Paul Henry (broadcaster)

Paul Henry Hopes (born 4 August 1960), known professionally as Paul Henry, is a New Zealand radio and television broadcaster who was the host of the late night show ''The Paul Henry Show'' on New Zealand's TV3 which ended December 2014 so that Henry could host a new cross platform three-hour breakfast show Monday to Friday on TV3, RadioLive and on line. ''Paul Henry'' launched on 7 April 2015 and initially had an audience larger than the two shows it replaced on radio and TV. For nine months in 2012, he also co-hosted an Australian television show, ''Breakfast'', which ceased production on 30 November 2012, due to low ratings.

Early life

Paul Henry Hopes was born in Auckland, New Zealand, to Brian and Olive Hopes, on 4 August 1960. He attended Cockle Bay Primary in Howick, Auckland. His parents separated when he was 11, and in 1971 he moved with his English-born mother to Bristol, United Kingdom, where he finished his education and won a drama school scholarship. Paul and his mother Olive lived in a council flat. Olive worked triple shifts in a plastic bag factory to make ends meet. Henry says that when he was 25 he discovered that his grandmother was a "Gypsy".

Television and radio career

New Zealand

Henry commenced his broadcasting career working for the BBC, as a studio assistant and in the mail room. He worked as a projectionist in the natural history unit, where, according to the ''Sunday Star Times'', "David Attenborough would come in and Henry would play the rushes". Henry returned to New Zealand when he was 19 and worked as a producer on National Radio.

From 1986 to 1990, Henry worked as a breakfast host on 2ZD Wairarapa. In 1991, Henry left 2ZD to establish rival radio station Today FM, hosting the station's breakfast show. Other notable Today FM staff included Hilary Pankhurst, Georgina Beyer, local identity Rick Long, and former 2ZD station manager John Shearer. In 1992, Henry sold the station to the owner of Port FM.

Henry went on to be a foreign correspondent and weekend talkback host for Radio Pacific, later presenting breakfast programme ''The Morning Grill'' with Arch Tambakis, then Pam Corkery. He also presented the station's drive program, and was the inaugural drive presenter at Radio Live when the station launched in 2005.

In 2004, Henry was appointed co-host of TV One's ''Breakfast''. In 2009, ratings for the show had improved to around 150,000 viewers from a base of around 100,000. Between 2007 and 2008, Henry also presented episodes of ''This Is Your Life'', and was a backup host for current affairs show ''Close Up''. At the 2010 Qantas Film and Television Awards, Henry was awarded the People's Choice Award for Best Presenter. His acceptance speech attracted more than 300,000 views on YouTube.

In October 2010, Henry was forced to apologise and later resigned from TVNZ after controversy over his pronunciation and ridicule of the name of Indian politician Sheila Dikshit, as well as comments made about the then-Governor-General of New Zealand, Sir Anand Satyanand. In an interview the following month, Henry claimed that TVNZ, in particular chief executive Rick Ellis, had "capitalised" on him by encouraging him to be controversial on-air, adding that he believed it was wrong for the New Zealand Government to apologise to India for his remarks.

On 1 April 2011, MediaWorks New Zealand announced Henry would return to Radio Live in July, replacing Maggie Barry as the host of the station's drivetime show, a position he had held four years previously. His tenure in the role would this time last just over half a year; Henry moved to Australia the following year to host Network Ten's new morning show.

In 2011 Henry published an autobiography, ''What Was I Thinking''. The book was a bestseller upon release. In 2013 he released another book, called ''Outraged'' also a bestseller. In late 2020 Henry released his third book, also a bestseller. ‘I’m in a United State’. Henry has released three vintages of Central Otago Pinot Noir. The last in 2020. All sold out within weeks.

Australia

In February 2012, Henry relocated to Sydney, Australia to co-host Network Ten's morning show ''Breakfast''. The show debuted on 23 February 2012 to low ratings. As in New Zealand, Henry's on-air comments caused controversy: in May 2012 he suggested asylum seekers could stay in people's linen cupboards, and implied they were "dirty".

Due to low ratings, Henry's ''Breakfast'' was cancelled on 30 November 2012 after less than one year on air. During the show's broadcast period, one of Henry's co-hosts and the show's executive producer quit, prompting speculation about whether the departures were due to tension with Henry. A newspaper reported other staff at the network resented Henry, claiming many wouldn't look at him when he walked in the room, and were planning to boycott the Christmas party. Both Henry and the low ratings of the show were continually lampooned by the comedy show ''The Hamster Wheel''.

Return to New Zealand and semi-retirement

Henry returned to New Zealand after ''Breakfast'''s cancellation. While in Australia, Henry maintained work in New Zealand media as an Australian correspondent for Radio Live and as the host of '' Would I Lie to You?'' on