Prince Charles Pays Back Molly For 1977 'Countdown' Gaffe

ABC's forthcoming forty-year retrospective of iconic Aussie program Countdown has been given a royal injection with the revelation that His Royal Highness The Prince Of Wales has contributed a vignette in which he roasts former show host, and memorable interviewer, Ian 'Molly' Meldrum.

"There is an old show-business saying which warns never to work with animals or children," the Prince deadpans in the video, "but nobody prepared me for Molly Meldrum."

The Prince was the subject of an infamously awkward Countdown segment with Meldrum in 1977, during which the then-relatively inexperienced presenter stumbled his way to all manner of uncomfortable utterances. Early on, the Prince asked if Meldrum uses teleprompters, to which Molly responded with a crisp, confident "Nuh", before the royal was forced to watch on with a mixture of bemusement and amusement as the faltering host repeatedly fumbled his introductory line, and pretty much every other sentence that came out of his mouth.

"Was it really forty years ago?" the Prince asks rhetorically in his new segment. "It only seems like yesterday. I wish it were tomorrow; I'd — I'd cancel it."

The Prince goes on to reflect on the lessons wrought from his time with Meldrum — "I certainly learnt some interesting new Australian words from Mr Meldrum, and if he could've read my mind, he would've learnt some interesting new English words from me," he jokes — as well as being a pretty damn good sport by re-enacting some of the spot's more awful/wonderful moments, including Meldrum's desperate plea for "one glass of water, please" (side note: the balls on whoever hits the Prince's arm to encourage him to 'punch through it' are giant).

It's a pretty funny clip, an appropriate tribute, an impressive birthday present, and surely it must go a long way towards making Molly feel just a teensy bit better about what truly must have been a mortifying day in the life.

Check out the roast in full below.

Part one of Countdown: Do Yourself A Favour screens on ABC1 at 7.40pm on Sunday, November 16.