TEN signs controversial NZ presenter for Breakfast
Lachlan Murdoch offers controversial NZ presenter Paul Henry a seat on the Breakfast couch.
- Published by David Knox
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Controversial New Zealand TV presenter Paul Henry will join Andrew Rochford on TEN’s 2012 morning programme, Breakfast.
Currently host of a drive programme on the Radio Live station, Henry confirmed on NZ’s 3News on Saturday he will be paid paid more than $NZ1 million ($A767,813) after Lachlan Murdoch called to offer him the job.
He will conclude his radio show in March.
Henry, has previously hosted the NZ show of the same name, Breakfast, from 2004 to 2010 but it ended in controversy after his pronunciation of New Delhi’s chief minister Sheila Dikshit, which resulted in the New Zealand government apologising to India.
He has previously referred to homosexuals as “unnatural” and Susan Boyle as “retarded” -both of which resulted in complaints to the Broadcasting Standards Authority- and questioned the ethnicity of NZ Governor-General, Sir Anand Satyanand, born in Auckland to Indo-Fijian parents.
After being suspended Henry was forced to resign and apologised.
“It is also difficult for TVNZ to get on with the business of being a first-class broadcaster as long as I remain. I have apologised twice, and have meant every word. I again apologise to all those who were genuinely hurt by what I said.”
While working for TEN, Henry will also continue to work for TV3, filming his new Sunday night show in Sydney.
“The great thing about TEN is that they are edgy and prepared to have a laugh at life and themselves,” he told the Sunday Telegraph.
A female co-host for Breakfast is yet to be announced.
83 Responses
This is a big big mistake! Paul Henry is so irritating to watch. I will purposely not watch this new breakfast show because he is on it. He was booted off TVNZ for a reason.
Well it’s Virgina and Mark on ABC 24 Brekky for me still. News and Analysis with out the spin and hysteria.
god save his female co-presenter as he walked all over his kiwi one. I am from NZ and this guy is a major wa$#ker
@SecretSquirrel: you’re not making allowances for the corruption of language. Historically, a conservative was classified as ‘right wing’, but in the modern political spectrum right wingers are best described as ‘hard core conservatives’. Andrew Bolt self identifies as a conservative. I think it’s a stretch to classify him as a hard core conservative.
In any event, viewers vote with their remotes. If TEN viewers dislike Bolt’s conservatism, he’ll ultimately go the same way as leftist George Negus. The same for this Paul Henry chap…although I say again, I don’t think he’s right wing. I think he’ll say whatever it takes to shock anybody and everybody, on both sides of the political fence.
Regarding the ABC not being leftist, you’ve got to be kidding. Apart from Barrie Cassidy on Insiders and Chris Uhlmann on 7.30 (who are both fair and balanced, asking hard questions of both side of politics), the ABC is hoplessly leftist. It’s left of the ALP.
The apple obviously doesn’t fall far from the tree – Lachlan seems to be taking after his father by employing someone for the controversy factor. Doubt that I’ll be watching now.
@Peter Ford. I lived in New Zealand for 6 months and used to watch the breakfast program he was working on. As an opinion from an Australian viewer I found that he just didn’t resonate with me at all. He did say stupid things. He’s almost childlike. His style won’t work here. It’s a shame that a network wants to get headlines from it’s talent rather than from the news itself.
Like Russel Crowe, you can keep this one too!
Nothing worse than a thick Kiwi accent first thing in the morning. Fail.
I looked up some clips on youtube and he wasn’t that bad! He’s got a pretty infectious laugh and looks like he could be fun for the program.
That said I don’t see Breakfast competing with Sunrise and Today at all – certainly not unless they get a solid female co-host.
That Peter Ford that posted a comment earlier..
Is that the entertainment guy on ACA? If so, that’s hilarious!
As a Kiwi living in Australia I absolutely cringed when I heard the news Paul Henry was coming here…the guy is a complete tosser – he is homophobic, racist and ridiculous. He has an ego the size of Texas, I don’t know a single one of my Kiwi friends who like or watch him. He is an embarrassment and this is not going to work out well. Channel 10 might just have shot themselves in the foot before the show even starts – I wouldn’t watch it out of principle now. He has surely been employed sorely for the controversy factor. Sunrise and Today have got nothing to worry about!
Major catch 22 for the co-presenter. This position will be highly sought after but will mean having to be around this guy and having to share responsibility for his inevitable homophobic/racist behaviour. Lachlan thinks he’s clever, thinks this guy will create interest but he should have bothered to pick up the phone and ask TVNZ just how much of a handful this guys was. Their headaches will be his.
@Peter – please restrict yourself to commenting on things about which you know something. Right-wing politics, by definition, includes conservatives as well as nationalists and reactionaries. Bolt is definitely right-wing as is Pauline Hanson.
People object to Bolt because he is a boor and a bully, not because of his politics. The ABC hasn’t been left-wing for years. It’s funny how something in the middle can appear to be on the left when viewed from over there on the right.
Go team Kochie and Mel
I’ll take great pleasure when the show is axed or he is dumped.
What on earth does Andrew Rochford have to do with tv? He’s a doctor for goodness sake! How I’d hate to be one of his patients. This man is terribly Boring! Think I’ll keep sleeping in.
Posters bagging Ten for bringing on this ‘right-winger’ seem to forget the station gave leftist George Negus a fair old run. That said, I’m not sure this Paul Henry is right wing…he just seems more of a sensationalist. And for the record, Andrew Bolt isn’t a right-winger: he’s a conservative. There is a difference. If you prefer your free-to-air commentary to be all but completely leftist, you’re well catered for on the ABC and Seven.
Just wondering if any Australian will co host this thing with him. Maybe get Andrew Bolt and Pru Macsween. I doubt anyone else will do it. This show will struggle in Sydney as most of the right wingers are listening to Alan Jones.
I was looking forward to Ten’s new brekkie show, but not anymore. Anyone who has such a close-minded and ignorant view on the world turns me right off!
I have been watching Breakfast in NZ for years – each time I go back I tune in over my morning coffee.
Paul Henry is actually really good, he’s a good interviewer & doesnt take any crap – he does shoot his mouth off, often saying things the rest of us are thinking but to afraid to say – this lands him in hot water from time to time.
You always know where you stand with Paul, he’s straight up – will def give old Kochie a run for his money!
Heaven help us, another AndrewBolt clone.
Thank goodness for ABC News 24
A lot of people here writing about a performer they have never seen,aside from some YouTube clips. I know him and work with him on radio. He’s very funny. The ‘act’ is far more about laughs that right wing table thumping. Think more Graham Kennedy on Coast To Coast. I have no idea if it will work or not but doubt that it will be boring and frankly they needed a major point of difference to find their niche.
Boy will be furious he was passed over. I would say that it would be interesting to watch him with Roachford who seems a pretty relaxed sort of buy but I have no inclination to watch. I can appreciate that ten want to make themselves an alternative to the other shows but is this the best approach? Who want controversy over breakfast?
@JP, we’ve already got Bolt, and Jones that’s more then plenty, we don’t need another hate and fear spreading person on TV. Just look at his past record and ask yourself do you really want kids watching that while they’re getting ready for school?
@JP- Seven and the ABC are generally considered ‘left-wing,’ while Nine and to a lesser extent TEN are more ‘right-wing.’