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After Agro's rise to fame there was some dispute between Rhodes and Jamie Dunn because Dunn attempted to claim creative ownership of the puppet. A court case loomed, but BTQ-7 and the parties involved reached a settlement that allowed Jamie Dunn to retain the rights. However, Agro officially belongs
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Agro's on-camera roles became less frequent in the late 1990s and into the 2000s as Dunn's radio commitments grew and the novelty of the character had worn off.The puppet itself was seldom seen during the 2000s. Dunn said at one point that Agro was "in a suitcase somewhere". In 2008 Agro appeared in
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When Agro performed on radio Jamie Dunn would sit in the studio and provide the Agro voice without actually operating the puppet. Often Dunn would perform dual roles as himself or Agro, and it was often implied through the use of soundboard noises that Agro would "enter" the studio to talk to him.
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The Agro puppet eventually produced by Fisher-Price was unusual in its construction. The puppeteer could open and close the mouth, and could also manipulate the eyebrows via a plastic lever in the head. This allowed Dunn to create a sexually-suggestive leering expression, which he often used. The
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was eventually hired by Seven as a permanent replacement after they received a song demo recorded by Dunn about Agro which included an impression of the character. It was Dunn who took the character to greater heights and created an iconic part of
Australian television history. Dunn's marketing
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Agro's humour tends to be adult, with much sexual suggestion, cursing and uninhibited behaviour. He has often appeared with an innocent-acting female offsider, who is subjected to mocking and innuendo. His pre-taped performances in shows intended for a juvenile or family audience were
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eyes and limbs do not move. In 2001 Channel Seven
Productions enlisted puppeteer and puppet builder Warren Duxbury to rebuild Agro because the original Agro had deteriorated beyond repair. The new puppet was built for use on the short-lived revival of dating show
264:, interacting with the panel and answering viewer questions. In 2017, Agro appeared in several ads for "sellmycar.com.au", and has continued as the voice of the radio advertisement. In 2020 he appeared in several ads for
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In March 2009, Agro returned to television screens in South East
Queensland to promote a $ 7,000 cash giveaway on Radio Station 4BC. From August 2013, Agro started appearing on the Channel 7 program
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The word "agro" (also spelled "aggro") is
Australian slang for "aggression" or "aggravation". Agro is sometimes said to have the surname Vation, though the puppet is rarely credited with a surname.
539:, in which he would provide money or resources to a family or individual in trouble. Eventually the Agro performances were credited to Jamie Dunn, and the Agro character was marginalised.
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After a falling out with Seven led to Rhodes' resignation, several different operators were involved in working the puppet. Struggling songwriter
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as himself. He used the Agro character as a kind of alternative, more uninhibited personality (for example, when making prank telephone calls).
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Dunn aspired to become a show-business personality in his own right, and so in time he appeared in promotional material for the B105 FM
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Agro, as a typical ventriloquist might. When Agro appears on camera or on stage, Dunn is always hidden, often by furniture.
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with his extended puppet family. Agro appeared in a wide range of merchandise including his own showbag at the
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employee Garry Rhodes, who was a floor manager at the time. Although it is often joked that he is made from a
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Agro appeared in the following pantomimes which were written and produced by Dunn with Brett
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that aired the following year. The nose of the new puppet was noticeably different from the old one.
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prowess resulted in the Agro concept becoming a lucrative career for him. Dunn has never appeared
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in 2002. Throughout the early 1990s Agro became increasingly popular, appearing on
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At his height of popularity extensive Agro merchandising included four recorded
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Eric
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From 1990, Agro appeared in the morning radio segment for
Brisbane station
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Super Sunday Show (aka Super
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Agro has also appeared as a guest on the following television shows:
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1105:"Jamie Dunn reveals what life's been like as the voice behind Agro"
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The New
Partridge Dictionary of Slang and Unconventional English
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482:. Agro has also occasionally appeared as a panel member on the
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before broadcast, but in the adult-oriented shows (and in the
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on four occasions. He also appeared many times as a guest on
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on Seven. When the
Saturday morning timeslot was replaced by
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Agro initially appeared on the children's television shows
46:, not owned although operated by comedian and voice artist
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List of albums, with selected details and chart positions
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Agro hosted the following Australian television shows:
207:, Seven created the daily morning children's programme
591:. For a period of time, an Agro ice cream similar to
432:(often appearing as the partner and mouthpiece for
247:an arcade video game, and numerous novelty albums.
