Mark Trevorrow has become a gay icon, compering this year's Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras for commercial television.

Mark Trevorrow lets out an exclamation of bliss as he sinks his teeth into an Australian Monte Carlo Biscuit. "Oh, m-m-m-m, Australian biscuits are so big, sweet and creamy," he coos. "Overseas they are mingy (mean and stingy)."

Like his alter ego Bob Downe, Trevorrow is never stuck for words. Providing Channel Ten's running commentary on the spectacle of the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras will be a snap for this man. Downe, the wide-eyed, slinky cabaret and comedy star, has turned the former Melbourne journalist into an international star with his own television and stage shows in London.

"The reason Bob works so well on stage is that I have been doing it since I was a kid," Trevorrow says. "I would put a record on and do a number for the family." He started seriously developing his talent after he and some friends caused a riot at a party with their comical antics and neighbours called the police to quieten them down. It was the start of something big- a band called the Globos, who went on to have a national top 20 single called Tintarella de Luna in 1982.

Trevorrow first performed as Bob Downe in 1984 and a few years later he was knocking the socks off audiences at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. This is his second year as television compere for the Mardi Gras telecast. But he longs to be in the parade and experience the euphoria on the street.

Trevorrow, now aged 40, says the Mardi Gras is an important affirmation of diversity. "Even as a tiny child it is indicated to you that being gay is not an acceptable thing, it's not an okay thing to be," he says. "I wish when I was a kid growing up in Melbourne in the 1960s something like the Mardi Gras existed." He was 19 years old in 1978, a cadet on the now defunct Melbourne Sun Newspaper, when 53 people were arrested in Sydney in a street protest on International Gay solidarity Day.

Trevorrow, who knew he was gay from about the age of eight, has no recollection of the event and doubts it even got a mention in the Sun. The event was the forerunner to the Mardi Gras, which became a celebration of tolerance attracting up to 650,000 spectators- the largest free outdoor event in Australia. In 1978, the Sydney Morning Herald published all the names and address of the people arrested.

Now the paper is a major Mardi Gras sponsor. "How times change," Trevorrow says. "That's what you call a triumph over injustice and adversity." After the Mardi Gras, Trevorrow will return to London to perform his new show, Million Sellers. "It's a rock 'n' pop spectacular," he says. "It's a show where you leave humming the melodies, every song's a hit."

It's the end of February and to celebrate the close of the Mardi Gras festival comes one of the most anticipated events on the calendar: The 1999 Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Parade. Although it's had some hiccups in making its transfer from live celebration of pride in gay and lesbian community to the small screen, last year saw host Bob Downe and a swag of celebrities turn it into a ratings success.

This year, Bob Downe returns, this time armed with wonderful Amanda Keller as co- host and Vanessa Wagner on the street to compere this cultural event. "It's my third year if you count the year with Tottie," laughs Bob Downe's alter ego Mark Trevorrow. "I fried Tottie's bacon. I was just a guest that year and then I thought I'd bring another costume, and later that night they'd say 'How quickly can you change', so it was great fun. I've performed at the part a couple of times. Once with my group The Globos, and another time as Bob, but I've never been in the parade. And I'd love to, I'd really really love to be in the parade one year, but who knows when it's going to happen. If I keep doing the broadcast, I guess it's not really possible."

Although it all seems effortless on the screen, there's a lot of background work going on to present the live show. "It's very hard because a lot of stuff that has to do with Mardi Gras happens on the night. You get a list of the float numbers, but because it's a huge logistical thing, the parade never goes in order. It's a huge amount of co-ordination required for the people on the street sending messages up to us, so we know what we're commenting on, because we've only got one chance to get it right. It's a very much seat-of-the-pants."

Part of the success of making Bob Downe one of the co-hosts has been his extensive involvement in the gay and lesbian communities over the years which seems to all filter down into his on-screen antics. "That's the great thing about Mardi Gras. It's not only the parade and party, the month before is a huge arts festival which just gets bigger and better every year. That's one of the reasons why it goes well from me.

One of the things people said to me last year when I was the sole host was, for the first time, people felt that it was good that someone knew what it actually was all about and what was going on. I think that if you've been part of the community, I don't see how you couldn't know. I've been to most Mardi Gras parties and parades since the mid/early 80s, so it's goof that I can put all that experience into the commentary.

In fact, one of Trevorrow's most vivid memories of Mardi Gras, in particular the infamous toilets, are included in a recent Mardi Gras book which was edited be Richard Wherrett. I've been dining out on those stories for years, it's lovely because they're the sort of stories... well, there's nothing that you could really do with them as Bob, because Bob's such a little innocent, isn't he, so therefore I was really grateful to Richard for giving me somewhere where they could run."

