when they teamed up for a one off comedy show in 1996.[1] They had many stand up shows and comedy tours across Australia and appeared at many comedy festivals. They also published the comedy books Merrick and Rosso, The Book and Merrick and Rosso, The Book Volume 2.

Radio

Watts began his radio career with Tim Ross at Triple J performing a weekly guest spot on the drive-time program on Triple J radio in 1998 as Merrick and Rosso. They became full-time presenters and then in 2001 they moved to newly launched commercial radio station Nova 96.9 for the breakfast radio shift. Co-hosts on the breakfast show included Katrina Blowers, Sami Lukis and Kate Ritchie. Ross left the successful radio program in 2009.

Merrick continued on the breakfast show in 2010 with new co-hosts Scott Dooley and Ricki-Lee Coulter, although he announced on 24 August 2011 that he was leaving the show and the station on 2 September 2011.[2]-

In September 2011, Watts signed with Triple M. He was the host of a drive & night show called Merrick and the Highway Patrol with Rachel Corbett and Julian 'Jules' Schiller. The radio program was cancelled due to poor ratings and came to an end in November 2013.

In late 2013, it was announced that Merrick would co-host the new Breakfast program on 2Day FM alongside Jules Lund & Sophie Monk with Mel B, replacing The Kyle and Jackie O Show.

In October 2014, Southern Cross Austereo announced that Jules, Merrick & Sophie on 2Day FM would be axed due to poor ratings throughout the year and replaced by The Dan & Maz Show.

In 2015, Watts returned to Triple M to host his own drive show, Merrick and Australia which was later renamed Merrickville.

In 2019 he hosted the true crime podcast Police Tape.[3][4]

Television

The first television series hosted by Merrick and Rosso was Planet Merrick and Rosso (later known as Super Planet Merrick and Rosso) on The Comedy Channel. They had a guest role on top rating Australian drama series All Saints in 2003.[5] In 2003 their television show Merrick and Rosso Unplanned debuted on the Nine Network followed by The B Team on Network Ten in 2005. In 2008, they returned to the Comedy Channel with an original format entitled The Merrick & Rosso Show.

Watts had a regular role in the 2008 television comedy series The Hollowmen as Nick, a senior adviser to the prime minister. In 2009 he played the small but crucial part of Marty Johnstone in Underbelly: A Tale of Two Cities.[6]

Watts has made guest appearances on the television shows Thank God You're Here, Rove Live, ADbc, Studio 10, The Project, All Star Family Feud, Celebrity Name Game, Show Me the Movie!, Have You Been Paying Attention? and Hughesy, We Have a Problem.

In 2013 Watts hosted the 8 part ABC1 TV show Tractor Monkeys.[7]

In 2020, it was announced Watts would be participating the Seven Network's reality program SAS Australia.[8]

Other work

Merrick voiced a cartoon shark in the 2011 Movie Extra animated series "Shaaark".

Personal life

Watts married Georgie Sulzberger in 2006.[9] They have a son and a daughter.[10]

References
  1. "About". The Official Merrick and Rosso website. Archived from the original on 11 July 2010. Retrieved 3 July 2010.
  2. Rao, Shoba: Merrick Watts leaving Nova 969, News.com.au, 24 August 2011.
  3. "News Corp partners with NOVA Entertainment for Merrick Watts hosted true crime podcast". Mumbrella. 25 March 2019. Retrieved 24 August 2019.
  4. Manning, James (5 June 2019). "Podcast Week: Cyber Hacker, Merrick Watts, Dan Barrett's Best". Mediaweek. Retrieved 24 August 2019.
  5. "Merrick and Rosso". Courier Mail. Archived from the original on 31 May 2012. Retrieved 24 August 2019.
  6. "Merrick Watts stars as Mr Asia Marty Johnston in Underbelly: A Tale of Two Cities". News.com.au. Australia: News Corp Australia. 24 March 2009. Retrieved 13 January 2014.
  7. "Tractor Monkeys". ABC Television. Retrieved 24 August 2019.
  8. (2 October 2020) Media Release: SAS Australia's full line up and air date revealed, TV Blackbox. Retrieved 2 October 2020.
  9. Rocca, Jane (19 January 2019). "Merrick Watts: What I know about women". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 24 August 2019.
  10. "Merrick Watts celebrates baby and ratings". The Sydney Morning Herald. 23 June 2009. Retrieved 24 August 2019.
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