Logies 2025: Home and Away's Lynne McGranger wins gold as Fisk dominates Australia's TV awards
McGranger is the longest-serving female actor in any Australian drama, having played Irene for nearly 33 years. She announced her departure in February and her final episode will air mid-August.
'I am thrilled and honoured. This is going to be pride of place next to my 1974 Wagga Wagga drama festival best actress,' she said on Sunday night, to laughter.
She thanked Home and Away's writers and crew, saying: 'Yeah, it is a soap. But it gives Australian actors and crew so much work. And we are so proud of it. Thirty-eight years the bloody thing has been going for, it just won't die.'
The 72-year-old paid tribute to her almost all-female competition – Muster Dogs host Lisa Millar, A Current Affair's Ally Langdon, The Voice host Sonia Kruger, I'm A Celebrity … Get Me Out Of Here! host Julia Morris and MasterChef Australia judge Poh Ling Yeow and Lego Masters host Hamish Blake – as 'beautiful, fierce women of all ages. And I am the oldest!'
As the only male nominee, two-time winner Blake had actively campaigned against himself this year, joking to the media: 'It would not be a great look if I won, so figure out your favourite lady, and get right behind her.'
McGranger also won best lead actress in a drama for her performance in Home and Away, seeing off competition from Apple Cider Vinegar actor Kaitlyn Dever and Territory star Anna Torv.
The ABC comedy Fisk was the big winner on Sunday, taking home best scripted comedy, best lead actress in a comedy for Kitty Flanagan for the second year in a row, best lead actor in a comedy for Aaron Chen, best supporting actress for Julia Zemiro and best supporting actor for Glenn Butcher.
Flanagan thanked both ABC and Netflix 'for the viewing bump' and said she was particularly pleased that families watched Fisk, a comedy set in a suburban law firm.
'It makes me so happy to know we accidentally made a family show,' she said. 'We didn't mean to … the fact they appreciate a middle-aged lady in a baggy suit who mumbles, I have hope for the future.'
The ABC had a strong night overall, with detective show Return to Paradise winning best drama, Australian Story winning best current affairs, Muster Dogs: Collies & Kelpies winning best structured reality program, Four Corners' Betrayal of Trust winning best news coverage or public affairs report, and Bluey winning the children's program category for a record fourth time.
Guy Montgomery, the host of Guy Montgomery's Guy Mont Spelling Bee on ABC, also won the Graham Kennedy award for most popular new talent. The New Zealander gave a bullish speech, telling Australia: 'Suck it, we have one up on your country this time!'
The actor and comedian Magda Szubanski was inducted into the Logie Hall of Fame months after she revealed she had been diagnosed with cancer, with the likes of film-maker George Miller, Kath and Kim's Gina Riley, Richard E Grant and the politician Penny Wong all paying tribute. The US comedy actor Melissa McCarthy called her 'one of the funniest humans, one of the smartest humans'.
Szubanski was unable to attend the ceremony, but gave an emotional pre-taped speech. 'Let's just get this out of the way – I am not being awarded this honour because I have got the cancer. I am getting this because of 40 years of hard work – lobbying, bribing, threatening, whatever it took,' she joked. 'Finally it has all paid off.'
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She thanked the public for their messages of support. 'The love and support I have felt, like a tsunami, from the Australian public has been overwhelming and I have to tell you, it really helps … when I go online and I look at those messages, every time my heart lifts and I feel that much stronger to deal with the cancer.'
Streaming platforms dominated the best drama nominees, but failed to win on the night. Netflix won just one award: best miniseries for Apple Cider Vinegar, its drama about the Australian fraudster Belle Gibson.
Though Apple Cider Vinegar and Netflix's Territory dominated the drama categories, neither won. Instead, Fisk won the supporting categories, McGranger won best lead actress, and Sam Neill won best lead actor for his role in season two of The Twelve.
The former tennis player turned commentator Jelena Dokic gave an emotional speech while accepting the Logie for her documentary Unbreakable: The Jelena Dokic Story, about surviving the physical and mental abuse dealt by her father, who was also once her coach.
'To every kid and person out there, I will say, to every single girl and woman out there, never allow anyone to take your worth or happiness or smile away. Believe in your goals and dreams,' she said.
The Logies have historically been an unusual awards event, with a mix of popularly voted awards – which celebrities have always actively campaigned to win – and peer-voted awards. The system has been overhauled so that the 'best' categories – formerly called 'most outstanding' – are determined by a combined score, 50% of which is peer assessment and audience data supplied by the broadcasters and 50% of which is by popular vote.
The Gold Logie, the Bert Newton award for most popular presenter, the Graham Kennedy award for most popular new talent and the new Ray Martin award for most popular news or public affairs reporter, remain determined entirely by popular vote.
Gold Logie for most popular personality: Lynne McGranger, Home and Away, Seven Network
Bert Newton award for most popular presenter: Todd Woodbridge, Nine Network
Graham Kennedy award for most popular new talent: Guy Montgomery, ABC
Ray Martin award for most popular news or public affairs presenter: Ally Langdon, A Current Affair, Nine Network
Best lead actor in a drama: Sam Neill, The Twelve, Binge/Foxtel
Best lead actress in a drama: Lynne McGranger, Home and Away, Seven Network
Best lead actor in a comedy: Aaron Chen, Fisk, ABC
Best lead actress in a comedy: Kitty Flanagan, Fisk, ABC
Best supporting actor: Glenn Butcher, Fisk, ABC
Best supporting actress: Julia Zemiro, Fisk, ABC
Best drama program: Return to Paradise, ABC
Best miniseries or telemovie: Apple Cider Vinegar, Netflix
Best entertainment program: The Voice, Seven Network
Best scripted comedy program: Fisk, ABC
Best current affairs program: Australian Story, ABC
Best comedy entertainment program: Have You Been Paying Attention?, Network 10
Best competition reality program: Lego Masters Australia, Nine Network
Best structured reality program: Muster Dogs: Collies & Kelpies, ABC
Best lifestyle program: Travel Guides, Nine Network
Best news coverage or public affairs report: Betrayal of Trust, Four Corners, ABC
Best factual or documentary program: Unbreakable: The Jelena Dokic Story, Nine Network
Best sports coverage: The Olympic Games Paris 2024, Nine Network
Best children's program: Bluey, ABC
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