Ted Emery (1947 – 3 March 2026) was an Australian film and television director and producer.
Life and career Emery served in the Royal Australian Navy during the Vietnam War. After returning to Australia, he joined the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) in Melbourne. He became a director and producer for Countdown, the ABC's weekly television music program.
He continued to work as an assistant director at the ABC on such programs as Power Without Glory, before moving into directing comedy series. He worked consistently as a director, writer and producer of a number of Australian comedy television series and films, including Fast Forward, Full Frontal and Kath & Kim.
Emery was featured in the Molly Meldrum biopic television series, Molly, where his work as a director on Countdown was dramatised. He is credited with having helped to save many of the master videotapes of Countdown, including the first episode broadcast in colour. A large number of master videotapes recorded at the ABC between 1974 and 1978 were later erased and recycled during a management-initiated "economy drive" at the ABC, an action which Meldrum later criticised and said was "unforgivable".
Emery moved to Queensland in 2008 and retired from television work by 2015. He died from cancer in Noosa on 3 March 2026.
Credits YearTitleRole1974CountdownProducer/Director1976Power Without GloryFirst Assistant Director1982The Simon Gallaher ShowDirector, producer1986While You're Down ThereDirector, producer1986Acropolis NowDirector1990Tonight Live with Steve VizardDirector1991Turn It UpDirector, producer1992BlighDirector, executive Producer1989–1992Fast ForwardWriter, executive Producer1994JimeoinDirector1996The Eric Bana Show LiveExecutive Producer1993–1997Full FrontalWriter, executive Producer1996Shark BayDirector1998–2001Micallef ProgramDirector1999The CraicDirector2000One Size Fits AllExecutive Producer2002–2007Kath and KimDirector2003Welcher and WelcherDirector2003The Honourable Wally NormanDirector2004–2005Dancing With The StarsDirector2007Wendy Harmer's StuffDirector2008Whatever Happened To That GuyDirector2010–2011Bed of RosesDirector2012Kath and KimderellaDirector
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