‘That’s got to count for something’: Julia Morris and Julia Zemiro on four decades in the spotlight

Two legends of Australian comedy, with career trajectories that feel eerily parallel despite often appearing on competing TV networks, Julia Morris and Julia Zemiro are the very definition of warm, professional and punctual. Most of the time.

“We’ve just been low-level hugging in the make-up room so neither of us were able to get our make-up done on time,” says Morris , laughing. “But that is the thing when you put glorious humans together … it’s not going to be a short journey to the set.”

Their instant chemistry and infectious enthusiasm for one another is the kind that only ignites when there’s a shared history in the mix, like finally catching up with your best friend from high school after life has spent years pulling you down different roads.

“Having been around the industry for the exact same period of time, and watching the ebb and flow of our careers go along,” says Morris, “I always feel like I know everybody as well as I did in the early days.”

Similarly, Zemiro has fond memories of seeing Morris on stage during the early days of her career. “Listen, I remember in the ’90s going to see stand-up comedy fairly regularly, and the two women that stood out the most were Kitty Flanagan and Julia Morris.”

Now they’ve finally found themselves back on the same network, with the ABC banking on a one-two punch of Julia for its new Wednesday night line-up.

First up, it’s Morris, taking six Australian comedians – Bron Lewis, Luke McGregor, Becky Lucas, Matt Okine, Nina Oyama and Dave Hughes – back to school for Class Clowns . Filmed at The University of Sydney’s sandstone showstopper St Andrew’s College, the contestants navigate pop quizzes, impromptu performances and the all-knowing eye of “Principal Morris” in the hopes of nabbing the Class Clowns Cup.

“When you put big personality comedians into a vulnerable setting like school, everybody reverts to their childhood self,” says Morris. “But they’re competing in teams, so there’s less emphasis on performing a routine. They can be their hilarious selves with no pressure, and I think it’s wonderful to get to know them in a completely different way. Beyond Taskmaster , comedians don’t normally get to do that sort of fun, silly stuff.”

Class Clowns is followed by season two of Crime Night! , where Zemiro hosts a panel of criminologists and comedians trying to navigate the psychology and science behind crime and human behaviour. “It’s really thrilling to be back,” says Zemiro, acknowledging that not every show gets picked up for another season these days (though it has to be said, anything she touches does seem to find a way).

“There’s a really deep-thinking and rigorous team behind the scenes, and this season we’ve brought in a ‘sixth chair’ for some episodes; a person with a particular field of expertise who can add another perspective to the conversation.”

Covering topics such as false confessions and “crimetainment”, Zemiro hopes it will encourage some critical armchair thinking. “It’s about being a jumping-off point for people to talk on the couch at home.