Grant Craig Denyer (born 12 September 1977[1]) is an Australian television and radio presenter and motor racing driver, who has worked for several television networks, including Seven Network and Network 10, mostly serving as a presenter. He previously hosted Family Feud and Australia's Got Talent. Currently, he hosts Network 10's main game show Deal or No Deal.

Grant Denyer
Denyer in 2013
Born
Grant Craig Denyer

(1977-09-12) 12 September 1977 (age 47)
NationalityAustralian
Occupations
  • Television and radio presenter
  • Motor racing driver
Years active1997−present
EmployerNetwork 10
Known for
Spouse
Cheryl Rogers
(m. 2010)
Children3
Websitegrantdenyer.com.au

In 2018, he won a Gold Logie Award for Most Popular Personality on Australian Television.[2]

Television career

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In 1997, Denyer began his career in the media with a position at Prime Television in Wagga Wagga as a news reporter and journalist.[3] He moved to Sydney to work as V8 Supercar pit reporter for Network Ten, when he caught the eye of television producer Adam Boland.

Boland saw the potential in Denyer and offered him full-time position as the weather presenter on the relaunched Sunrise program from 2004 until the end of 2006. Denyer left this position in December 2006 due to wanting to spend more time with his family, though he remained as a roving reporter for the breakfast program Sunrise.

 
Denyer filming a weather segment for Sunrise

Denyer won the fourth series of Dancing with the Stars and also hosted the celebrity duet singing competition It Takes Two from 2006 to 2008. He has also presented All Time Greatest Aussie Bloopers, Guinness World Records with co-host Shelley Craft and Australia's Got Talent. He is the holder of five official Guinness World Records.[4]

From 2006 to 2011, he was the host of Carols in the Domain in Sydney.[5]

In 2007, his race and television career saw him both racing and being a part of the commentary team featuring Neil Crompton, Matthew White, Mark Beretta and Daniel Gibson to report on the V8 Supercar Series.

In January 2010, Denyer returned to Sunrise as weather presenter, succeeding Fifi Box who became Entertainment editor. Grant remained weather presenter until he resigned in March 2013 to spend more time with his family.[6][7] He also hosted the short-lived Iron Chef Australia, in 2010.[8]

In late 2013, Denyer hosted Slide Show. He hosted a series of Million Dollar Minute which first aired on 16 September 2013. On 29 November 2013, Denyer resigned due to 'family reasons' and he was replaced by Weekend Sunrise sports presenter Simon Reeve.[9]

In 2014, Denyer joined Network Ten as the host of a revived version of game show Family Feud.[10] Denyer has described himself as a "workaholic".[11]

In 2015, Denyer co-hosted The Great Australian Spelling Bee alongside Chrissie Swan.

In 2016, he also had a guest appearance on Neighbours for Family Feud on episode 7477.

In 2018, Denyer hosted an Australian version of Game of Games.

In 2019, Denyer co-hosted Dancing with the Stars alongside Amanda Keller and hosted Celebrity Name Game.

In 2021, he appeared as a contestant on the seventh season of Network 10's I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here! Australia.[12][13] He ended up placing second overall, behind winner Abbie Chatfield.[14]

In 2023, Denyer competed on the seventh season of The Amazing Race Australia with his wife, Cheryl.[15] In the second leg of the race in Agra, India, he collapsed due to the extreme heat, reaching 45 °C (113 °F). He had to be driven to the pit stop for that leg of the race after all other racers had finished, and was subsequently bedridden for seven weeks afterwards. He speculated this was due to his severe mould allergy, as one of the challenges involved handling cow manure.[16]

In 2023, Denyer was announced as the new host of Deal or No Deal for Network 10 replacing Andrew O'Keefe.[17][18]It premiered on 29 January 2024.

