Prudence Gay MacSween is an Australian television and radio personality, journalist, social commentator, and public relations director. She is the public relations director of Verve Communications, as a media commentator, MacSween has made a number of comments considered to be controversial whilst under the influence of alcohol.

The neutrality of this article is disputed. (June 2020)

MacSween's extensive career in the media began at Eastern Suburbs Newspapers, as a cadet journalist. during which time she studied at the Sydney Technical College where she completed an Advertising Certificate in 1972.^[1]

Her first foray into television was after she successfully applied for a job at the locally owned television station TNQ-7 in the North Queensland city of Townsville^[when?] initially working as a reporter before also hosting a children's program.^[1] Also while at TNQ-7, MacSween created a weekly talk show at TNQ which she also presented.^[1][2] While working in Townsville, MacSween was offered a job with the Nine Network in their Sydney newsroom, before she became a reporter in 1976 on the network's daytime current affairs program No Man's Land in Melbourne.^[3]

Following a brief period with Channel 9 in Perth, MacSween moved back to Sydney to work for Are Media (then named Southdown Press) publisher of magazine's New Idea and TV Week, eventually becoming the New South Wales editor for TV Week.^{[1][2][when?]}

MacSween was a briefly judge on Network Ten's short-lived talent show You're a Star, in 1982 hosted by Tim Webster before being 'unceremoniously dumped'.^[4] In 1986, MacSween founded her own public relations business, Prue MacSween & Associates (PMA), which focused on the promotion and marketing fortified wine products.^{[citation needed]}

MacSween is arguably best known for being one of the "beauties" on a Foxtel revival of daytime panel discussion program Beauty and the Beast, which aired from 1996 until 2002, hosted by Stan Zemanek and then Doug Mulray.^[1]

In 2003, MacSween wrote a biography for fellow Beauty and the Beast panellist, Carlotta entitled I'm Not That Kind of Girl.^[5] MacSween's book was used for reference by the producers of the ABC's 2014 telemovie about Carlotta's life.^[6]

When Zemanek left his 2UE radio program in December 2006, MacSween was appointed the show's replacement, but later decided to leave the program and was later replaced by Stuart Bocking.^[1][2][7] MacSween continued to work for 2UE in an occasional capacity and in 2012 was reportedly in negotiations with the station to become the co-host of 2UE's morning program with Tracey Spicer.^[8] Both MacSween and Spicer reportedly rejected the pay deal offered by 2UE to do the show.^[9][10]

MacSween competed against fellow celebrities Josh Thomas, Chloe Maxwell and Kris Smith on the first episode of Celebrity Come Dine With Me Australia on Lifestyle in December 2012.^[11] In 2013, MacSween competed with thirteen other celebrities on the third series of The Celebrity Apprentice Australia on the Nine Network.^[12][13] MacSween was the sixth-last person to be "fired" after having raised $50,000 for the Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute.^{[citation needed]}

MacSween is currently a director at her own public relations firm, Verve Communications.^[14][2]

Her parents were Watson MacSween and Laurette (née Isaacs). Her father died in 1970 when she was 18. During childhood, MacSween underwent hip operations and needed to use a wheelchair.^[1] MacSween was diagnosed with breast cancer in March 2014 and subsequently underwent a lumpectomy and chemotherapy treatment.^[29][30][31]

She is a step mother to three children.^[32]

MacSween's charity work includes the Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute, Save Our Sons, Youth Off The Streets and Cancer Australia.^[1]