You're performing a new show, Million Sellers with Pastel Vespa. Are the rumors about a romantic liason between the two of you true?
I've finally got a girlfriend. Mum is so relieved. She can hold her head up high at the lamington drive now.

In the show you perform million sllers by the likes of Bon Jovi, Cher and Chumbawumba.How about some Ricky Martin and Shania Twain?
Ricky Martin and Shania Twain.. it's the same old stuff in a new bag, just a very aesthetically pleasing bag. It's the musical equivalent of a New Woman magazine cover. No, we're into classics, songs that will last.

What about some Marilyn Manson?
We'll try if that's what's going to bring in the youngies. We're more likely to do Marilyn Monroe. Or maybe even Boy George's friend Marilyn.

You do a Cher song (Gypsies, Tramps and Thieves). Are you pleased about her comeback?
Cher never went away. She was just taking a couple of years out on the Home Shopping Channel.

And having plastic surgery?
She wasn't having surgery, she just had lots of rest. Though I think the only person who's had that much rest is Tutenkhamen.

Have you had a chance to watch much Australian TV since returning home?
I love SeaChange, I could see myself having a role in it. Maybe the town could open a cabaret venue, Bob's Bar, with lots of bamboo, and I could burst into song every now and then.

Are you still a Bert Newton fan?
He's the master. It's his world, we just live in it. He's a magnificent improvisational comic.

What was the last movie you saw?
I've seen the South Park movie three times. It's a full musical, so it's right up my street. I saw Austin Powers, but it was to annoying. Those silly sticky-out teeth, daggy old clothes and that ridiculous wig. No one dresses like that.

Are Steps the new ABBA?
No, they're the new Young Talent Time, except the choreography isn't as good.

Do you have a favorite Manogue sister?
Kylie of course. She's the only one who could challenge Bert for national icon status.

When was the last time you cried?
When I got to Myer five minutes after the doors had shut on sale day.

What's the best rumor you've heard about yourself?
That the hair is real and the teeth are fake.

Which famous person do you secretly have a crush on?
Craig McLachlan. I can't wait for the Happy Days musical. I hope I'm in the 150th row for that one!

Who's your favorite Spice Girl?
Danni Manogue.

As a minor celebrity fast crawling my way to the middle, I confess I had been especially slow to join the debate. What about the likes of me, Noelene Donaher or Fairlie Arrow? Where should we stand on this burning millenial issue? Hmm?

So I thought I'd better find out more about the republic before my knee jerked into place. And when my dear old showbiz pal Richard Fidler - former Doug Anthony All Star, now cable celebrity dad and leading Yes Coalition light - invited me to a fund-raising republican yum cha in Sydney, how could I resist? I mean, I love yum cha! They don't have those in Murwillumbah.

Of course, in Murwillumbah they're not having a bar of the republic, either. It's a particularly no-go subject at our place, where a blow-up laminated print of me shaking hands with QE2 takes pride of place in the kiosk at the Now Or Never Caravan Park. These days Mum doesn't hesitate in turning away customers displaying an even slightly suspicious bumper sticker.

Meanwhile, Nana Downe has never taken her coronation souvenir Women's Weekly off the coffee, sorry, side table.

Richard Fidler's invitation arrived by email. How up-to-the-nanosecond can you get? Sunday, 4pm, the Imperial Peking Afloat, Rose Bay. Right under those toffee noses. Brilliant! Guest speaker Malcolm Turnbull. Yo! Strong media presence. Lovely! (I've got a tour on, after all.) But of course, with the way things are back home, just to be on the safe side I arrived lying flat in a dinghy, covered in a tarpaulin. God help me if the Murwillumbah Irrigator was there!

As it turned out, the only danger was sea sickness - there wasn't a pork bun in sight and I was rapidly turning from Beige Bisque to Wicked Witch Green.

Thankfully, master of ceremonies, Richard's superbly spiky opening remarks were almost enough to take our minds off it. Almost. I was seated, satisfyingly enough, at Table Two, in the thick of a small group of curmudgeons who took one look at me and stopped talking. I was worried about this until I realised they were senior journalists - they always behave like this, apparently, no matter who they're with. These fellows sat, mullet-stunned, as I voiced a theory with which I'd bored friends for days: As John Howard increasingly allies himself with the No case, how, then, does he expect to remain PM if the referendum is passed?

