Mike Leyland dies, aged 68.

[stephenb]

Mike Leyland, one half of the famous Australian TV filmmakers and explorers died today after complications from Parkinson's Disease.

He was aged 68.

There is probably not a single Australian who doesn't remember their show "Ask The Leyland Brothers".

I recall the two brothers visiting our primary school, showing their latest film of travelling in the outback, before they became famous on TV.

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/mike-leyland-of-ast-the-leyland-brothers-tv-fame-dies-aged-68/story-e6frf7jo-1225772846134 (http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/mike-leyland-of-ast-the-leyland-brothers-tv-fame-dies-aged-68/story-e6frf7jo-1225772846134)

I put the Leyland brothers up there with Jack Absalom and Les Hiddins, the Bushtucker Man. The brought our great country to the masses.

RIP

[TrevorW]

Well that ruins a perfectly good tune

Bugger

[jjjnettie]

I've had the theme song running through my head ever since I read the news.
Both Mike and Mal have been the inspiration for thousands of todays "Gray Nomads".
RIP

[Liz]

That is sad :sadeyes::sadeyes: that was a great show, with that ... theme song, that stayed with you,and with you.

[Omaroo]

That is very sad indeed. The show was an institution, and compulsory viewing in our household. I attribute a great deal of my interest in outback touring and camping to watching "Ask the Leyland Brothers" as a youngster. They don't make them like that any more and it's a great pity. Down to earth, none of the commercial hype and Fox-style "speaking inside a tin can for effect" super-sound that is thrown at you daily now.

RIP old mate. :(

[leon]

Yep the show was good but the Car was pretty ordinary.

Leon

[Blue Skies]

Yes, sad news. I certainly remember watching their show on a regular basis. Was a great way to learn about the other parts of Australia, particularly the interior.

On a lighter note, the local news played a bit of the opening sequence to the show and they girls in the wet t-shirts popped up. !! Would they get away with something like that these days?

[Jen]

Awww very sad :( now i cant get that song out of my head :shrug:

[astroron]

I was a bit of a fan in the early seventies, one of the scenes was Black Mountain on the way to Cook Town which stuck in my memory, I was able to visit it last year and remembered the program.
I am sorry to see he has gone.
RIP Mike:(

[renormalised]

Passing of a legend. RIP.

[Octane]

Sad news, indeed. :(

Regards,
Humayun

[badchap]

We used to watch their show,too.

[starlooker]

R.i.p

[erick]

I can never think of them without recalling a brief skit from "Australia, You're standing in it" or similar comedy show.

"Mike" and "Mal" standing in front of Uluru (or "Ayres Rock" in those days) pouring over maps. "Where the hell are we, Mal?" "Struth, I don't know Mike!" :D

Farewell Mike. :sadeyes:

[NeilW]

Is Mal still alive? I can't see any mention of him in the news releases apart from the references to the TV docos.

[erick]

Wikipedia doesn't say that he has died, so I suspect he is still with us. I heard someone say on radio yesterday that he had died "years ago" so I went to check.

[mozzie]

i remember them coming to our school as kids and watching the films they were unreal ASK THE LEYLAND BROTHERS r.i.p mike
on the way to sydney theres the large ayers rock sevice station i think they had something to do with it years ago
mozzie

[Ian Robinson]

Missed this thread originally ....

Sad to hear Mike has died , nice chap , though he's the more serious of the brothers . I'm sure he'll be missed by his little brother despite their arguments in the past , and he'll be missed lots by his wife and kids and grandkids, and by his niece and her kids.

End of an era....