John Sorell was born on 12 May 1937 in Hobart, Tasmania, Australia. He was married to Bronwyn (Bronnie). He died on 13 April 2009 in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
A double Walkley award-winning newspaper journalist, Sorell became one of Australia's most successful television news directors at the Nine Network, in Melbourne. He was inducted into the Media Hall of Fame in October 2014.