Q and A from the site heheehheheee
Why an outback adventure series?
I guess because it's something that's never been done before. I mean, the concept of taking a camera out into the Aussie outback and sharing the experience - the people, the places - with folks at home. It seems so obvious it's amazing no one's thought of doing it earlier.
How would you describe the series?
It's a unique glimpse at the people and places that make up this special country we call Australia.
Some people have described your series as "very funny".
Well of course, we like to keep it light-hearted; you can have a lot of laughs in the outback.
No, they mean you're very funny. As in, laughably bad.
(DEEP PAUSE) Sure, we knew there'd be the knockers when we started this series. But you know, I've had people who have seen the show come up to me and say "thank-you Russell for showing us the real Australia we've always believed existed but didn't have the outback skills to experience first hand".
People have said that?
Sure.
Things don't always go according to plan on the show.
Well, that's the bush I guess. It's unpredictable.
Over the years you've had a few run-ins with the authorities.
I don't know what you mean.
Well, for example, the episode you shot in the Kakadu.
Oh, that was so blown out of proportion. All that happened was we shot a few scenes on aboriginal land without a permit - a couple of bureaucrats got all hot under the collar, we got a slap on the wrist, end of story.
One report said you sank a jet ski and poisoned an entire water hole.
Look, this is the outback; not everything is always going to go according to plan. We cleaned up the site, retrieved most of the dead birds, I don't know why people keep wanting to drag up the past. Let's focus on the future.
Apart from the t.v. series, I believe you're planning a feature film?
We've spoken to investors, looked at a few locations; right now I'm working on the script.
Have you got a title?
The Great Aussie Outback Hero.
And anyone in mind to play the lead role?
Obviously the investors are keen for me to step in. It's just a question of scheduling.
What's the film about?
Australia. The outback. The quintessential essence of what it means to be an Aussie living and working in the bush.
Who's funding the project?
It's a Canadian company
And there's also a CD and book in the pipeline?
Yeah, there's a CD featuring music from the series and we're putting together a coffee-table book featuring brilliant shots of all the classic outback locations: Ayres Rock, Kakadu, Cooper Pedy, the Daintree.
How will these photos differ from all the others?
I'll be in them.
Tell us about your crocodile farm - it recently closed?
It's just temporary, we hope to have the injunction lifted soon and when that happens Russell Coight's Croc World will be back in business.
What exactly happened?
Just another case of bloody bureaucracy gone mad. My croc park was doing well; people were visiting, really enjoying the experience. Then a couple of animal welfare types from the city who wouldn't know a salt-water croc if it bit 'em on the arse came in and started whingeing about technicalities.
You were feeding the crocodiles live cats.
Feral cats, it's an important distinction. Look, I've got a show to put on. 11.00 and 2.00 daily I've got paid customers holding handi-cams waiting for a croc to leap out of the water. You can dangle all the frozen chooks you like but if your saltie's a fussy eater it's gonna take something a little more appealing to get her out of the pond. Full stop, end of story.
There were also claims an electric cattle prod was used to...
Look, can we change the subject?
Sure. In addition to t.v. you've also had a short-lived country and western career.
Hey, it's not over, just on hold. I don't like to whinge because we Aussies hate whingers but FM radio programmers are so narrow-minded, it's like the moment they hear a banjo that's it, a song's no good.
Will you be doing any more recording?
We hope to launch my new CD single at Tamworth. It's called "Spirit of the Outback" and the film clip's a beauty - me racing around the Finke desert south of Alice on a dirt bike.
What's the song like?
We haven't written the song yet.
What has Russell Coight been doing since we last saw him on screen?
Ive been flat out. Late last year I was asked to help out with the Crown of Thorns starfish plague threatening the Great Barrier Reef off Cairns. Thanks to my experience with underwater explosives the problem no longer exists.
You got rid of the starfish?
And the reef. So its a long-term solution.
What else?
Tours from Woomera, mainly picking the clients up in the middle of nowhere and most of them have been very appreciative.
We heard quite a bit last year about an All Aussie movie project hows that going?
Unfortunately its on hold. Everything was set to go, we had the locations chosen, cast all ready but then, at the last minute the bloody studio rang to say they had some concerns about the script.
What in particular about the script?
The fact there wasnt one.
What about other TV work?
I was asked to be an advisor on the Australian Survivor series, helping the producers come up with ideas for immunity challenges and other aspects of the show.
Was that enjoyable?
Sadly, no. I was voted out after just one production meeting.
What about your own TV projects?
Can't say too much, but we do have something in the pipeline called "Coight's Angels". A helping hand from an outback legend me.
Speaking of children, your school visiting program has been axed?
Not at all, it's just on hold while we sort out this whole public liability insurance mess. As soon as that's done I'll be back touring schools with my hands-on wildlife education program.
Even though an eleven year old girl was bitten by a baby crocodile?
I said it was "hands-on". Anyway, that croc was provoked. Naturally it was going to give a little nip in self-defence.
The child lost two fingers.
But she learnt a valuable lesson. That's what the visiting program is all about. I can't believe how kids can know so little about this great country of ours. And it's not just the wildlife, it's our history. I spoke to one class a few weeks back and there was not a single child there who could tell me who Walter Berlovski was.
Who was Walter Berlovski?
The first non-bearded European to traverse the Great Sandy Desert on camel. How could kids grow up not knowing stuff like that?
Were you surprised by the success of your first series?
Not at all, Australians have always had an appetite for the outback. We've also sold the series overseas, I'm apparently very popular in Taiwan. Over there the show's known as Pure Excitement Moments of Australian Rural Flavour with Russell Sphincter. It just goes to show that quality television transcends all racial barriers.
Tell us about the new series of All Aussie Adventures.
Well the basic formula remains the same: me, driving at high speed through remote areas, catching up with old mates and sharing a few laughs. But we've also introduced a few new features this time. For example, I now wear a seat-belt and we made a conscious effort that no more than six native animals were hurt during the filming of any episode.
Your sister Meredith Coight contributed music to the first series, will we see her name in the credits again?
Yes, although she's since married so you'll have to look for Mrs Meredith Clacker. As well as providing a few musical tracks she was also in charge of location catering. And even though her home-made yabby terrine sparked a major food poisoning outbreak, the subsequent footage we shot of the Royal Flying Doctors service in action was well worth the stomach pumping.
Speaking of music, there has been talk of you and Lee Kernaghan releasing an album of country and western duets?
Look, I've got a lot of respect for Lee and I realise he's a busy man but you'd think he could at least return one of my calls. I must have sent him a dozen song ideas over the last year yet not one reply. Just between you and me, I think he feels threatened.
Your web-site
www.bigcoight.com featured quite prominently in the first series. How many hits have you had?
We've had thousands of hits. We had some initial problems, apparently our name was very similar to a Californian site offering do-it-yourself appendage enlargements. I'm not sure what an appendage is but the site was very popular.
*Tries to work that out* 
I missed it tonight! Grrr! 
