Kath Day-Knight

Kath Day-Knight
Vital statistics
Names	Kathleen Darleen Day-Knight (née Day)
Gender	Female
Race	Human
Occupation	House Wife, Tafe Student Real Estate Agent Entrepreneur Actress
Origin	Fast Forward (1990s)
Alignment	Good
Age	68 as of Our Effluent Life
Created By	Gina Riley Jane Turner
Height	1.65 m (5 ft 4 in)
Weight	55 kg (121 lbs)

Kathleen "Kath" Darleen Day-Knight, portrayed by Jane Turner, is a beloved fictional character from the Australian comedy series Kath & Kim. Kath's character first appeared in early forms on Australian comedy shows like Fast Forward, Big Girl's Blouse, and Something Stupid, eventually evolving into her iconic portrayal on Kath & Kim. Known for her vibrant personality, Kath is regarded as an Australian comedy icon.

Appearance

Kath Day-Knight takes pride in her appearance and sees herself as a sexy, accomplished mother who epitomizes the classic housewife and urban mom. She sports a distinctive curly blonde perm and has a unique fashion sense, heavily influenced by 1980s style. Her wardrobe includes shoulder pads, high-waisted pants, bold patterned sweaters, and large earrings, all of which she wears with confidence.

Personality

Kath is self-assured with an optimistic view of life. In the very first scene of the series, she reflects on her appearance, calling herself “high maintenance” and expressing pride in her looks. While her outlook is positive, she often feels exasperated by her daughter, Kim, who she views as lazy and rude. Kath and her husband, Kel, consider themselves adventurous and enjoy a vibrant, active lifestyle. Their shared interests include dancing, morning “huffy-puffy” sessions, and even Irish dancing, which they humorously incorporate as a form of foreplay.

Though mostly self-confident, Kath occasionally feels insecure about being four months older than Kel. She has an emergency fund set aside for future plastic surgery needs but has, so far, relied only on herbal facelifts to maintain her youthful appearance.

Kath Day-Knight’s distinctive mannerisms and expressions have become iconic in Australian pop culture, especially her unique accent and frequent use of malapropisms. Her exaggerated West Melbourne pronunciation—especially in phrases like “look at moi” when demanding attention—is instantly recognizable. When dealing with tense moments, Kath often pauses to say "time out" and "look at me" to get everyone to focus on her, followed by, “I’ve got one word to say to you,” which usually leads to a comment that's much longer than a single word.

Kath frequently mentions her many TAFE courses, which range from cycling and tennis to real estate, floral design, interior design, and business studies. Another memorable catchphrase is shared with Kim and Sharon when they see something intriguing or out of the ordinary: “It’s nice, it’s different, it’s unusual.” Both of these catchphrases are deeply embedded in the Kath & Kim series and are widely quoted in Australian pop culture.

Biography

Background

Kath Day-Knight was born in 1954 and was initially married to Gary Poole in the late 1970s. However, Gary left her shortly after Kim's birth, claiming he was just stepping out for cigarettes, but he instead ran off with Wendy Patterson, spending two decades in Hong Kong. Kath raised Kim on her own in Fountain Lakes for 24 years until meeting Kel and eventually welcoming Brett and Epponnee-Rae into the family.

After her large wedding with Kel, Kath discovered she was still legally married to Gary. They divorced, and she remarried Kel legally after a two-year period where their marriage had technically been invalid. During a family history project, Kath learned she has Aboriginal heritage, later confirmed through a DNA test in the episode "Roots." She also has Manx and Chinese ancestry.

Kath and Kim

In Season 1 of Kath & Kim, Kath's relationship with butcher Kel Knight grows, eventually leading to their wedding, while her daughter Kim, who moves back in after her marriage hits trouble, frequently interferes in her life.

1. Sex - Kim moves back home, suspecting her husband Brett is unfaithful and disapproving of Kath's relationship with Kel, who later proposes to Kath.
2. Gay - Kim takes up golf with Sharon, leading Kath to suspect she might be a lesbian. This causes Kath to question her relationship with Kel.
3. Sport - Kim joins Sharon’s netball team to confront her rivals, while Kel focuses on perfecting a gourmet sausage.
4. Fat - Kim quits smoking and struggles with her weight, affecting her bridesmaid dress fitting, while Kath and Kel clash over their wedding vows.
5. Old - Kath tries to look younger by adopting a “homeboy” style after Kim criticizes her age. Kel secretly learns to waltz for her.
6. Money - Kath holds a lingerie party to raise money for her wedding carriage, and Kim becomes obsessed with internet shopping and online dating.
7. Party - Kim organizes Kath's wild hen's night, leading to unexpected chaos, while Kel and Brett’s bachelor party goes wrong.
8. The Wedding - On Kath and Kel’s wedding day, numerous mishaps occur, from allergic reactions and slippery shoes to a runaway horse, ending with Kath, Kim, and Sharon in the hospital.

