Turpie made regular appearances on "Bandstand", "Time For Terry" and "The Graham Kennedy Show". Turpie's talents as musician and compere were recognised at 21, when he replaced Johnny O'Keefe for a stint as national television compere on "Sing Sing Sing". He was subsequently chosen to host the top-rating teenage variety show "The Go!! Show" from mid 1965 until the end of 1966. He was an early boyfriend of Olivia Newton-John, with whom he had starred in the 1965 Australian musical telefilm "Funny Things Happen Down Under," Newton-John's debut performance.