In 1964 he appeared as the host of the Channel 7 variety show "Studio 'A'" and in 1965 he replaced the ailing Eric Baume as the "Beast" on the Channel 7 daytime show, "Beauty and the Beast". This production established him as one of Australia's firm television favourites. During this two-and-a-half year period with "Beauty and the Beast", he also appeared in leading roles in several stage productions including "There's a Girl in My Soup", "Present Laughter", "Private Lives", several theatre restaurant revues, presented ATN-7's news program "The Wagstaff Report" (1965), and a 1966 episode of the drama series "Homicide".