WHEN THEY'RE not making sick kids cry in hospitals, The Chaser boys like to pick on people their own size at Parliament House. Federal politicians were ambushed during morning doorstop interviews yesterday when Craig Reucassel, dressed as cartoon character Noddy, appeared behind Liberal MP Stuart Robert as he answered questions about the latest economic figures. ''Turn around mate,'' one of MrRobert's staffers said, during which time he became aware of the stunt. Robert then played along, ''Embrace your Liberal colleagues,'' he said, giving Noddy a hug. Reucassel responded, ''I only nod,'' to bouts of laughter from journalists. Robert retorted, ''You must be part of Kevin Rudd's camp then. In fact you sure Kevin Rudd's not under there?'' The appearances continued through doorstops from Labor MPs Craig Thomson and Jim Turnour, before Reucassel was escorted away by security during a press conference with Liberal backbencher Wilson Tuckey.

The program has enjoyed a lot of air time in Parliament recently. Earlier this week Liberal backbencher Russell Trood quizzed the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade in a Senate estimates committee about the Chaser team's

recent antics in Rome, when Reucassel launched a blimp over St Peter's Square in the Vatican. Collectors in Collector

PROVING we really are a region of hoarders, the Collectors episode filmed in the historic town of the same name will air on ABC TV tonight. The crew transformed the famous Bushranger Hotel into its studio for the day, as Adrian Franklin attends a Goulburn swap meet and Gordon Brown goes to Millpond Farm at Jembaicumbene, 10km south of Braidwood to see Antony Davies' collection of horse-drawn carriages and buggies. Niccole Warren visits country singer Rick Hopkin's car museum at Taralga and Fiona Hammond's huge collection of Astro Boy memorabilia. In the capital, the team visits the shed of Terry Allen, which is crammed with P&O steam liner paraphernalia. Collectors, 8pm tonight on ABC 1.

Bruno barges in

BRACE yourself: Bruno is heading Down Under. Comedian Sacha Baron Cohen will bring his latest alter-ego to Sydney for the premiere of Bruno The Movie on June 29. He will only be in the country for 24 hours, and will spend the entire time in character as the outrageous Austrian fashionista.

Like Baron Cohen's other famous character Borat, Bruno has left a trail of controversy during the making of the mockumentary and on his international publicity tour. No word on what he has in store for Australia.

Bruno opens in cinemas worldwide on July 9.

Alcohol-fuelled racer

ALCOHOL label Vodka O sent out a press release proudly announcing its sponsorship of GT Championship Driver Dean Grant. ''Dean has been tearing up the tracks at the Australian GT championship in an orange and black, 2008 Lamborghini Gallardo GT3'' screeches the release. While alcoholic beverage companies are big sponsors of the various codes of football and cricket, Today thinks extending the support to motor racing is as inappropriate as a dog

food company sponsoring a racehorse. Yowie goes green

EXPERT in all things weird and out there Tim the Yowie Man has picked a fight with Simon Corbell and Peter Garrett. Today happens to be World Environment Day, and the Yowie Man has taken particular offence that eco-events celebrating the day in Canberra are not listed on the World Environment Day website. ''Canberrans ought to be actively

trying to reduce our environmental footprint on a daily basis,'' cried the Yowie Man, before taking a rather cruel swipe at our city's reputation. ''Perhaps the image of Canberra as a bunch of fat cats who don't care about the rest of the world so long as they can drive to their work in 20 minutes and have a comfortable carbon polluting home in the suburbs is true.'' Environment Minister Corbell hit back at the Yowie Man's claims, arguing ''Canberra is one of the most eco-friendly cities in Australia'' before disproving Tim's

assertion that there were no local events planned. ''I am joining students at the CIT to celebrate World Environment Day, and I'm sure many more Canberrans will be celebrating this international day in their own unique ways,'' Corbell said.