At a glance…
- Australian comedian, actor, writer and TV presenter Shaun Micallef is a family man at heart.
- Shaun’s son, Gabe, joins him as the co-host on Network 10’s new Shaun Micallef’s Parents’ Evening, a game show where celebrated media personalities and their adult children are tested on how well they really know each other.
- Shaun and Gabe join host Tiffany Dunk on an episode of The Australian Women’s Weekly Love Stories podcast, where they reveal how their father-son relationship has evolved since working together.
Shaun Micallef has an interesting theory: love doesn’t exist. He does, however, believe in destiny. He and his wife, Leandra, never planned to get married or have kids, but family life snuck up on Shaun Micallef and his wife.
“You might look back on it and think things were destined to happen, that it was inevitable. We have no control over it, we have no say in it at all,” Shaun shares.
And as much as Shaun believes the word “love” has simply been assigned meaning, he believes that humans make the concept a beautiful thing.
“I think that’s our job in life, to look for and find the good that exists in people and situations. And if we can’t find it, it’s up to us to make it,” Shaun expresses.
Shaun and his son Gabe join host Tiffany Dunk on an episode of The Australian Women’s Weekly Love Stories podcast, where they reminisce on Gabe’s childhood and uncover the reality of working together as adults.
Listen to the episode:
Shaun admits he approached fatherhood much like he would an IKEA flatpack: without reading the instructions.
But his unconventional approach did not fail him: his son Gabe, one of three boys, reflects on growing up in a household full of laughs, where their love language was a sense of humour.
“I never questioned whether I was getting enough love; I always felt like it was there in one form or another,” Gabe shares.
Gabe recalls being inspired by art and film from an early age, sharing an appetite for culture with his dad.
In a corner of their family home, hidden away in a dust-covered box, lie some old VHS tapes of mini movies Gabe produced during his childhood. He was often inspired by films he saw, attempting to recreate them as a crossover, himself as the star, and his dad as cameraman and director.
A formative experience for Gabe was at seven years old, when he begged his dad to take him into the city to see the silent film Phantom of the Opera (1925), motivated by a still image he saw in one of his dad’s film books, dressing up for the occasion in a cape.
“I had the time of my life,” Gabe recalls.
Gabe expresses gratitude for growing up in an environment where he was encouraged and given the opportunity to explore and evolve his curiosity.
“I’m appreciative of it. It’s become such a fundamental part of my life to follow that feeling of being interested in something and diving down the rabbit hole. I can’t imagine not having that instinct,” Gabe adds.
“Being a father is a joy. You get to see life anew through the eyes of your children as they’re growing up,” Shaun reflects. “The job of a parent is to keep the world as fairytale-like for as long as possible, and imbue the world with an air of safety, certainty and beauty.”
Gabe never felt weighed down by growing up with a dad in the public eye. Surrounded by the world of television and attending tapings of Talkin’ ‘Bout Your Generation and Mad As Hell, he was inspired.
“A huge part of the privilege I have is that I really enjoy my dad’s work – the books he writes and the programs he makes. I want to make things that are just as good and entertain people in a similar way. It feels like I’m watching a version of myself,” Gabe shares.
After studying film at university, Gabe began working behind-the-scenes. It was never a self-evident desire to be in front of the camera.
But today, Gabe joins his dad Shaun on screen as co-host on the new game show, Network 10’s Parents’ Evening, where celebrated media personalities and their adult children are tested on how well they really know each other.
Working on the TV show as colleagues has certainly introduced new dimensions to their relationship, not only as father-son, but also as collaborators and friends.
“This experience has been a step closer than the front-row seat. I’m actually in the moment with him, being part of how he builds a moment with guests. I’ve come to appreciate his honed craft in a much more in-depth way, and learnt to adopt parts of it,” Gabe reflects.
And for Shaun, it was a no-brainer to say yes to working on a creative project that allows him to spend more time with one of his sons.
“Children fly away, and if they choose to come back occasionally and perch on my hand, then I’m so blessed,” Shaun expresses.
Shaun Micallef’s Parents’ Evening premieres on Monday 28th September at 7:30 pm on Network 10 and 10 Play.
Watch the episode:
The Australian Women’s Weekly Love Stories podcast is brought to you by Wounded Heroes.
Listen to the Love Stories podcast wherever you get your podcasts. Watch full episodes on YouTube now.
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