2026 marks the 20th anniversary of The Fred Award, with guests encouraged to dress in 'Gumboot Glam'.

The 2026 Comedy Festival is almost over, with the Last Laughs Awards Gala taking place 7PM at SkyCity Theatre tonight.

Entertainment correspondent Steve Newall unpacked the nominees further.

LISTEN ABOVE

2026 marks the 20th anniversary of The Fred Award, with guests encouraged to dress in 'Gumboot Glam'.
The 2026 Comedy Festival is almost over, with the Last Laughs Awards Gala taking place 7PM at SkyCity Theatre tonight.
Entertainment correspondent Steve Newall unpacked the nominees further.
LISTEN ABOVE

News, opinion, analysis, lifestyle and entertainment – we’ve got your Sunday morning listening covered with The Sunday Session with Francesca Rudkin on Newstalk ZB.

The Sunday Session with Francesca Rudkin

Steve Newall: entertainment correspondent on the 2026 Fred Award finalists being revealed

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/12679038-9e62-48a7-a706-b45301882117/transcript

Heather Mitchell is regarded as one of Australia's most well-known and hardest working stars, and she's taking on a new, unique role on stage. 

RBG: Of Many, One debuts at Auckland theatre company this week, and will run until June 7th - and Mitchell portrays the late US Supreme Court Justice.

It's a one-woman show, where Mitchell portrays Ginsburg from the age of 13 to 97, and she plays numerous characters across a story that lasts almost two hours.

"Really, all it requires is being present and in the moment and being there, for those imaginary characters."  

LISTEN ABOVE

Heather Mitchell is regarded as one of Australia's most well-known and hardest working stars, and she's taking on a new, unique role on stage.&nbsp;
RBG: Of Many, One debuts at Auckland theatre company this week, and will run until June 7th - and Mitchell portrays the late US Supreme Court Justice.
It's a one-woman show, where Mitchell portrays Ginsburg from the age of 13 to 97, and she plays numerous characters across a story that lasts almost two hours.
"Really, all it requires is being present and in the moment and being there, for those imaginary characters."&nbsp;&nbsp;
LISTEN ABOVE

Heather Mitchell: Australian actress on playing US Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg in her solo show

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/4f3e97f4-85fd-4ade-8492-b45400141377/transcript

Dave Dobbyn is regarded as a national treasure among Kiwi music fans, and he's set to hit the stage this July.

From Th’ Dudes to DD Smash to a highly successful solo career, he's made an impact on New Zealand music, with many of his hits becoming Kiwi anthems.

He's set to do a one night show in Auckland later this year, 'Selected Songs Encore' - a follow-up to last year's 'Selected Songs' tour.

"It was a real thrill and I warmed to it, because every time you play for an audience, you just become closer - and that's a pretty satisfying feeling." 

LISTEN ABOVE

Dave Dobbyn is regarded as a national treasure among Kiwi music fans, and he's set to hit the stage this July.
From Th’ Dudes to DD Smash to a highly successful solo career, he's made an impact on New Zealand music, with many of his hits becoming Kiwi anthems.
He's set to do a one night show in Auckland later this year, 'Selected Songs Encore' - a follow-up to last year's 'Selected Songs' tour.
"It was a real thrill and I warmed to it, because every time you play for an audience, you just become closer - and that's a pretty satisfying feeling."&nbsp;
LISTEN ABOVE

Sir Dave Dobbyn: Kiwi musician ahead of his 'Selected Songs Encore' show in Auckland

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/9dac8255-10c4-48e2-b5df-b454000fe88d/transcript

Five by Ilona Bannister. This is a highly entertaining and cleverly constructed thriller based on the premise that on a suburban train station one morning there are five minutes until the next train, five passengers waiting, and five minutes until one of them dies. The narrative gives the story of each of these people so that you develop a real understanding of them, all the while wondering which of them will be the unlucky one, and it effectively makes the reader become the judge, jury and executioner. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Famesick by Lena Dunham. Lena Dunham became extremely famous in her early 20’s as the writer and lead actor in the TV series Girls and has maintained a high profile since. Her memoir is fascinating - she’s struggled with debilitating sickness for much of her life and survived addictions, celebrity and a fair amount of public humiliation - all whilst working frenetically, displaying early and rare talent, and she puts it all on the page in this book which I couldn’t put down. She’s a very talented writer and her own life has given her a remarkable canvas against which to tell her story. 

LISTEN ABOVE

Five by Ilona Bannister. This is a highly entertaining and cleverly constructed thriller based on the premise that on a suburban train station one morning there are five minutes until the next train, five passengers waiting, and five minutes until one of them dies. The narrative gives the story of each of these people so that you develop a real understanding of them, all the while wondering which of them will be the unlucky one, and it effectively makes the reader become the judge, jury and executioner. I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Famesick by Lena Dunham. Lena Dunham became extremely famous in her early 20’s as the writer and lead actor in the TV series Girls and has maintained a high profile since. Her memoir is fascinating - she’s struggled with debilitating sickness for much of her life and survived addictions, celebrity and a fair amount of public humiliation - all whilst working frenetically, displaying early and rare talent, and she puts it all on the page in this book which I couldn’t put down. She’s a very talented writer and her own life has given her a remarkable canvas against which to tell her story.&nbsp;
LISTEN ABOVE

Whitcoulls Recommends: Five and Famesick

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/360fecf7-9a72-4382-b316-b454000ce27f/transcript

Steve Newall: entertainment correspondent on the 2026 Fred Award finalists being revealed

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