Ian 'Molly' Meldrum AM (b. 1946) has a long history of involvement and influence in the Australian rock music industry. Although he is a music journalist and producer, he is best known as the host of the ABC television program Countdown, which ran from 1974 to 1987, and for his more recent regular segment on the Melbourne based national television program Hey Hey it's Saturday. In his Countdown years Meldrum was able to persuade the biggest stars of the international music scene to appear with him on set, with some memorable interlocutors including Prince Charles, Elton John, Michael Jackson and Madonna. During this period it was difficult for any act, local or international, to achieve a major commercial hit without his exhorting viewers to 'do themselves a favour' by purchasing it. He is rumoured to be writing a multi-volume autobiography.