474:Agro has also appeared on a number of Australian
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132:The original Agro puppet was created in 1981 by
724:List of singles, with selected chart positions
545:(2006–), with Ian Calder and Courtney Burns on
1127:"Game Changers Radio: Episode 24 - Jamie Dunn"
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1050:for "Best Presenter of Light Entertainment".
158:claimed that Agro had been "altered by the
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16:Australian puppet and media personality
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535:and also presented a segment
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1082:The Shandar Smith Foundation
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280:Agro's Cartoon Connection
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154:. Later, the producer of
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61:Agro's Cartoon Connection
28:Agro's Cartoon Connection
791:"Don't Go in the Dunny"
707:Label: J&B (JB541CD)
589:Sydney Royal Easter Show
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664:Released: December 1991
644:Released: November 1990
25:Agro, as he appears in
1140:Zinc 96.1: Morning Zoo
807:Awards and nominations
678:Agro Kids' Dance Party
552:radio station Zinc 96.
500:Agro's Christmas Story
386:Television appearances
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1233:bubblingdownunder.com
884:Agro Kids Dance Album
844:Best Children's Album
735:Peak chart positions
687:Label: CBS (472731 2)
667:Label: CBS (469273 2)
647:Label: CBS (467566 2)
624:Peak chart positions
533:prank telephone calls
508:A Very Agro Christmas
455:Talk With the Animals
422:Hey Hey It's Saturday
333:Boris' Breakfast Club
233:, advertisements for
183:Boris' Breakfast Club
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1213:Ryan, Gavin (2011).
1145:18 July 2008 at the
543:The Zinc Morning Zoo
237:, and contending on
235:Queensland Transport
72:Name and personality
1191:. 26 September 2009
1087:4 July 2008 at the
1046:He also received a
869:Best Comedy Release
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614:
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255:to Channel Seven.
200:Super Saturday Show
1328:Australian mascots
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537:Agro to the Rescue
305:Agro to the Rescue
56:Terasa Livingstone
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1273:978-0-415-25937-8
1235:. 5 November 2021
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812:ARIA Music Awards
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800:Non-album single
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261:The Daily Edition
194:Super Sunday Show
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1237:. Retrieved
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1193:. Retrieved
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1169:25 September
1167:. Retrieved
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1108:. Retrieved
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895:Logie Awards
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1189:Toltoys Kid
1110:29 December
603:Discography
567:ARIA Awards
444:Family Feud
368:Agro was a
351:(1990-1997)
343:(1983–1990)
271:Holey Moley
240:Family Feud
107:Wally Lewis
105:footballer
96:fourth wall
1302:Categories
1289:Jamie Dunn
1239:6 November
1195:7 February
1164:Herald Sun
1054:References
888:Nominated
873:Nominated
863:Nominated
848:Nominated
516:Radio host
490:Pantomimes
408:Hey Dad..!
370:guest host
335:(? – 1989)
197:, and the
171:Jamie Dunn
164:Jim Henson
144:puppet of
128:Television
48:Jamie Dunn
704:Released:
576:Agro Soar
476:telethons
402:Everybody
266:Uber Eats
176:alongside
162:", after
160:Red Cross
1143:Archived
1085:Archived
859:Agro Too
785:Agro Too
658:Agro Too
585:showbags
571:Game Boy
1323:Puppets
911:Result
828:Result
719:Singles
587:at the
529:B105 FM
434:Fat Cat
297:B105 FM
138:bathmat
123:History
1270:
923:Wombat
908:Award
825:Award
738:Album
729:Title
618:Title
573:game (
511:(1989)
503:(1988)
340:Wombat
319:Career
229:, the
188:Wombat
146:Animal
82:vetted
40:puppet
1252:Notes
902:Year
819:Year
794:2002
778:1991
758:1990
732:Year
597:Pauls
569:), a
291:Radio
148:from
134:BTQ-7
1293:IMDb
1268:ISBN
1241:2021
1197:2016
1171:2013
1112:2020
1040:Won
1036:1997
1030:Won
1026:1996
1020:Won
1016:1995
1010:Won
1006:1994
1000:Won
996:1993
990:Won
986:1992
980:Won
969:1991
963:Won
959:1990
953:Won
949:1989
943:Won
939:1988
933:Won
917:1987
879:1993
854:1992
834:1991
761:150
672:100
372:for
185:and
54:and
42:and
36:Agro
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