In Kath & Kim Season 2, Kath and Kel navigate married life, while Kim and Brett face ups and downs as they prepare for parenthood.

1. The Announcement - Kim and Brett reconcile and plan for a baby. Kath struggles with her lost libido, exploring nudism to reignite it. Kim later learns she was pregnant all along.
2. Inside Out - Kel, aiming for domestic perfection, leaves Kath feeling unneeded. Kim and Brett argue over renovations, eventually moving back in with Kath.
3. The Moon - Kim feels left out when Sharon reconnects with an old friend. Kath and Kel’s honeymoon plans are thwarted, leading them to vacation at the airport.
4. Obsession - Kath and Kel exhaust themselves with exercise. Sharon’s boyfriend dumps her for a riverdancer. Kim's attempts at corporate networking go awry.
5. My Boyfriend - Sharon’s boastful boyfriend joins her netball team, while Kim questions Brett's masculinity. Kath's attempt at a floral project falters due to phone issues.
6. Another Announcement - Kim and Brett argue over baby names. Kath and Kel adopt a dog, "Epponnee-Rae," upsetting Kim, who had chosen the name for her baby.
7. The Shower - Kim is disappointed when her friend Tina skips her baby shower. Sharon becomes interested in Kel's friend Sandy Freckle, but he shows more interest in Kath.
8. The Hideous Truth - Kim goes into labor, and Kath recalls her own childbirth experience with Kim’s absent father, Gary. At the hospital, a familiar face from the past appears.

In Kath & Kim Season 3, Kath and Kel face unexpected challenges in their marriage, Kim adjusts to motherhood, and the family navigates quirky new experiences.

1. Cactus Hour - Kath’s ex-husband Gary Poole reappears, claiming he never signed their divorce papers, putting her marriage to Kel in question. Meanwhile, Kim is thriving as a new mom.
2. The Mango Espadrille - Kath, Kim, and Sharon attend the races. Kath helps at Kel's butcher shop, and Epponnee auditions for a "Bubs Idol" contest.
3. Sitting on a Pile - Kel struggles to fit in at a conference. Kath feels stood up by her friend Barb due to a miscommunication, and Kim and Sharon go on a factory outlet shopping spree.
4. Kicking Up a Stink - Kim’s cabbage diet results in excessive flatulence. Kath and Kel star in a musical directed by the intense Robyn Robinson, who takes a particular interest in Kel.
5. Hello Nails! - Sharon gets a makeover from Kim for her date. Kath upgrades their home theater system, but it leads to an addiction to watching TV.
6. High and Dry - Kim starts working as a club bouncer to contribute financially. Kath's new venture as an underwear model leads to television stardom for her and Kel.
7. Foxy on the Run - Sharon is eager to become Epponnee-Rae's godmother. Kath plans Kel's 50th birthday party, but he begins to experience a mid-life crisis.
8. 99% Fat Free - Kath and Kel go on a fat-free diet after a health scare. Kim tries to get Epponnee cast in Neighbours, with flash-forward scenes showing Epponnee-Rae’s wedding, portrayed by Kylie Minogue.

Da Kath and Kim Code

After returning from a Da Vinci Code tour in Europe, Kath and Kel dive into Christmas preparations. Meanwhile, Kim suspects her husband Brett of having an affair with his boss, Kelly, and, after a temporary split, takes him back despite his continued infidelity. Sharon begins an online relationship with "Marriat" and gets engaged, only to be devastated when she discovers Marriat is just a fictional blog. Kath and Kel join Michael Bublé as backup dancers for Melbourne’s Carols by Candlelight, sparking Kel's jealousy over Kath’s enthusiasm for Bublé. This tension leads Kel to stay temporarily at "The Buckingham Motel." Kath and Kel reconcile in time for Christmas.

They also receive cryptic messages from John Monk, their Da Vinci Code tour guide, causing Kel to suspect a conspiracy. However, Monk’s visit reveals he merely wants to offer them a franchise opportunity. In the epilogue, Kath embarks on her first day as a tour guide for the "Da Vinci Code 2: G'day Leonardo" tour.

