Tegan Higginbotham is an award-winning comedian and one of Australia’s most versatile screenwriter/performers. With a bounty of experience across film, television, radio, and live performance – she’s successfully turned her hand at stand up comedy, sports presentation, acting, voice-over work, and more; and is known for her passion, energy, and fresh perspective.

Tegan’s first stand up show was nominated for Best Newcomer at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival. During that same festival season, she was also nominated for The Golden Gibbo for her work with sketch comedy trio, WATSON. A sign of things to come, Tegan continued writing warm, thoughtful, and widely popular shows that drew audiences and critical acclaim. In 2014, she won Best Comedy at the Melbourne Fringe, while her sketch comedy work has been viewed over 20 million times online.

On the page, Tegan is one of the country’s most exciting up-and-coming screenwriters. Her first feature, Jones Family Christmas, was released on Stan in November 2023 and she has a further two major television series in the pipeline, both produced in collaboration with 2 Jons: Gnomes, an 8×30 horror-comedy, and the television adaptation of Loose Units.

On screen, Tegan is best known for her roles in feature films including Oddball and Holding The Man, and her television roles in Nowhere Boys, This is Littleton, and Molly. She’s been a regular on panel shows including Whovians, Have You Been Paying Attention? and Spicks and Specks, and was part of the core ensemble for Whose Line Is It Anyway?.

Away from television and screenwriting, Tegan has been a key behind-the-scenes force in the wildly popular Loose Units Podcast, which recently celebrated 8 million downloads. She is also engaged to produce a new Vodcast for the AFL, TAGGED.

In the world of sport, Tegan was a trailblazer, proudly co-presenting the pre-game broadcast for the first-ever AFLW clash on Network Seven. She co-hosted Sideliners on the ABC alongside Nicole Livingstone, The Greatest with Matt Tilley on Fox Footy, and was a regular panellist on Bounce. Tegan also hosted The Warmdown, a landmark series for the AFL, and was a regular contributor for The Sunday Age Sports for many years.

Outside of work, Tegan fosters strong connections with Melbourne’s art and sports communities and has proudly donated her time and expertise to organisations including RMIT, The NGV, The Hamilton Pride Cup, The Blue Foundation, and more.

Muti-faceted in every sense, Tegan was most the Series Producer and Writer of Yokayi Footy, an Indigenous TV show championing young, diverse players and perspectives, from 2022-2023. She is currently the Executive Producer of The Marty Sheargold Show on Triple M.

Film

JONES FAMILY CHRISTMAS
Writer / Role: McKenzie. Dir: Stef Smith, 2 Jons 2023
THE DIVORCE (Short)
Role: Justine Case. Dir: Jackson Tozer, Unit Twelve Films 2020
FOR YOUR SINS (Short)
Role: Lucy. Dir: Julian Lucas, 2018
HOW TO BE FUNNY (Documentary Short)
Herself. Dir: Nicholas Davey-Greene & Thomas Midena, 2015
A NIGHT OF HORROR VOLUME 1
Role: Maggie. Dir: Bossi Baker, Deadhouse Films 2015
ODDBALL AND THE PENGUINS
Role: Zoe. Dir: Stuart McDonald, Kmunications 2015
HOLDING THE MAN
Role: Gina. Dir: Neil Armfield, Screen Australia 2015
THE HECKLER
Role: Laura. Dir: Ben Plazzer, Inspiration Studios 2014
DINNER FOR THREE (Short)
Role: Cass. Dir: Joel Kohn, Open Channel 2014
ADOPTION (Short)                                                   
Role: Tilly. Dir: Fabian Lapham, 2013
PERSPECTIVE (Short)
Role: Darcy. Dir: Sallyanne Scotton, 2009

Television

WHOVIANS (Series 3)
Panellist. ABC TV 2020
CELEBRITY NAME GAME
Guest. Fremantle Media Australia Pty Limited 2019
WHOVIANS (Series 2)
Panellist. Dir: Kate Douglas-Walker, ABC TV 2018
SHOW ME THE MOVIE!
Guest. Dir: Randall Churchill, Blink TV Australia 2018
NOWHERE BOYS: BATTLE FOR NEGATIVE SPACE (Series 4)
Role: Quinn. Dir: Nicholas Verso, Matchbox Pictures 2018
WHOVIANS
Panellist. Dir: Simon Francis, ABC TV 2017
THE GREATEST
Host. 2017
THE EX-PM
Role: Floor Manager. Dir: Shaun Wilson, CJZ 2017
NOWHERE BOYS: TWO MOONS RISING (Series 3)
Role: Quinn. Dir: Various, Matchbox Pictures 2016-2017
WHOSE LINE IS IT ANYWAY? AUSTRALIA
Regular Cast. Foxtel 2016-2017
BEST BITS
Panellist. thedownlowconcept 2016
MOLLY
Role: Petra. Dir: Kevin Carlin, Mushroom Pictures 2016
HAVE YOU BEEN PAYING ATTENTION? (Series 3)
Guest Panellist. Working Dog 2015
COMEDY UP LATE (Series 3)
Performer. Dir: Jon Olb, ABC2 2015
COMMUNITY KITCHEN (Series 2)
Guest. Dir: Cat Commander, Dunlopedia Productions 2015
ABOUT TONIGHT (Series 1)
Guest Host. Dir: Shane Dunlop, C31 Melbourne 2015
SWEATSHOP (Telemovie)
Role: Ashlee Simmons. Dir: Alistair Marks, Marks Brothers Production 2015
HAVE YOU BEEN PAYING ATTENTION? (Series 2)
Guest Panellist. Working Dog 2014
SPICKS AND SPECKS (Series 8)
Guest. Dir: Jon Olb, ABC TV 2014
THE 2014 ANTENNA AWARDS
Host. Dir: Jason Annesseley & Tony Zajko, C31 Melbourne 2014
BACK SEAT DRIVERS
Guest. Dir: Bryan Moses, ABC2 2014
UPPER MIDDLE BOGAN (Series 2)
Role: Jess. Dir: Wayne Hope, Gristmill 2014
IT’S A DATE (Series 2)
Role: Abby. Dir: Erin White, ABC TV 2014
FANCY BOY
Role: Addiction Counsellor. Dir: John Campbell, Checkpoint Media 2014
THIS IS LITTLETON (Mini Series)
Role: Various Characters. Dir: Amanda Brotchie, ABC TV 2014
HAVE YOU BEEN PAYING ATTENTION? (Series 1)
Guest Panellist. Working Dog 2013
TWENTYSOMETHING (Series 2)
Role: Applicant 1. Dir: Jess Harris & Mika Tran, High Wire Films 2013
RANT (TV Short)
Reporter. Dir: Dan Ilic, Network TEN 2012
THE BAZURA PROJECT
Role: Barmaid / Profane Shopper. Dir: Tim Egan, ABC TV 2009
CITY HOMICIDE (Series 3)
Role: Jana Mellor. Dir: Richard Jasek, Southern Star Entertainment 2009
WHATEVER HAPPENED TO THAT GUY?
Role: Tegan. Dir: Ted Emery, Ruby Entertainment 2009
STUDIO A
Supporting Cast. RMITV 2008
NEIGHBOURS
Role: Francis Taylor. Grundy Television Australia 2007

