Accidental Celebrity

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Launceston, TAS
Accidental Celebrity

A six-part podcast featuring ordinary Australians who became public figures after a traumatic event. Imagine your trauma leads the news. Your anonymity is lost.

Your private life is then public property. That’s what it’s like to become an accidental celebrity. Now, the spotlight is turned around. Each weekly episode offers rare media insights from an ordinary Australian who faced an extraordinary event. They expose the tricks of a competitive trade – the relentless pursuits, the manipulation and misrepresentation, the betrayals of truth and trust – with j

ournalist Fiona Reynolds. Learn too why they participated in media coverage. This is the inside story on a shrewd industry that plucks unknowns from obscurity to feed our fascination with adversity and the strength of the human spirit. Episode 1 - The Dingo Baby
(Lindy Chamberlain-Creighton)
Episode 2 - The Iceman
(James Scott)
Episode 3 - The Sole Survivor
(Stuart Diver)
Episode 4 - The Missing Schoolboy
(Bruce and Denise Morcombe)
Episode 5 - The Great Escape
(Todd Russell)
Episode 6 - The Face of Family Violence
(Rosie Batty)

The Accidental Celebrity series is researched, written and produced by Dr Fiona Reynolds - an Australian journalist and former media executive with over 30 years of industry experience. The term ‘accidental celebrity’ was coined by leading Australian academics Graeme Turner, Frances Bonner and P. David Marshall.

11/11/2021

I've had the privilege of getting to know Lindy Chamberlain-Creighton and her husband Rick over the past (almost) 10 years. Seeing the impact her bravery, vulnerability and authenticity had on the 200 people who came to watch our conversation in Launceston will stand as a highlight. A sincere thanks to the Tamar Peace Festival, in collaboration with the Tamar Valley Writers Festival, for making it happen.

Photos courtesy of Paul Scambler

15/03/2021

Support for the series has been overwhelming - reaching number one on Apple's Australian podcast chart, with 125,000 downloads to date. If you missed any of the six episodes, you can still listen on Apple, Spotify, Acast, Amazon or wherever you get your podcasts.

07/03/2021

Final Episode is available now!

Rosie Batty let the media into her life when her ex-partner killed their 11-year-old son Luke in 2014. She chose to turn a personal tragedy into a catalyst for change, learning to play the game to galvanise support for a national campaign against family violence. Turn up sound for preview 🎶

22/02/2021

Dr Fiona Reynolds has worked as a multi-media journalist for over 30 years, covering some of Australia’s most infamous stories.

21/02/2021

Episode Four is now live🎙️ Listen on Acast, Spotify, Apple, Amazon or wherever you get your podcasts!

Bruce and Denise Morcombe would do anything to get their 13-year-old son Daniel back after he disappeared in 2003, including sacrificing their privacy to appeal for public help. The couple learnt how the media operates, to secure ongoing coverage. Turn up the sound for preview.

17/02/2021

New episode launches 22 February 🎙️ Subscribe to the Accidental Celebrity podcast to never miss an episode!

Bruce and Denise Morcombe would do anything to get their 13-year-old son Daniel back after he disappeared in 2003, including sacrificing their privacy to appeal for public help. The couple learnt how the media operates, to secure ongoing coverage. Turn up the sound for preview.

16/02/2021

Accidental Celebrity has reached the top of Apple’s Australian podcast chart. Thank you to the growing number of listeners. If you haven’t downloaded or subscribed to the show yet, check it out!

15/02/2021

Rosie Batty, the Morcombes and Lindy Chamberlain never wanted to be famous, yet they were thrust into the spotlight in the most unimaginable circumstances.

14/02/2021

Episode 3 is now available to listen on Acast, Spotify, Apple, Amazon or wherever you get your podcasts!

Stuart Diver was emotionally shattered, physically weak, and vulnerable to demands from a media pack when he was pulled from the rubble of the Thredbo landslide in 1997. The ski instructor relied on professional help to protect his personal interests.

10/02/2021

Subscribe to listen from 15 February. Sound on for preview 🎶

Stuart Diver was emotionally shattered, physically weak, and vulnerable to demands from a media pack when he was pulled from the rubble of the Thredbo landslide in 1997. The ski instructor relied on professional help to protect his personal interests.

07/02/2021

Available to listen now on Acast, Spotify, Apple, Amazon or wherever you get your podcasts!

James Scott was rescued in 1992 after 43 days alone, without food, in the freezing Himalayan mountains. The medical student defied all expectations of what a human could endure, only to face media speculation about whether he’d staged a hoax. Turn up sound for a preview.

04/02/2021

A great little mention - thanks Mediaweek.

03/02/2021

James Scott was rescued in 1992 after 43 days alone, without food, in the freezing Himalayan mountains. The medical student defied all expectations of what a human could endure, only to face media speculation about whether he’d staged a hoax. Turn sound up for a preview. Episode released on 8 February.

02/02/2021

Number 2 on the charts after just two days! Thank you to all those listeners. If you haven’t downloaded Accidental Celebrity or subscribed yet, check it out!

01/02/2021

The Dingo Baby is available now on Acast, Spotify, Apple, Amazon or wherever you get your podcasts!

Lindy Chamberlain-Creighton became recognisable to millions of Australians after a dingo took her precious baby Azaria in 1980. The young mother found her privacy invaded and portrayal twisted as her story and identity became commodities to the media.

27/01/2021

Lindy Chamberlain-Creighton became recognisable to millions of Australians after a dingo took her precious baby Azaria in 1980. The young mother found her privacy invaded and portrayal twisted as her story and identity became commodities to the media. Listen to Lindy's frank insights from 1 February.

To find out more about the podcast, visit the website ➡️ https://www.accidentalcelebrity.com.au/

20/01/2021

A six-part podcast series launching on 1 February 2021. Each week, ordinary Australians reveal what it’s like to become an accidental celebrity after a traumatic, newsworthy event – offering rare insight into the competitive media industry. Turn sound on to listen.

To find out more, visit the website ➡️ https://www.accidentalcelebrity.com.au/

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Launceston, TAS

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http://www.accidentalcelebrity.com.au/

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Episode 6 Available Now!

Final Episode is available now! Rosie Batty let the media into her life when her ex-partner killed their 11-year-old son Luke in 2014. She chose to turn a personal tragedy into a catalyst for change, learning to play the game to galvanise support for a national campaign against family violence. Turn up sound for preview 🎶

Episode 6- The Face of Family Violence

Final Episode drops 8 March. Subscribe where you get your podcasts! Rosie Batty let the media into her life when her ex-partner killed their 11-year-old son Luke in 2014. She chose to turn a personal tragedy into a catalyst for change, learning to play the game to galvanise support for a national campaign against family violence. Turn up sound for preview 🎶

Episode 5 is now live!

New episode is available now! Listen on Acast, Spotify, Apple, Amazon or wherever you get your podcasts! Todd Russell was stripped of his anonymity before he’d even emerged after 14 days trapped underground by the 2006 Beaconsfield mine rockfall. Elation was quickly replaced by frustration as the media pursuit and public attention became overwhelming. Turn up sound to hear preview.

Episode 5- The Great Escape

New episode available from 1 March. Listen on Acast, Spotify, Apple, Amazon or wherever you get your podcasts! Todd Russell was stripped of his anonymity before he’d even emerged after 14 days trapped underground by the 2006 Beaconsfield mine rockfall. Elation was quickly replaced by frustration as the media pursuit and public attention became overwhelming. Turn up sound to hear preview.