Comedian & 'Crazy Crosswords' Host Jonathan Atherton Dies

Brisbane comedian and host of cult series Crazy Crosswords Jonathan Atherton passed away earlier this week after a battle with cancer.

A well-known figure on the stand-up comedy circuit, Atherton's career included movie roles and radio spots, but it was his work founding stand-up clubs in South East Asia that became his biggest legacy. He started the first stand-up club in Malaysia and mentored over 100 comedians across South East Asia, before returning to Brisbane in recent years.

Despite all that, for Brisbanites growing up in the late '90s, Atherton will forever be 'Steel Jensen', the host of Briz 31's Crazy Crosswords. Becoming a cult hit, the show was so bad it was good, held together by Atherton's wit and the feeling that absolutely anything could happen. There was no safety net because they seemingly couldn't afford a re-take.

It was the channel's highest rating show, and although it was only in production for a couple of years, it existed in re-runs (and our hearts) through till 2005. Also airing on other Channel 31s around Australia, the show was one of the only game shows in Australian history put together with two second-hand couches and a whiteboard marker.