WILD AT HEART

She’s been a daredevil kid, fearless international reporter, co-host with breakfast TV’s enfant terrible and mischievous mum. Allison Langdon shares her world, and sheds a few tears, in a heartfelt chat with The Weekly.

- ANGUS FONTAINE ·

David Langdon could hear the revs a mile away as his old pick-up truck tore full-throttle around the property. “Holy hell, he’s giving it some boot today,” thought David over the din. But when David strode up to tell his brother-in-law to keep the ruckus down, long blonde hair was whipping out the driver’s side window. Behind the wheel was his daughter Allison, age 12, hooting and hooning.

“She’d pinched the keys and hit the gas. Even today, Allison’s a speed demon. If you’re in a car with her, you hang on!” laughs mum Helen. “Another time she lit a fire nearby and it got into our land. Next thing … BOOM! Up went the ute in a huge fireball. BOOM! Up went David’s Valiant Charger next. We’re a family of larrikins and storytellers, but Allison is the adrenaline junkie.”

Pedal to the metal, wind in her hair. That’s how Allison Langdon, 42, rock’n’rolls. The breakfast TV queen from King Creek (pop: 1568) on the north coast of NSW might look polished and poised fronting the Today show five days a week, but ask around and most folk will tell you “Ally” has always lived fast and furious.

In 20 years as a news reporter, she flew into bushfires, bombings and civil wars. As an author, she waded through court transcripts and crime scenes to get to the truth. On