Gallery - Fred Dagg and company

You've been to university, have you?

– Fred Dagg ( John Clarke) is momentarily stumped by Gallery reporter David Exel

David Exel was the reporter and we had to give the character a name. He thought Fred. I thought Dagg. So it was.

– John Clarke on the process of naming his most famous character, Audioculture 10 April 2017

It is amazing to reflect on how deeply ingrained Fred Dagg became in New Zealand popular culture in such a short space of time, and that he has remained there. The relevance of many comedy creations lessens with the passing of time. Those that endure are the result of a special alchemy, in which the creator combines caricature, comic writing and performance with aspects of a widely accepted national identity. Fred Dagg (his hilarity largely undimmed 40 years later) is one such creation....

– Writer Matt Elliott on Fred Dagg's cultural impact, Audioculture 10 April 2017

Sex and violence — there's not enough of it.

– A random flasher (Paul Holmse) on what he'd like to see more of on NZ television

Get a treadmill, get some of these bloody longhairs, put 'em on a treadmill — do 'em good.

– Fred Dagg (John Clarke) on energy alternatives to oil

You can't play around with nature like that, David — it just can't be done. I've known people try it, it just won't work. That's what I always say, I'm always saying that.

– Fred Dagg (John Clarke) offers thoughts on the topic of daylight savings