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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. When Paul Henry lost his job on NZ’s TVOne I predicted that he would be snaffled up overseas. Having watched OZ breakfast shows during a number of sojourns there, I say that Australians have never had his like. Paul is extremely entertaining and I miss him on NZ television. Damb I might have to cross the ditch again.

  2. He’s alright… A bit cringe-worthy but nowhere near as irritatingly PC as kochie and his dad jokes. Very interesting decision by channel 10 though.

  3. To speak your mind or not to speak your mind? that is the question isnt it.? I personally think that people should have the freedom to say almost whatever they like, this is a democracy people isnt it? If he does stuff up it will be at his and at TEN’s perril, they will loose sponsors and viewers, not to mention he would receave a call from ACMA need to explain himself (maybe Pauline Hanson should work for ACMA). As for why Andrew Bolt hasn’t been sacked despite his poor ratings well the answer is sitting on the board and she is an heiress.

  5. Last time i visited NZ in 2009, when he was still on air, i took an instant dislike to him – he is strident, cocky and talks all over guests and co-presenters. I didn’t warm to him at all, and i knew nothing about him. It came as no surprise when he encountered his strife resulting in his departure. He is a completely different character to Kochie, Karl and Michael Rowland, and Dr Dimples. but will viewers simply switch off?

  7. Awful idea which makes zero sense.

    The only reason I can think of is that they’re trying to save some bucks and paying him in New Zealand dollars.

    Ten, seriously stupid.

  9. Try again Ten. Cos this now has fail all over it. Andrew Rochford is likeable and would probably be a good host despite not not being a journo, but he’s got good media skills. So the show could have worked. But what person thought it would be a good idea to hire this guy? Shows doomed now.

  12. I know this is not a PC thing to say (though given this bloke’s track record he shouldn’t mind too much), but I don’t think Aussie audiences want a Kiwi presenter. It’s the accent – I don’t know anyone here who likes it. It’s one of the few global accents that sounds ugly no matter how interesting/good looking the person is! The only Kiwi-sounding Kiwi I can think of who has lasted here is Hewie. Are there others in recent memory?

  18. Anyone who says ‘”they will love me”is deluded. Let us decide that. NZ is a little different to Australia. I went into a pub over there and in one pub they had a picture of the Queen hanging on the wall. Not saying they are behind the times but just a little different.

  20. So if audiences will hate him the same, if not more than they hate Kochie then are we to expect huge ratings? As much as Kochie as well as Karl are disliked, their programs still manage to bring in a crowd.

    As for those who enjoy ABC Breakfast, well I caught some of that this morning and I must say someone needs to go out and get a nicer couch for the guests to sit on! The hosts seems friendly though..

  21. “Paul is exactly what we’ve been after for Breakfast.” So says the bogan network’s chief programming officer David Mott. Fair dinkum, how come this turkey is still employed and not in an instituition after making such a ridiculous public statement.

    Seven and Nine will be laughing all the way to the bank as TEN’S advertisers abandon the sinking ship in droves when this talentless buffoon commences what will be an extremely short lived stay in Oz. Going on all the comments it is obvious the Kiwis’ are glad to see the back of him as none of them hev wushed hem all the bist.

  22. There really are no words for this. Ten are obviously setting out for their show to be a joke. I’m not sure he is a racist or a bigot but I am sure he is dumb and not funny. I could get up and do what he does every morning, anyone could.

  23. Kochie and Stefanovic are like mental giants compared to Henry..But then again Lachlan’s last appointment, Bolt, has ideas that bogans, who don’t want to think very hard, , would like..Bolt’s ratings are atrocious..you would think Murdoch would have learned his lesson

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