Television

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Year Title Role Notes
2004–2006, 2010–2013 Sunrise Weather presenter
2005 Australia's Guinness World Records Host
2006 Dancing with the Stars Contestant Winner
2006 Deal or No Deal (Andrew O'Keefe) Contestant, wins $1,000 for a home viewer, which in case #4
2006–2008 It Takes Two Host
2006–2011 Carols in the Domain Co-host
2007–2012 Australia's Got Talent Host
2010 Iron Chef Australia Co-host
2013 SlideShow Host
2013 Million Dollar Minute Original host
2014–2020 Family Feud
2015, 2018, 2024 Have You Been Paying Attention? Guest quiz master
2015–2016 The Great Australian Spelling Bee Co-host with Chrissie Swan
2016–2018 All Star Family Feud Host
2016 Neighbours Himself Episode 7477, appeared as host of Family Feud
2018 Game of Games Host [19]
2019–2020 Dancing with the Stars Co-host with Amanda Keller
2019 Chris & Julia's Sunday Night Takeaway Guest
2019 Hughesy, We Have a Problem Celebrity problem
2019–2020 Celebrity Name Game Host [19]
2020 Drunk History Captain Thunderbolt
2021 I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here! Contestant
2022 Dancing with the Stars Winner
2022 The Chase Australia: Celebrity special
2023 The Amazing Race Australia 2023 Movie time Australia Contestant 2023 Movie time Australia As chasers 2024–present Deal or No Deal [18][17] Host

Awards

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Denyer has been nominated four times for the Logie Award for Best Presenter award at the TV Week Logie Awards. He was nominated in 2007, 2008 and 2009 for his roles on It Takes Two and on Australia's Got Talent (in 2009). He was nominated again in 2015 for his role in Family Feud.

In 2006, Denyer was recognised by voters in the TV Fugly Awards as being Australia's Spunkiest Male TV Personality.[20] Grant has been voted "sexiest presenter on TV" by a Melbourne Metro magazine poll, and he was voted the most datable male by (Australian) New Woman magazine.[21]

In 2016, Denyer won the silver Logie award for Best Entertainment Program for Family Feud.[22][23]

In 2018, Denyer was nominated for a Gold Logie for the third year in a row, which he won, as well as winning Logie Award for Most Popular Presenter.

Radio career

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In December 2017, Southern Cross Austereo announced that Denyer would be joining 2Day FM to host the Em, Grant and Ed breakfast show with comedians Em Rusciano and Ed Kavalee.[24] Ash London joined the show in 2019 replacing Rusciano.

In August 2019, Southern Cross Austereo announced that Grant, Ed and Ash would finish on Friday 16 August due to taking a 'new direction'. Grant, Ed and Ash was replaced by a music focused show.

On 3 October 2019, it was announced that Denyer would host a new radio show with Yvie Jones in December, the Grant and Yvie Show, a Summer breakfast show that would air in Hit Network's major metro markets, except 2Day FM in Sydney.[25]

Recording career

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In December 2018, Denyer released his debut single, "Driving Home for Christmas".[26]

Motor racing

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Grant Denyer
 
Denyer with his 2012 Renault Mégane RS265 at the 2015 Targa Tasmania
Related toCraig Denyer (father)
Supercars Dunlop Series
Australian GT Championship
Years active2005–2016
TeamsDick Johnson Racing
Speed FX Racing
MW Motorsport
Tekno Autosports
Starts75
Wins4
Best finish4th in 2009 Fujitsu V8 Supercar Series
Previous series
2001–2005
2005–2016
2006–2011
2008–2009
2015
V8 Utes
V8 Supercar Development Series
V8 Supercars
Australian Mini Challenge
Australian GT Championship
Championship titles
2004
2016
V8 Utes Summer Series
Australian Endurance Championship
Awards
2005Mike Kable V8 Supercar Rookie of the Year

Denyer drove a Ford Falcon in the Fujitsu V8 Supercar series for Speed FX Racing with Michael Caruso and Daniel Elliot. He debuted with Dick Johnson Racing in 2005. In the same year he was awarded the Mike Kable Rookie of the Year prize finishing his debut season in the top 10 (10th).