Season 4

In Season 4 of Kath & Kim, which aired in 2007 after a break, the series follows the lives of Kath, Kim, and their friends as they navigate personal and family challenges, all while injecting humor and chaos into their suburban existence.

1. "Holiday" - Brett attempts to revitalize his marriage with Kim by planning a romantic getaway in Queensland, but their trip is disrupted by Kath, Kel, and Sharon's unexpected attendance, leading to conflicts and Sharon facing accusations of ball tampering.
2. "Fame" - Kim goes all out for Epponnee's first birthday party. Meanwhile, Kel's ego inflates after winning a retailer's award, culminating in a confrontation with Eric Bana at a celebrity event.
3. "Work" - Kath becomes a self-proclaimed health professional and offers yoga massages to Kel, who is sidelined with an injury. Kim, aspiring to be a cosmetic surgeon, uses Sharon as her test subject while Brett seeks to impress his bosses.
4. "Environment" - Kim aims for Epponnee to attend a private school, while Kath and Kel experiment with a grey water recycling system that proves to be troublesome.
5. "House" - With Kim and Brett moving in, the house dynamics change, leading to plumbing issues. Kath and Kel consider purchasing the neighboring house, and Sharon and Kim participate in Deal or No Deal.
6. "Roots" - Kath discovers more about her family's heritage, while Sharon reunites with her half-sister Karen, played by Matt Lucas. Kath explores her Aboriginal ancestry, causing tension with Kim, who is less enthusiastic about the revelations.
7. "Lust" - After a rough patch, Sharon, who has been celibate, finds herself in an awkward situation with Brett. Their mutual attraction leads to unexpected consequences for Kim.
8. "Wedding of the Century" - Sharon falls for Wayne (guest star Shane Warne), prompting wedding plans. Brett faces job loss but rebounds by purchasing an apartment for Kim and Epponnee and a car for Sharon. Kath and Kel turn their home into a bed and breakfast, but post-wedding, they face challenges as family members return home, complicating their lives further.

Kath and Kimderella

Kath Day-Knight, finds herself navigating a chaotic and humorous adventure alongside her daughter Kim and friend Sharon. The storyline kicks off with Kath living in Fountain Lakes, where her marriage to Kel has become mundane. Kim has returned home post-divorce from Brett, despite attempts at marriage counseling.

Kath enters a contest at the pharmacy for a holiday to the fictional "Kingdom of Papilloma" in Italy and, after Kel declines to join her due to his fear of flying and obsession with MasterChef, she decides to take Kim and Sharon instead. Their journey begins with a grueling flight and a series of mishaps upon their arrival, including the shocking news that their accommodation has closed down.

In Papilloma, they meet King Javier and his page Alain, who mistakenly believe the trio is wealthy due to their imitation fashion. Kath quickly becomes the target of Javier's affections, while Kim attracts the attention of Prince Julio, who thinks she's royalty. A series of comedic and chaotic events ensue, including an ill-fated royal ball, a fire set by the queen (who meets a dramatic end), and a revelation that Kim's status is not what it seems.

As the royal wedding approaches, tension builds when Kel and Brett fly to Italy, where misunderstandings lead to comedic confrontations. Kel, having undergone hypnosis to combat his fear of flying, hilariously ends up in an embarrassing situation. In the end, during the wedding ceremony, family secrets are revealed: Kath is a queen, and Kim a princess, stemming from their lineage.

The movie culminates in a celebration where the townspeople call for change, prompting Javier to relinquish some of his power, allowing Papilloma to become a democracy. Kath and Kim reflect on their wild adventures before considering their return to Australia. The storyline showcases the series' trademark humor and absurdity, highlighting the dynamics of family, friendship, and unexpected royal heritage.

Trivia

• Kath admires Barbra Streisand and loves dancing to Darren Hayes's song Insatiable.
• Kath has completed no less than 34 TAFE courses, several courses that Kath has done are Interior Design, re-cycling, White Witchcraft, E-bay-ing, Real Estate, Floral Design and Business Studies.
• An American adaptation of the show was produced, with Molly Shannon portraying Kath, though it was short-lived. Turner and Riley collaborated exclusively on Kath & Kim, ensuring the show's unique comedic style and cultural impact.
• She is revealed in Season 2, Episode 3 ("The Moon") to be a Leo