Writing

JONES FAMILY CHRISTMAS
Dir: Stef Smith, 2 Jons 2023
OPEN SLATHER
Dir: Natalie Bailey & Steve Saussey, The Comedy Channel 2015
LITTLE LUNCH (Series 1)
Dir: Tim Bartley, Gristmill 2015
THE 2014 ANTENNA AWARDS (TV Special)
Dir: Jason Annesseley & Tony Zajko, C31 Melbourne 2014
THIS IS LITTLETON (Mini Series)
Dir: Amanda Brotchie, ABC TV 2014
DINNER FOR THREE (Short)
Dir: Joel Kohn, Open Channel 2014
STUDIO A
Channel 31

Live Shows

CITY OF LOVE
Performer. MICF 2016
THE LIFE EDUCATION VAN FOR ADULTS!
Performer. MICF 2016
WHO’S AFRAID OF THE DARK
Performer. MICF 2015
*Nominated for “The Golden Gibbo” award
WHO’S AFRAID OF THE DARK
Performer. Melbourne Fringe Festival 2014
*Winner Best Comedy
GAME CHANGER
Performer. MICF 2014
THE WRESTLING
Performer. MICF 2014
TOUCHED BY FEV                                                    
Performer. MICF 2013
*Extra shows added, 4.5 star review The Herald Sun
ONCE WERE PLANETS
Performer. MICF 2013
MILLION DOLLAR TEGAN
Performer. MICF 2012
*Nominated for “Best Newcomer” award
MILLION DOLLAR TEGAN
Performer. Melbourne Fringe Festival 2012
*Selected as a “Fringe on Tour” show
SHAKESPEARE FIGHT CLUB
Performer. MICF 2012
*Nominated for “The Golden Gibbo” award
SUPER SECRET AWESOME SHOW
Performer. MICF 2011
JABBA’S COMEDY HUTT
Performer. MICF 2010
ROBOT V’S WORLD
Performer. MICF 2010
THE LAST BUCKET OF WATER
Performer. MICF & Adelaide Fringe Festival 2009
THE LAST BUCKET OF WATER
Performer. Melbourne Fringe Festival 2008
EVERY FILM EVER MADE
Performer. MICF 2008
*Winner of “The Groggy Squirrel’s People’s Choice Award”
EVERY FILM EVER MADE
Performer. Adelaide Fringe Festival 2008
*Nominated for “Best Comedy”
EVERY FILM EVER MADE
Performer. Melbourne Fringe Festival 2007
THE HOUND OF THE BASKERVILLES
Performer. MICF 2007
THE HOUND OF THE BASKERVILLES
Performer. Melbourne Fringe Festival 2006
CLASS CLOWNS
Performer. MICF 2005
*National Finalist

Live Shows – Other

THE SHELF
For 10 seasons, Tegan was a regular performer at The Shelf – “The Comedy show you won’t see on TV”. Regularly featured on The Shelf Podcast with Adam Richard and Justin Hamilton.
THE ANARCHIST GUILD SOCIAL COMMITTEE (2008-2011)
A sketch group that comprised of performers including Celia Pacquola and Andrew McClelland. The group performed at several Melbourne International Comedy Festivals and Adelaide Fringe Festivals and was invited to perform at Sydney’s “Comedy Island”.
THE TERMINATIVITY
A Christmas show which is a mash-up of the Terminator and the Nativity story by Nick Caddaye and music by Casey Benetto.
THE NO MEANS NO SHOW
A comedy show developed for young women about sex, consent and respectful sexual relationships with CASA House (Centre Against Sexual Assault) and the Royal Women’s Hospital in Melbourne.
A MIDSUMMERS NIGHT DREAM
The show was Directed by Glenda Linscott and played for a season at Theatreworks, St Kilda.
THE COMICS LOUNGE opening for Wil Anderson for a season
A week headlining at THE CLASSIC in New Zealand