Former prime minister Bob Hawke commanded a rare mix of popularity and authority, and few prime ministers have displayed such authenticity on camera.

A straight shooter with little time for most journalists, Mr Hawke said he was “never intimidated” by being on TV.

This approach resulted in a range of amusing and unexpected moments from the Silver Bodgie that surprised and sometimes delighted the viewing public.

The day no boss wanted to be labelled a bum (1983)

The ‘blood on your hands’ interview (1983)

Cricket ball smashes Hawke during Prime Minister’s XI (1984)

Hawke says Abbott a nice bloke but ‘mad as a cut snake’ (2011)

‘One for the country’ – Hawke skols a beer at the SCG (2012)

Belting out Solidarity Forever at an ACTU dinner (2012)

Hawke’s canoe joke ‘captures the Australian irreverence’ (2013)

–ABC