Kel Knight
Kelvin "Kel" Graham Knight is a character in the Australian TV series Kath & Kim, portrayed by Glenn Robbins. He is Kath Day-Knight's devoted husband and a proud butcher, enthusiastically describing himself as a "purveyor of fine meats."
| Names | Kelvin "Kel" Graham Knight |
| Gender | Male |
| Race | Human |
| Occupation | Butcher |
| Origin | Kath & Kim Series 1 Episode 1: Sex (16 May, 2002) |
| Alignment | Good |
| Age | 67-68 as of Our Effluent Life |
| Created By | Gina Riley, Jane Turner |
| Height | 1.83 meters (6 feet) |
| Weight | Varies |
Appearance[edit | edit source]
Kel takes pride in his appearance, though not to Kath’s level. His look includes slicked-down hair, high-waisted pants, and visible socks. He exercises regularly, favoring power walks and using his home gym, and is generally health-conscious and appearance-focused.
Kel's appearance is distinct, with slicked-down, Brylcreem-styled hair. He often wears vinyl coats from Mens Land, and his pleather manbag is a signature accessory. His fondness for manbags is so pronounced that he attempts to bring several on his honeymoon, only to be reminded by Kath that he only needs one.
Personality[edit | edit source]
Kel is honest, dependable, and earnest, often discovering hidden talents throughout the series. He's also a bit quirky, sometimes coming across as sexually ambiguous or metrosexual, and has a strong passion for his work and hobbies.
Kel is recognizable by his combover, which he keeps firmly in place with Brylcreem. He frequently sports a "manbag" and is known for his high-cut shorts when power-walking. A peculiar characteristic is Kel's admiration for the South African author Bryce Courtenay, whose works he often references, albeit inaccurately. For example, during a meat retreat, he pulls out The Power of One to escape an awkward moment, and he mistakenly attributes several unrelated books to Courtenay, like Captain Underpants. His confusion over Courtenay’s authorship becomes a running gag.
Biography[edit | edit source]
Kel is four months younger than Kath and has had an unlucky streak in relationships, with several previous partners leaving him. His wedding with Kath initially went awry as he became nervous and drunk. In season one, it is revealed that Kel is bisexual and has had past encounters with men during his time in the Navy, with hints that he may have acted on these inclinations later in the series.
Throughout Kath & Kim, Kel's storylines touch on various quirky and humorous aspects of his life, including his role as "the lady of the house," which sometimes annoys Kath, his midlife crisis, and the lead-up to his marriage to Kath. One prominent phase involves Kel’s obsession with a 99% fat-free lifestyle following a bout with "mock angina." In Da Kath & Kim Code, Kel develops a strong dislike for singer Michael Bublé due to Kath’s crush on him, which Kel does not approve of. He is also a dedicated Sydney Swans supporter in the AFL—a detail that Kath surprisingly didn’t know until after they married.
In Kath & Kimderella, Kel's storyline is primarily humorous and centers around his absence from Kath's Italian adventure and his subsequent jealous response to news from abroad. While Kath embarks on the trip with Kim and Sharon after winning a holiday to the fictional Kingdom of Papilloma, Kel initially declines to go due to his fear of flying and a desire to watch MasterChef.
When a news broadcast reveals Kim's involvement in a royal wedding, Kel, watching from home with Brett, notices Javier’s flirtations with Kath and assumes she is having an affair. Determined to confront the situation, he decides to travel to Papilloma. Kel undergoes hypnosis therapy with Marion to overcome his flight anxiety, which includes a humorous trigger phrase, "Tray tables up," that later leaves him in a trance during the flight.
Upon arriving in Papilloma, Kel intervenes as Javier attempts to seduce Kath. He challenges Javier to a sword duel, defending Kath's honor and ultimately forcing Javier to flee. Kel later joins Kath, Kim, and Sharon in the unfolding chaotic wedding events, culminating in a large gathering with the townspeople.
Trivia[edit | edit source]
- Kel drives a smart car, further adding to his quirky, environmentally-conscious image, which is seen during the Kath & Kimderella film premiere.
- In Kath & Kimderella, Kel faces a fear of flying. However, he overcomes this phobia after a session with Marion, a former marriage counselor.
- In the U.S. adaptation, his character equivalent, Phil Lesley Knight, was portrayed by John Michael Higgins, though this portrayal received significant criticism.
