"I actually did my best to avoid the best job in the world."

Before the ticking clock of 60 Minutes became an Australian icon, Ian Leslie was a "hard-nosed newshound" who almost walked away from Channel 9. In this sweeping, nostalgic conversation, the legendary reporter joins us to pull back the curtain on the golden age of television in 2026.

From his incredible beginning—born in a Japanese POW camp in Indonesia—to becoming the man who chased the Khemlani loans affair that toppled the Whitlam government, Ian’s life is a masterclass in grit. He shares raw, unfiltered stories of the "giants" he worked for: the fierce passion of Kerry Packer (who lived and breathed TV with satellite dishes in his own backyard) and the editorial genius of Gerald Stone.

Listen to John Stanley live on air from 8pm Monday to Thursday and 7pm on Friday on 2GB Sydney and 4BC Brisbane