The Panel (Australian TV series)
The Panel is an Australian television talk show that was broadcast by Network Ten and its affiliates; it was also simulcast on the Triple M radio network. The show was produced by Working Dog Productions and included several members of the former D-Generation and The Late Show casts.
The show featured a panel of five (originally six) people who discuss and joke about items in the news, current affairs, and pop culture. Episodes of The Panel screened at 9.30pm on Wednesday nights. Episodes were scheduled to run one hour but would often finish late, delaying the live news broadcast scheduled for 10.30pm immediately afterwards.
The series premiered in 1998 and was very popular in its first few years. The show is currently considered to be on hiatus with the last regular episode airing in 2004. Between 2003 and 2007 the show also broadcast an annual Christmas special.
Panelists
The regular panelists are Glenn Robbins, Rob Sitch, Tom Gleisner, Kate Langbroek and Santo Cilauro (usually sitting in this order from screen left to right at the desk). Jane Kennedy was the original 6th panelist, but later left the show. Gleisner would act as the MC, introducing guests and bookending segments, however if he didn't appear in the episode, Cilauro would often play this role.