Lean on me
Over a lavish assortment of cakes, Jean Kittson is gently teasing her nonagenarian parents as they prepare for The Weekly’s photo shoot. Or is it the other way around? This is familiar territory for the comedienne, writer, actor and public speaker who first shot to fame on ABC television’s The Big Gig in the late 1980s. For her mother and father, Elaine and Roy, it’s less routine but they are handling the unaccustomed spotlight with poise and a hefty dose of humour.
“Now you know it’s not all glamour – those poor movie stars on the red carpet, having to suck everything in and stand up straight,” Jean smiles to her 94-year-old dad, a former mechanic and lifelong Mr Fixit, as she jokily stage manages the mood.
“How about you put your head on my shoulder? You’re completely dependent on me, you know that,” she chortles sarcastically. “Or you could be strangling me – a strangling shot would be good. You could both look cross and I will look frightened.”
As Roy rolls his eyes, 95-year-old Elaine – an early feminist and businesswoman who remains fiercely independent, despite her blindness and loss of hearing – crisply interjects: “Well, that’s how it is! You should be
