Ray Martin was in full swing on Tuesday night.
The veteran journalist appeared on The Cheap Seats to talk about his SBS documentary series exploring cultural traditions surrounding death.
Tim McDonald made fun of himself, saying, “I died for eight minutes every week,” implying that his comedy sometimes doesn’t come across properly.
Ray mumbled something under his breath, but Tim caught on and asked him, “I said, ‘I died for eight minutes every week,’ and you said that?”
“I noticed that,” Ray joked, to which Tim laughed and added, “Thanks, Ray.”
Then Ray interrupted and said, “Well, Tim, maybe you really are an expert on this, because they say that when you die, your whole life flashes before your eyes.”
This caused Tim to laugh further, as he took the cheeky remark as the joking comment that was meant.
Ray hosts the three-part SBS series “Ray Martin: The Last Goodbye,” which explores various taboos surrounding death.
Ray Martin (pictured) was on a roll on Tuesday night. The veteran journalist was a guest on The Cheap Seats to talk about his SBS documentary series exploring cultural traditions surrounding death.
Ray, 79, said in a statement that statistically he is only four years away from his own death and that he will bring his typical style and humor to the show.
The series examines various burial trends and rituals and delves into profound questions, including why people choose certain ceremonies, songs and resting places.
Martin will discuss the topic in the show with various prominent guests, including experienced presenter Gretel Killeen (61) and comedian Alex Lee.
Bethan Arwel-Lewis, editor at SBS, said: “At SBS, we are not afraid to tackle what are sometimes provocative or difficult topics in our programming.”
“Dealing with death – one of our last taboos – is the perfect topic for us to lift the lid on, and who better to take us into that world and get us talking and even laughing about death than Ray Martin.”
Tim McDonald (right) poked fun at himself, saying, “I died for eight minutes every week,” meaning that sometimes his comedy doesn’t work and Ray had a joke ready
The experienced journalist will host the three-part series entitled Ray Martin: The Last Goodbye, which explores the various taboos surrounding death.
Last year, Martin stressed that he still had a lot of life in him and was aging gracefully.
“I will never retire. David Attenborough is over 90 and my role model. He says you have to keep doing what you love,” he told Woman’s Day Magazine.
In addition, his former workaholic lifestyle prevented him from enjoying the important things in life, and he had no intention of repeating that mistake.
“I lived in New York for ten years as an ABC correspondent, working eight days a week. Yet I think of all the things I didn’t do and should have done.
“You have forever to sleep, you have to try.”
The respected presenter of “A Current Affair” added that as he gets older, he values spending time with his children Jenna and Luke and his two grandchildren more than ever.
Ray Martin: The Last Goodbye premieres on Wednesday 14 August at 8:30pm on SBS and SBS On Demand and continues on the following two Wednesdays at the same time.
