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Paul Henry: “They’ll love me.”

"I think the trick is not to pretend anything at all. I'll just go over and be me," says new TEN presenter Paul Henry.

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NZ broadcaster Paul Henry has responded to the Australian reaction to his hiring on TEN’s Breakfast show.

Without even setting foot in the country he has already provoked heated online debate and headlines, which sounds exactly like what he was supposed to do.

Henry told RadioLive this morning the TEN role was an “unbelievable opportunity”.

“It is quite exciting. It doesn’t start until next year and there is plenty to do between now and then, but it is very exciting.”

Set to begin with TEN in March, he is confident he will be well received by viewers.

“I think the trick is not to pretend anything at all. I’ll just go over and be me,” he said.

“They’ll love me.”

“I think I’ll just come out and be me. Obviously they are in semi-political uproar over there, so I think there will opportunity to be all guns blazing at times, from very early on.”

Online comments on the NZ Herald are equally divided over him as a TV presenter:

– Paul Henry moving from NZ to Aust will raise the average IQ of both countries.
– I’m sure that Mr Henry will fit quite comfortably into the Murdoch circus.
– If Paul learns from past experiences I think he will do well. However if he hasn’t learnt anything about self discipline, dignity or commonsense he will repeat his mistakes. C’mom Paul show us you have grown up.
– NZ doesn’t know talent. All the talented people leave. It’s time for this to change.
– It’s a shame. He was entertaining and the only presenter prepared to express his real mind. The others are so politically correct they hardly even have their own thoughts.
– They can have him. I will even send him gift wrapped.
– Good for him – TVNZ lost a terrific asset.
– A loss for NZ, Keep up the good work in OZ Paul, less of that PC crap, thats one of many reasons its a far superior nation.
– Hate to see him go, he’s a national treasure. So irreverent, incorrect, smart & funny – such a breath of fresh air. Haven’t watched ‘Breakfast’ since he left.
– The best news I’ve heard since winning the RWC. Hopefully we will never have to be exposed to his brand of vacuous spouting again. Note to self, remember to avoid Channel 10 when visiting Australia.

Meanwhile, Network TEN’s chief programming officer, David Mott said: “Paul is exactly what we’ve been after for Breakfast.

“He’s cheeky, mischievous and unapologetically forthright, just like TEN’s viewers. While you can’t ever be sure what Paul will do, when he’s on air, you know he’s going to tackle the elephant in the room.”

Source: NZ Herald

29 Responses

  1. I think Australia will be having a laugh with their cornflakes. There is alot of venom for the man without watching him. He will do well !! If he gets a good co host to bounce off he is very funny. He is smart and up on his Politics & history so don’t worry about him not performing it will be if he is performing to well is when he gets into trouble.

  2. NZ went the ‘way over the top’ politically correct route years ago, by the looks of these comments Australia is going the same way… Free Speech, leftist hate mongers go to some dictatorship. We should be able to speak our minds freely, without the leftist thought police!

    Go Paul, I’ll be watching, NZ misses you, that’s a Fact!

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