Anyway, I'd been having Much more fun with Gina Riley, Marg Downey and Jane Turner - also at Table Two, in their guises as those hilarious eastern suburbs op-shop wives. It was only later that I was informed these women were REAL eastern suburbs op-shop wives. Republican ones!

ARM chair Malcolm Turnbull was impressive. Not nearly as smart-arsed in the flesh, and I especially admired his lemon yellowjumper. Very subversive, very Sunday afternoon in Vaucluse.

National campaign director Greg Parnes (freshly head-hunted from John Fahey's office!) stirred the troops with a report from the provinces. Tasmania AND South Australia were looking good, both vital in the drive towards an elusive four-state majority. Well, I stage-whispered to my table, why wouldn't they be? I'd just played Hobart and the Tassies are in the euphoric grip of a King Island-led recovery. As for SA - hadn't the ARM arraanged two Crows AFL Flags in a row with a forthcoming Port Power coup to seal the feel-good deal? Table Two just glared at me. Sssshhh!!

All of this was a mere side-show, however, with the Great Man present. All eyes were on special surprise guest Gough Whitlam as he sat vice-regally at Table One, that famous look of private amusement intact.

It really looked as if lie might not speak, but of course those devilish republicans know just when to flick the switch to vaudeville. Up he rose, to a thunderously Bankstown Labor Club reception, slightly stopped, almost shockingly aged, but with his beady intelligence completely dimmed.

It was the Whitlam of old - a seemingly impromptu, 30-minute speech after lunch, meander as it might, our fullest fiftth-form concentration was repaid with elegantly hilarious and satisfying conclusion. Don't ask me what he said. The way he said it was enough.

The basic gist seemed to be that if Prince Charles marries Camilla, a Catholic, we're all off the hook, no matter what the referendum result. Wow.

No, look, listen, the whole affair was Who Weekly meets the New Statesman. If this is politics, swingers, count me in!As a minor celebrity fast crawling my way to the middle, I confess I had been especially slow to join the debate. What about the likes of me, Noelene Donaher or Fairlie Arrow? Where should we stand on this burning millenial issue? Hmm?

It's definitely Mark Trevorrow sitting here now, talking about his new show, Million Sellers, which opened last night and runs until September 5.

Million Sellers is, according to Trevorrow, a two-hour "musical comedy spectacular" with Pastel Vespa (Fiona Thom), who helped him on his 1997 Jazzy! comedy album.

Written in the United Kingdom, Million Sellers has toured Australia. It has had sell-out shows at the Sydney Opera House.

But the sartorially challenged, buck-tootheed character, who has attracted a cult UK following since his Edinburgh Fringe debut in 1988, is never really far away.

"Bob Downe is a really big part of me, something I've been doing to make everybody laugh since I was a kid. He's my kind of clown," Trevorrow says.

Bob was born not just from a compulsion to perform, but also as a survival technique in Trevorrow's teenage years.

"When you're a poof, it helps you not get beaten up at school. Make em laugh - then you're their mascot. You're like the court jester," he says. "Some of the Poofs who were good at sport were okay because they could 'pass'. I could never pass. I was no lan Roberts," he says, referring to the "out" rugby player.

And it seems it still does ensure his survival. "Try getting up at the Last Laugh stage and not making them laugh. You're dead in the water. All I'll say is it's lucky there's a stage door," he says.

"When I was at the Last Laugh 10 years ago, looking down at panel beaters from Moe crying with laughter, the sort of guys I'd have to cross the road to avoid, it was pretty fascinating," he says.

Trevorrow says he'd hate it if other gay people thought he was perpetuating a stereotype.

Bob Downe is a parody of that "TV poof thing that some people do - he's an out gay man playing a closet TV poof, but you know it's an out gay man peeping out from behind".

As the years go by, Bob gets more and more out, Trevorrow says.

"You're not going to come to the show and see me waving the rainbow flag, but it's just kind of what is behind what's going on."

Perhaps the only person who is unaware of Bob's sexual preferences is his co-star, Pastel Vespa.

"Pastel is quite in love with Bob but he's playing hard to get a little bit, he's a little bit oblivious, and he's a little bit of a poof, let's face it," he says.

Somehow, poor Pastel is completely unaware her love is doomed, even in the face of Bob's hosting job at the Sydney Mardi Gras this year and 1998.

"There's a bit of cultural misunderstanding. She's part Brazillian, so she loves a parade. Everything he does thrills her more and more - there's nothing he can do to put her off the game."

And it seems there's a little that can put Trevorrow off his.