Before they were famous: Stars reveal their first jobs

Deborah Knight Co-Host, Weekend Today

Whilst studying journalism at uni in Bathurst back in the early 90s, Deb saw an ad for life drawing models and, on the recommendation of a friend, decided to give it a go. “I was 19, everything was still where it’s supposed to be,” she says, “Plus I’d spent my life on the beach at Coffs [Harbour] where I grew up – I was comfortable wearing next to nothing. Though it has to be said mum was less comfortable with the idea when I told her about it.”

Simon Reeve Co-Host, Million Dollar Minute

And the award for most unconventional first job goes to … Simon Reeve! There were no paper runs or offering “fries with that?” for the game show host. He spent his Friday nights collecting urine from race horses at the paceway near his childhood home in Fremantle.

Natarsha Belling and Jessica Rowe Network Ten News Presenter and Studio 10 Co-Host

Maths was never Natarsha Belling’s strong point. So it was with some bemusement – and just a little terror – that in her first job she manned the cash register at the local Fosseys in her hometown of Mudgee.

Meanwhile, over the mountains in Sydney, a 15-year-old Jessica Rowe was earning pocket money at the till of her local Woolies (though it should noted neither of them were wearing ball gowns at the time).

Dr Chris Brown Bondi Vet

You know that winning bedside manner TV vet Dr Chris Brown has with animals? He honed it in his first job, when, as a fresh-faced 15-year-old, he did the local paper run. His paper run took in the local hospital, requiring Chris to drag his paper cart from ward to ward. “Of course most wards I went to, people were either comatose or asleep, or really, really grumpy.”