In 2006, Denyer raced in the Sandown 500 and the prestigious Bathurst 1000 with DJR and with Alex Davison. Denyer and Alex came 9th overall at Bathurst. Denyer also had success in tarmac rallying, achieving a podium finish in 2007's Suncoast Rally in which he drove the Les Walkden-prepared Subaru Impreza WRX STi. He finished 37.8 seconds behind the Skelta G-Force of Ray Vandersee, and 3.6 seconds clear third place-getter, Matt Close, in his Porsche Turbo. Going into the final stage he trailed Close by 4.7 seconds, and moved ahead of the Porsche to take second place.

In 2002, Denyer competed in the Bathurst 24-hour Endurance Event, he drove a Nissan 200SX. In 2003 he competed in the same event, this time driving a Porsche 996 GT3 finishing second in his class, sixth overall.

Denyer won his first ever Supercars race in the Development Series at Sandown on 7 June 2008 in the second race of the weekend. More wins came and Denyer had his best season in 2009, finishing fourth in the 2009 Fujitsu V8 Supercar Series.

In early 2010 Denyer stated he would no longer be pursuing full season drives in motorsport,[6][27] however in 2011 Denyer was announced as the lead driver of Shannons-Mars Racing, a V8 Supercar team formed for the purposes of a TV show, the Shannons Supercar Showdown. Denyer's Bathurst 1000 co-driver was Cam Waters, winning the competition beating runner-up British racing driver Andrew Jordan. Waters as of 2016 became a full-time Supercars regular with ProDrive.

Denyer also competed in the Australian GT Championship with Maranello Motorsport in 2015, but switched to the McLaren 650S fielded by Tekno Autosports, sometimes in partnership with car owner and eventual 2016 Bathurst 1000 champion Jonathon Webb, in the GT series. In 2016 Denyer won the Australian Endurance Championship, an offshoot of the GT Championship, with Nathan Morcom.

Career results

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Source of results is Driver Database.[28]

Season Series Position Car Competitor / team
2001 V8 Brute Muster 5th Ford Falcon XR8 VIP Pet Foods Racing
2002 V8 Brute Muster 4th Ford Falcon XR8 VIP Pet Foods Racing
2003 Australian V8 Brutes Series 7th Ford Falcon XR8 VIP Pet Foods Racing
2004 V8 Brute Championship 11th Ford Falcon XR8 VIP Pet Foods Racing
V8 Utes Australia Summer Series 1st Ford Falcon XR8 VIP Pet Foods Racing
2005 Holden Performance Driving Centre V8 Supercar Series 10th Ford BA Falcon Dick Johnson Racing
2006 Fujitsu V8 Supercar Series 9th Ford BA Falcon Dick Johnson Racing
V8 Supercar Championship Series 42nd Ford BA Falcon Dick Johnson Racing
2007 Fujitsu V8 Supercar Series 28th Ford BA Falcon Ford Rising Stars Racing
MW Motorsport
V8 Supercar Championship Series 51st Ford BA Falcon WPS Racing
2008 Australian Mini Challenge 6th Mini Cooper JCW R56 Challenge Decorug Racing
Fujitsu V8 Supercar Series 15th Ford BA Falcon MW Motorsport
V8 Supercar Championship Series 55th Ford BF Falcon Ford Rising Stars Racing
2009 Australian Mini Challenge 5th Mini Cooper JCW R56 Challenge Decorug Racing
Fujitsu V8 Supercar Series 4th Ford BF Falcon Dick Johnson Racing
2011 Fujitsu V8 Supercar Series 33rd Holden VE Commodore Kelly Racing
International V8 Supercars Championship NC Holden VE Commodore Kelly Racing
2014 Aussie Racing Cars Super Series 40th ARC Euro GT Yamaha MARC Cars Australia
2015 Australian GT Championship 2nd Ferrari 458 Italia GT3 Maranello Motorsport
Dunlop V8 Supercar Series 31st Ford FG Falcon Image Racing
2016 Australian Endurance Championship 1st McLaren 650S GT3 Tekno Autosports
Dunlop V8 Supercar Series 27th Holden VE Commodore Eggleston Motorsport

