Over a three course meal Marc Fennell guides participants through a discussion focusing on topics ranging from attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, obesity, menopause and ageing.

Across, the series the guests are athletes, drag queens, artists, doctors and everyday, yet extraordinary, people, with little in common except the one health condition that binds them.

The dinner party becomes a space for empathy, disagreement, laughter and catharsis – where brain fog, body image, libido and late-age diagnosis are discussed as easily as wine is poured.

In the third episode of the series the topic of ageing is tackled. Sitting at the table is artist Lindy Lee, sexologist Dr Linda Kirkman, dementia advocate Gwenda Darling, and drag performer Stan Munro and Geriatrician Dr John Ward – who was New South Wales Senior of the Year in 2024.

During the conversation Lee notes that while the Baby Boomer generation have had a tendency to focus on materialism growing up in the post-war period they’re also the first generation to tackle many social issues.

“Baby Boomers were born from parents who had experienced war, deprivation, so the moment any sense of prosperity came on, of course people are going to buy houses because it was affordable, so that’s kind of a natural thing.” Lee says during the dinner conversation. “But we also had to contend with misogyny, racism, homophobia, so my generation I think have fought hard for inclusiveness.”

Eighty-four year old drag performer Stan Munro shares his frustration about how call centre operators speak to older people, as well as lamenting his lack of sex life.

“I haven’t been laid for about fifteen years,” he says, “It’s shocking.” Leading to some of the other attendees to suggest that all the action is happening in care homes.

Stan says that on the gay scene, ageism has always been a big factor, and it only gets worse the older you get, which kicks off a discussion about the differences between relationships, intimacy and pleasure.

As Australia’s population ages, people live longer and work longer attitudes to ageing and how to live your life are rapidly changing. While people used to retire in their sixties, now many people continue to work, and Dame Stan has no plans to stop performing. He currently delivers a show called Vintage Drag in Mint Condition.

Heartbreakingly, Stan also shares his fear of getting older and having to go in to care, where he fears he may encounter homophobia.

Across the series many interesting and prominent Australians appear including true crime podcasters, advertising experts, prison reform advocates, mental health experts and reality TV show champions. Plus there’s food writers, Olympians, influencers, famous authors, doctors, fashion designers and journalists.

The four-part series will be available to stream on SBS On Demand from Tuesday, 14 October, and air weekly on SBS, Tuesdays at 8.30pm.

The post New Marc Fennell SBS series tackles the big topics appeared first on OUTinPerth.

Patrick Abboud and Jan Fran have announced that they are both leaving the SBS series The Feed. 

Both presenters have been with the show since it’s debut six years ago. The pair made their announcement in a video dramatisation.

As the video explains Marc Fennell and Michael Hing will stay with the program.

Patrick Abboud said he was proud to have been part of a show that allowed him to express his experiences as a young gay Arab man alongside an incredible range of diversity that had featured on the program.

“I’m so chuffed to have founded a program that’s nurtured amazing talent and changed the media landscape for the better. I’m so thankful for the endless opportunities to have worked on so many other life-changing projects at SBS alongside life-long friends I’ve made.” Abboud said.

Jan Fran said she was eternally grateful to the network which had taken her on as a cadet at the start of her career.

“I’ve had so many opportunities, worked with so many wonderful people and made friends for life.” Fran said.

Following Abboud and Fran’s departure the program will take on five new talents. Among them Triple J newsreader and Young Walkley Award winner Alice Matthews.

Matthews won a Young Walkley Award in 2015 for her reporting on sex abuse in the medical industry, and has collaborated on two publications for the UN on protecting confidential sources and fake news.

She’ll be joined by SBS journalist Michelle Rimmer, Tania Saffi – who previously worked at Buzzfeed, documentary maker Rebecca Metcalf and David Ma who joins SBS from MTV.

OIP Staff

The post Patrick Abboud and Jan Fran both quit SBS's 'The Feed' appeared first on OUTinPerth.