Derryn Hinch Faces Age Mortality and the “Human Headline” Label

Derryn Hinch Faces Age, Mortality and the “Human Headline” Label

Derryn Hinch has never been one to shy away from controversy, and even now at 81, he remains as candid as ever. Sitting near his walking frame after what he calls a “bad fall,” Hinch admits he’s been forced to think about the realities of ageing, nursing homes, and even voluntary assisted dying. He acknowledges that he only has “a few years left,” but insists he looks back without regret.

He says he has always disliked the nickname “the human headline,” which was pinned on him decades ago, claiming it makes him sound narcissistic. And while he concedes that he’s been inconsistent at times, he doesn’t believe he has often been wrong. What he does admit is his battle with alcohol. Hinch has called himself an alcoholic—though he still drinks on occasion. After his liver transplant 14 years ago, he quit for eight years out of respect for the donor, but eventually resumed, saying he’d struck a kind of deal in his own mind.

Also Read:

Hinch has lived through a life that could easily be mistaken for fiction: four marriages, 17 sackings, three stints in prison, and a list of serious health issues including liver cancer, facial melanoma, and a dangerous heart condition. Each time, he has managed to bounce back. But the question of quality of life is one he now considers closely. He recalls his late friend, radio legend Bob Rogers, who chose voluntary assisted dying after losing independence and dignity. Hinch said watching his friend struggle made him realise, “This is not living.” He himself would choose the same path if his brain were to fade, instructing his medical attorney not to revive him in such a case.

Despite his brushes with death, Hinch remains a committed atheist. He says bluntly, “When you’re dead, you’re dead.” He finds talk of heaven or reunion in the afterlife uncomfortable and has rejected religion since childhood. What he hasn’t lost is confidence. When asked if that makes him arrogant, Hinch insists it doesn’t—distinguishing himself from figures like Donald Trump by saying he is self-confident, not arrogant.

His career, of course, has been defined by speaking truths that others often avoided. At times that’s led to mistakes—such as declaring Graham Kennedy had died of AIDS, something he later admitted was wrong and apologised for. But his philosophy has long been that “all history owes the dead is the truth,” even when it stung.

From the heights of fame and fortune—complete with Rolls-Royces and glamorous openings—to the lows of near poverty and imprisonment, Hinch has remained unmistakably himself. For over 40 years, his life has been lived in public view. And now, as he faces old age, he continues to confront life and death with the same unfiltered voice that made him famous, whether he likes the “human headline” tag or not.

Read More: