Taken from an article appearing in The Mercury newspaper on 4 August, 2011
‘X’ to take reins from Franklin ...
It’s the end of an era in Tasmanian television, with the state’s longest-serving on-screen personality, Tim Franklin, set to step out of the spotlight.
Tasmanian media personality
Tim Franklin, is set to retire
from television after 36 years.
His replacement host is
to be John Xintavelonis.
Known for his array of funky glasses, Franklin has been a fixture on Tassie TV for nearly 35 years, since starting out on the ABC show Tracks in 1977.
Numerous programs on TVT-6 and TAS TV followed, and he has been hosting the Tasmanian Leisure and Pleasure advertising guide for the past 22 years recording an estimated 12,000 60-second spots for about 5000 clients.
Franklin was at the Southern Cross studios in Hobart yesterday to film his final TLP spot before handing over the reins to stage star John Xintavelonis (aka “John X”).
“I’ve been on television for longer than anyone else in Tassie, and I’ll miss it,” Franklin said.
“It was a big decision. In fact, it took me two years to make that decision, but it is time to step aside, put ‘X’ in the seat and put a new face to Tasmanian Leisure and Pleasure. We couldn&8217;t be luckier than to have someone like ‘X’ step in.”
And Xintavelonis, who is set to star in the Sydney Theatre Company’s production of The Threepenny Opera next month, is looking forward to stepping into Franklin’s shoes.
“A lot of people don’t realise, especially younger people, that Tim is a huge legend in the industry,” he said. “He’s a media stalwart, so they are big shoes to fill.”
Xintavelonis will co-host the show with Andrea Moody, while Franklin will focus on his advertising and marketing company Radar Promotions.
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