Daryl Somers is giving Hey Hey It’s Saturday fans a new way to revisit the much-loved show, with a revamped streaming service set to feature hundreds of episodes and classic specials.
The television veteran, who recently celebrated his 75th birthday, is relaunching Hey Hey TV as interest in the long-running program continues online.
“Over the last couple of years our Facebook following has grown to over 850,000, so we are revamping Hey Hey TV to cater to the enormous interest in the show,” he said in an interview with Woman’s Day.
The new platform will feature more than 800 episodes of Hey Hey It’s Saturday, along with spin-off programs and specials.
Somers will also record new material exclusively for members, giving longtime viewers a chance to see something new alongside the archive of classic episodes.
A launch date has not yet been announced, with Somers saying more information will be shared later this year through the Hey Hey Facebook page.
“I want to keep that special connection going with the vast and loyal Hey Hey mob, even if I have to point out to people sometimes that I’m not 105, and I’m still here!” he says.
“And yes, I’m soon going to be back on TV – only this time, Hey Hey TV!”
The original Hey Hey It’s Saturday ended its 28-year run in 1999, but its popularity has endured.
More than four million Australians watched reunion specials in 2009, leading to a new 20-episode season the following year.
The show was also named Australia’s most popular television program in a 2016 survey marking 60 years of Australian television.
For Somers, the new service offers a chance to keep that connection alive for the generations who grew up watching the program, as well as introducing its familiar characters and humour to younger viewers.
Image: Facebook
