No more Mike and Mal!!!

[Ned]

Leyland brother Mike dies


AAP
September 14, 2009 04:03pm


MIKE Leyland, one of the two legendary Leyland brothers whose quirky travel show ran for years on Australian television, has died at the age of 68.

His family announced that Mike died of complications of Parkinson's disease this morning.

Mike and Mal Leyland, explorers and documentary filmmakers, were best known for their television show Ask The Leyland Brothers.

The weekly show, which ran from 1976 to 1984, was watched by more than 2.5 million people at its peak.

It featured the brothers in unusual or far-flung places around Australia which viewers had asked them to visit.

Mike was eight and Mal was five when they migrated with their parents in 1950 from England to Newcastle in NSW, where Mike lived for the rest of his life.

Mike Leyland is survived by his wife Margie, his daughters Kerry, Sandy and Dawn, his step-daughters Sarah and Alison, and seven grandchildren.

http://www.news.com.au/story/0,27574,26070675-29277,00.html

[Fishman Dan]

It's sad that at the tail-end of their popularity they put all their money into that shitful place north of Newcastle that effectively bankrupted them.

[Russell]

used to watch them religiously
i can still remember the opening credits, where his wife was standing on the beach in a wet t shirt:smt045

[Jarro]

I also watched them regularly when i was a kid and thought they had the best life ... travelling all over the countryside 8)

[Grunt]

I remember going away camping with Mum & Dad and another family at the time when the show was on. We were like the Leyland Brothers every holiday. Went all over the countryside. Dad would see it on the show and then say we are going there this Xmas and we did.

[ozdevil]

Rest in peace Mike


condolences to the family and friends of the leylands...

one of australia's finest can always remember sitting down watching mike and mal

[Dotty]

They were ahead of their time, both with showing Australia and real-life TV.

My favourites were the one-off specials telecast every couple of months in the early 70's, and always anticipated. A refreshing break from the 'cookie cutter' scheduling. (Paul Hogan did similar with his sketch comedy.)

Even at golf, we still use 'doing a Leyland brothers' for someone playing down the wrong fairway, or put one deep in the scrub. (Plus the frequent retort to a 'Where are we?' question, 'Buggared if I know Mal.')

Thanks Leyland Brothers.


ps. But was there wife swapping between those two Kombis?

[Fishman Dan]

Even at golf, we still use 'doing a Leyland brothers' for someone playing down the wrong fairway, or put one deep in the scrub. (Plus the frequent retort to a 'Where are we?' question, 'Buggared if I know Mal.')

Thanks Leyland Brothers.




Life imitates art! I've got a friend who has always been crap at car-racing games. We nicknamed him accordingly after you'd often lap him while he was doing a "Leyland Brothers" nowhere near the track.

[markTHEblake]

It's sad that at the tail-end of their popularity they put all their money into that shitful place north of Newcastle that effectively bankrupted them.

That is ringing a bell with me - is there some sort of theme park thing on the east side of the highway?

[Tongueboy]

yeah a big ayers rock copy at Karuah. it just didn't work. now a united petrol station doing allright.

[Ferrins]

I loved that show. It wasn't as scary as Skippy. RIP Mike