Nicky Whitta

Born in 1903, Whitta was the second son to his parents, John and Lydia Whitta. After attending Princes Hill State School, Whitta commenced an apprenticeship as a jeweller. After also trying his hand at poultry farming, Whitta decided to become a radio announcer. ==Radio career==

After learning to play the guitar at Allans Music, Whitta secured his first radio job, working with the Australian Broadcasting Company as an instrumentalist in the band at 3AR. However, it was his late-morning/early afternoon program at 3UZ that he would become best known for. At the height of its popularity, Whitta's 3UZ program would attract 73% of the listening audience. ==Work with Graham Kennedy==

When Whitta arrived at 3UZ, Graham Kennedy was working in the record library at the station. Kennedy already had some limited off-air radio experience after working as a copy boy at 3LO and as a turntable operator at 3AW. Upon his arrival at the station, Whitta was accompanied by Alf "Alfie Boy" Thesinger who was already working as Whitta's panel operator and on-air partner. Although Whitta was known to keep a book full of jokes, gags and humorous anecdotes, Kennedy claimed he stopped using it after the first few months of the announcers working together, resulting in the humour becoming more improvised. Whitta and Kennedy were famous for parodying the advertisements that they were expected to read during their program, which Kennedy insisted they did to "liven up" the ads. But while most sponsors would be willing to go along with their businesses and products being subject to the pair's humour, Kennedy claimed the Commonwealth Bank had complained about their style, and the two announcers were ordered to deliver their commercials in a normal manner. Another issue Whitta and Kennedy made fun of regarding the advertisements was when they ran behind the set schedule. Kennedy said that on one occasion, to make a joke out of it, he and Whitta read two live advertisements simultaneously, while talking over several pre-recorded commercials. On another occasion, Whitta and Kennedy played a joke on their listeners by bringing in a portable radio into the studio, tuning it to 3XY and playing it through the microphones, essentially broadcasting the rival station over the 3UZ airwaves, confusing listeners. According to Kennedy, Whitta would even leave the studio windows open to allow for more comedy to be found from everyday situations such as when a dog would be heard barking, which Whitta named "Corsets" (because it would be tied up during the day, but let loose at night). ==Television ambitions==

When television arrived in Melbourne, Whitta signed a contract with GTV-9 and was destined to become part of the cluster of radio announcers making the move over to the new medium. Whitta was expected to host a live and interactive daily children's program called ''Children's Theatre''. Whitta died before he could begin the program. Following his death, Kennedy would use the many comedic skills Whitta had taught him when he began hosting the popular In Melbourne Tonight program in 1957. ==Death==

Whitta died at his home in Darebin from a coronary occlusion. Following Whitta's death, 3UZ hosted a scheduled live all-day broadcast from Melbourne's Anzac House, encouraging people to donate to the RSL's "Operation Gratitude" appeal. The appeal had been officially launched by Sir Dallas Brooks the previous July in a bid to raise money to build homes for returned military personnel. During the 3UZ appeal, more than £30,000 () of the £204,000 () raised was donated "in memory of Nicky". ==Portrayal==

In The King, the television movie about Graham Kennedy's life, Whitta was portrayed by Garry McDonald while Nancy Lee was portrayed by Roz Hammond. Their two sons Michael and Gary were portrayed by Chad Hamilton and Riley Hamilton == References ==