Ryan Shelton

Ryan Shelton is a highly accomplished comedy writer, performer, and producer known for his innovative and influential work in Australian entertainment. His career began in 2003 on Melbourne's Channel 31, where he collaborated with Hamish Blake, Andy Lee, and Tim Bartley, forming the foundation of their production company, Radio Karate. Together, they have created several award-winning TV shows, including Real Stories (Network 10), Hamish & Andy’s Gap Year (Nine Network), and True Story with Hamish & Andy, which has been adapted internationally, including in France, Germany, Spain, and on NBC’s Peacock in the USA.

Ryan first gained significant recognition as a regular cast member on Rove Live from 2007 to 2009, where his distinctive left-of-center comedy style earned him widespread acclaim. His creative prowess was further showcased in his creation of How to Life, a series of online comedy shorts for Channel 4 in the UK, and in the ABC’s At Home Alone Together (2020), where he portrayed both himself and his fictional twin brother, Jason Shelton.

Ryan has also co-hosted drive radio on Nova, made notable appearances on shows like Spicks & Specks and Thank God You’re Here, and acted in It’s a Date (ABC), The Wrong Girl (10), Spreadsheet (Paramount+), and Metro Sexual (9GO). He also played a key role in helping Chris Lilley create the mockumentary series We Can Be Heroes: Finding The Australian of the Year.

In 2019, Ryan co-founded the podcast The Imperfects with Hugh van Cuylenburg. The podcast, which focuses on embracing vulnerability and accepting imperfections, consistently ranks among the Top 10 Mental Health podcasts in Australia.

Ryan's creative ventures have included a unique project where he released new content on his website every month from 2020 to 2021, collaborating with various artists including Dave Lawson, Hamish Blake, and Sarah Snook. This project garnered significant praise, with Tony Martin describing it as his “favourite streaming service right now”.

In 2023, Ryan’s original comedy series Sausages became one of the first projects of the newly established LA-based production company, Upgrade Productions. Additionally, he also toured Australia with the stage show version of The Imperfects, where he could be seen performing to sold-out audiences alongside Hugh and Josh van Cuylenburg.

Looking ahead, Ryan is set to appear in Peter Farrelly’s feature film Ricky Stanicky in early 2024, sharing the screen with John Cena, Zac Efron, and William H. Macy.