Basil Zempilas

Basil Anthony Zempilas (born 30 July 1971) is an Australian television and radio presenter, sports commentator and politician based in Perth, Western Australia. Zempilas presents sport on Seven News Perth,[1] Monday to Thursday and from January 2014 until 11 December 2020 co-hosted Perth radio station 6PR's breakfast program with Steve Mills.[2] He is also a member of the Seven Network's AFL football commentary team.[1] Zempilas has commentated on the Olympics and several other major sporting events, was formerly with radio station 92.9 in Perth and has previously been a co-host of Weekend Sunrise.[3][4] In 2020, Zempilas was elected Lord Mayor of Perth.

The Right Honourable Lord Mayor of Perth

Basil Zempilas
Basil Zempilas in 2020
56th Lord Mayor of Perth
Assumed office
19 October 2020
DeputySandy Anghie
Preceded byLisa Scaffidi
Personal details
Born
Basil Anthony Zempilas

(1971-07-30) 30 July 1971
Perth, Western Australia
NationalityAustralian
Political partyIndependent
Domestic partnerAmy Zempilas (2009–present)
Children3
EducationHale School
Alma materMurdoch University (BA)
Occupation

Early life

Zempilas attended Floreat Park Primary School and Hale School in Perth. He graduated from Perth's Murdoch University in 1992 with a degree in Media Studies and Mass Communications.[5]

Zempilas played for the West Perth Football Club playing as a ruckman and forward, but retired due to injury. Zempilas played 24 games in the West Australian Football League between 1990 and 1994, kicking 25 goals including kicking 5 in a semi final in 1993.[6][7]

Media career

Zempilas began his career at the Seven Network in February 1994 as a cadet sports reporter.[8] He was awarded "Best News Story" at the annual Western Australia Football Commission media awards for his coverage of the Melbourne Football Club being thrown out of a West Coast Eagles closed training session. In 1996, he was named the "Best Television Personality" at the same awards.

In 1996 Zempilas was promoted to weekend sports anchor on Seven News, a position he held until the end of 2001, when Seven lost the rights to broadcast AFL. In 1997 he commenced hosting a locally produced football show, Basil's Footy Show. He hosted the 1998 World Aquatics Championships in Perth and co-hosted the local television program Perth at Five with Yvette Mooney.

Zempilas has been involved with the Seven Network's coverage of the Olympic Games since the 2000 Sydney Olympics, where he co-hosted Tonight at the Games with Bruce Abernethy for the Western Australia and South Australia markets. At the 2002 Winter Olympics, Zempilas called Steven Bradbury's win in the 1000 m speed skating; Australia's first Winter Olympic Gold medal.[9] Zempilas provided rowing and basketball commentary at the 2004 Athens Olympic Games and represented Seven News at the 2005 World Aquatics Championships. In 2006 he began presenting the AFL segment on the Seven Network program Sportsworld with David Schwarz. He called the speed skating event at the 2006 Winter Olympics with Bradbury and also commentated on Rowing, Canoe/Kyak and Basketball at the 2008 Summer Olympics.[9]

Zempilas is the senior sport presenter on Seven News Perth,[1] and in the past has provided AFL commentary on radio station 1116 SEN into Melbourne. He was a co-host of the Lisa, Paul & Baz show on Perth's 92.9 but left in November 2013.[3][10] He joined Steve Mills to host the 6PR breakfast radio show in January 2014.[11]

Since 2012, Zempilas has been part of the Seven Network's expanded AFL broadcast team. Between 2012 and 2016, he mainly called Saturday afternoon matches and occasionally some Friday night (if the match in this timeslot is played in Perth) and Sunday afternoon matches; in 2017, he called Saturday night matches and continued to call Thursday and Friday night matches played in Perth. In 2018, due to his Weekend Sunrise commitments, his football duties was reduced to calling only Friday and Saturday night matches played in Sydney, and some matches in Perth.[12]

He was also a commentator for Seven's Australian Open tennis coverage and is the host of the annual Channel Seven Perth Telethon.

In March 2018, Zempilas was appointed co-host of Weekend Sunrise replacing Andrew O'Keefe after previously filling in as host of the show.[4] In September 2019, Zempilas stepped down as regular host of Weekend Sunrise, citing a desire to spend more time with his family, however he still appears on the show intermittently as a summer and fill-in presenter whenever required.[13] In October 2019, it was announced that Matt Doran would replace Zempilas on the show from October 12.[14]

In October 2020, it was announced Zempilas and 6PR would part ways at the end of his contract in November, due to 6PR being owned by Nine Entertainment Co.[15]

In December 2020, Zempilas finished up at 6PR, but the following week he was announced as host of Triple M Perth’s breakfast program with Jenna Clarke and Xavier Ellis.[16]

Political career

In January 2020, Zempilas announced that he was running to be the lord mayor of the City of Perth.[17] Zempilas said if successful in the election, he would step down from his role on 6PR, but continue working with Seven News.[18] He has been criticised for using his media presence to promote himself as a candidate, and for his support by The West Australian, who is his employer.[19] The Western Australian Electoral Commission warned Zempilas that his columns in The West Australian in which he uses to promote himself for lord mayor must be authorised.[20] On 17 October 2020, Zempilas won the election, defeating six other candidates.[21]

Less than two weeks after being sworn in, Zempilas made transphobic comments on his radio show. The comments were widely denounced and Zempilas apologised the next day.[22]

Personal life

In March 2004, a portrait of Zempilas by Perth artist Melinda Mackay was entered in the Archibald Prize,[23] and in the same year he featured in Cleo's 50 Most Eligible Bachelors.[24]

In 2007, Zempilas received a fine and a three-month suspension of his driver's licence after pleading guilty to drink driving.[25][26]

On 6 September 2009, Zempilas married his longtime girlfriend Amy Graham on the island of Kastellorizo, Greece. They have two daughters[27] and a son.[28]

References
  1. Hewton, Allen (5 December 2013). "Basil Zempilas confirmed to join Steve Mills on 6PR". The Age. Fairfax Media. Retrieved 13 January 2014.
  2. Entwistle, Paul (5 December 2013). "Basil joins Breakfast in 2014". 6PR. Fairfax Radio Network. Archived from the original on 13 January 2014. Retrieved 13 January 2014.
  3. McRae, Ross (31 October 2013). "Basil Zempilas quits 92.9". Yahoo7 News/The West. The Western Australian. Retrieved 13 January 2014.
  4. Knox, David (9 March 2018). "Basil Zempilas joins Weekend Sunrise". TV Tonight. Retrieved 9 March 2018.
  5. Addis, Bee Lay & Hyde, John (2004). "In Touch" (PDF). Murdoch University. Retrieved 6 May 2009.
  6. http://waflfootyfacts.net/player/stats.php?PlayerID=7094
  7. https://australianfootball.com/players/player/basil+zempilas/18434
  8. Sanders, Krystal (22 February 2019). "Basil at top of his game after 25 years". The West Australian. Archived from the original on 9 December 2019. Retrieved 1 November 2020.
  9. "Basil Zempilas set to commentate Olympics". PerthNow. 21 May 2008. Retrieved 2 May 2009.
  10. Pepper, Daile (15 December 2008). "Two for one deal at 92.9FM". WAtoday. Archived from the original on 29 April 2009. Retrieved 2 May 2009.
  11. "Basil Zempilas back on breakfast radio". The West Australian. 5 December 2013.
  12. Cox, Tiffany (20 March 2018). "Busy Basil gears up for footy season". The West Australian. Retrieved 24 March 2018.
  13. Knox, David (18 August 2019). "Basil Zempilas to scale back Weekend Sunrise role". TV Tonight. Archived from the original on 1 November 2020. Retrieved 1 November 2020.
  14. Perry, Kevin (3 October 2019). "Matt Doran confirmed as new Weekend Sunrise host as Basil Zempilas steps aside". TV Blackbox. Archived from the original on 1 November 2020. Retrieved 1 November 2020.
  15. Prestipino, David (15 October 2020). "Basil Zempilas to leave 6PR as Seven West Media reins him in". WAtoday. Retrieved 15 October 2020.
  16. "Baz adds radio gig to busy schedule". PerthNow. 15 December 2020. Retrieved 15 December 2020.
  17. Emery, Kate (17 January 2020). "Basil's plan to become Perth's next lord mayor". The West Australian. Archived from the original on 18 January 2020. Retrieved 1 November 2020.
  18. "Basil Zempilas to depart 6PR if elected as Lord Mayor of Perth". Radio Today. Retrieved 24 September 2020.
  19. Wilkins, Georgia. "Conflict of Interest: The West backs a winner for Perth". Crikey. Retrieved 24 September 2020.
  20. Hondros, Nathan. "Zempilas warned over unauthorised use of media platforms for electioneering". WAtoday. Retrieved 24 September 2020.
  21. Warriner, Jessica (17 October 2020). "Radio and TV host Basil Zempilas elected new Perth Lord Mayor". www.abc.net.au. Archived from the original on 17 October 2020. Retrieved 1 November 2020.
  22. Towie, Narelle (30 October 2020). "'Forgot I was mayor': Basil Zempilas apologises for transgender comments saying he forgot his position". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Archived from the original on 1 November 2020. Retrieved 1 November 2020.
  23. Adshead, Gary (6 October 2003). "Baz could make La Gioconda smile". The West Australian.
  24. "Basil Zempilas". au.news.yahoo.com. Archived from the original on 2 April 2019. Retrieved 1 November 2020.
  25. Darragh, David (31 January 2007). "Zempilas banned from roads for drink driving". The West Australian.
  26. "Zempilas banned for 0.08 offence". PerthNow. 31 January 2007. Archived from the original on 2 February 2007.
  27. McHugh, Jillian (31 October 2013). "Basil Zempilas quits Perth radio station 92.9". Sydney Morning Herald. Fairfax Media. Retrieved 13 January 2014.
  28. "Basil and Amy Zempilas have a baby boy". 13 July 2017. Retrieved 10 November 2017.
Preceded by
Lisa Scaffidi		 Lord Mayor of Perth
2020 – present		 Succeeded by
Incumbent
Preceded by
Dennis Cometti		 Seven News Perth
Sport presenter
(Monday, Wednesday - Friday)
2000 – present		 Succeeded by
Incumbent
Preceded by
Andrew O'Keefe		 Weekend Sunrise
Co-host with Monique Wright
March 2018 – October 2019		 Succeeded by
Matt Doran
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