Dave’s stand-up comedy career started in Perth in 1993 and he hit the nation’s TV screens on Hey Hey It’s Saturday back in 1998, making such an impact that his debut stand-up set was the only comedy spot replayed on the 50 year Anniversary Hey Hey It’s Saturday Reunion Show in 2018. He was a breakout star on the ABC’s iconic The Glasshouse that ran from 2001 to 2007. He then co-founded the popular AFL comedy show Before The Game that had a ten year run on Channel 10 and lives on with most of the rest of the team still producing The Front Bar, which he sometimes appears on. His Hughesy Loses It segments were a standout on Rove Live from 2007 until he left the program to be a key pillar in the launch of Channel 10’s The Project in 2009, staying for five years. His humour, warmth and wisdom were a big factor in setting up that nightly show’s 16 year run.
He left Aussie TV and radio briefly in 2014 to take his young family around the world while he showed international audiences his talents.
He came back and hosted Australia’s Got Talent in 2015 and also joined The AFL Footy Show that year. In 2017 he produced and hosted Hughesy, We Have A Problem for its five season run on Channel 10. In 2019 he starred in Masked Singer Australia and was the only judge that stayed for the full five year run on Channel 10. He hasn’t slowed down. In 2025 he starred in seasons of I’m A Celebrity, Taskmaster Australia, and Talkin’ ‘Bout Your Generation, also on Channel 10. Also in 2025, Dave’s comedy and life journey featured on the ABC’s Australian Story and was the most viewed episode of the year.
While his TV career was at breakneck speed for the past three decades, Dave was doing full-time daily radio which started in 2001 when he was part of the launch of Nova 100 in Melbourne with The Hughesy, Kate and Dave breakfast show, which stayed at the top of the ratings for 13 years. After his international tour in 2014, he came back in 2015 with The Hughesy and Kate national drive show, which was another ratings winner on the KIIS and Hit networks till 2020. Then he spent four years on the Hughesy, Ed & Erin show on 2DayFM breakfast in Sydney and replayed nationally at 6pm.
While all this was happening, Dave continued with his stand-up comedy career, selling out shows nationally for three decades and always staying on the cutting edge of the genre. He has been invited to perform at the world renowned Just For Laughs festival in Montreal, Canada on numerous occasions and has always been met with rapturous applause.
He has also embraced new media. Dave has one of the largest followings by a comedian on social media in Australia with over a million followers across Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and X. A thought from Dave, broadcast immediately via talking to the camera of his iPhone, can within hours gather millions of views.
He is on record as saying he loves performing comedy now more than ever before.
Also in 2025, a large survey of Australians voted Dave 2nd most popular comedian and 2nd most popular radio host in the nation – a remarkable indicator of relevance for someone who has been a major part of the Australian consciousness for almost thirty years.
He has never lost the common touch as anyone who has met him will testify. After every stand-up show or event he will patiently take photos with fans until the last one has gone home. These fans range in age from 9 year olds to 99 year olds and beyond.