Complete Bathurst 1000 results

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Year Team Car Co-driver Position Laps
2006 Dick Johnson Racing Ford Falcon BA   Alex Davison 9th 161
2007 WPS Racing Ford Falcon BF   Michael Caruso 15th 159
2011 Kelly Racing Holden Commodore VE   Cam Waters DNF 95

Complete Bathurst 24 Hour results

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Year Team Co-drivers Car Class Laps Overall
position
Class
position
2002   Donut King Racing   Tony Quinn
  Tony Alford
  John Grounds
Nissan 200SX Spec-R 5 426 18th 6th
2003   VIP Petfoods Racing   Tony Quinn
  Klark Quinn
  Marcus Marshall
Porsche 996 GT3 Cup B 495 6th 2nd

Complete Bathurst 12 Hour results

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The Class I-winning MARC Focus GTC of Grant Denyer, Adam Gowans, Garry Jacobson and Andrew Miedecke at the 2014 Liqui Moly Bathurst 12 Hour
Year Team Co-drivers Car Class Laps Overall
position
Class
position
2007   Subaru Australia   Chris Alajajian
  Neil Crompton
Subaru Impreza WRX Sti Spec C B 248 5th 3rd
2008   VIP Petfoods Racing   Tony Quinn
  Klark Quinn
Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX A 253 2nd 2nd
2009   VIP Petfoods Racing   Tony Quinn
  Klark Quinn
Mitsubishi Lancer RS Evo IX C 98 DNF
2014   MARC Cars Australia Pty Ltd   Adam Gowans
  Garry Jacobson
  Andrew Miedecke
MARC Focus GTC I 268 15th 1st
2015   Peter Conroy Motorsport   Tony Bates
  Peter Conroy
Porsche 997 GT3 Cup B 36 DNF
2016   Maranello Motorsport   Tony D'Alberto
  Mika Salo
  Toni Vilander
Ferrari 458 GT3 AP 63 DNF
2017   Keltic Racing   Klark Quinn
  Tony Quinn
  Andrew Waite
McLaren 650S GT3 AAM 95 DNF
2018   MARC Cars Australia   Garry Jacobson
  Tyler Everingham
MARC Mazda 3 V8 I 244 25th 2nd
2020   Trofeo Motorsport   Dean Canto
  Liam Talbot
  Marcel Zalloua
Lamborghini Huracán GT3 S 300 19th 4th
2022   Wall Racing   Tony D'Alberto
  David Wall
  Adrian Deitz
Lamborghini Huracán GT3 Evo APA 286 5th 5th
2023   Wall Racing   Tony D'Alberto
  David Wall
  Adrian Deitz
Lamborghini Huracán GT3 Evo S 70 DNF
2024   Wall Racing   Tony D'Alberto
  David Wall
  Adrian Deitz
Lamborghini Huracán GT3 Evo 2 S 273 12th 1st

Complete Bathurst 6 Hour results

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Year Team Co-drivers Car Class Laps Overall
position
Class
position
2021   Keltic Racing   Tony Quinn
  Tim Miles
Ford Mustang GT A2 29 DNF
2022   Keltic Racing   Tony Quinn Ford Mustang GT A2 128 8th 1st
2023   Local Legends   Tony Quinn Ford Mustang Mach 1 A2 112 7th 1st
2024   Game Over   Tony Quinn
  Ryder Quinn
Ford Mustang Mach 1 A2 99 DNF

Personal life

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Denyer was born in Gosford, New South Wales.[29] After the separation of his parents at the age of 13, he moved to Hallam, Victoria, and attended the multicultural Hallam High School. Grant spent his holidays at the Denyer family farm at Ariah Park, New South Wales.

He is married to TV producer Cheryl Rogers, who is the founder of Mummy Time. They have three daughters.[30][31][32][33]

2008 injury

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On 17 September 2008, Denyer injured his back whilst participating in a monster truck promotional event. He suffered a compressed fracture of the lower vertebrae,[3] and was taken by ambulance to Wollongong Hospital.[34]

The accident occurred while Denyer was in training for the Monster Truck Championships, driving a monster truck at Groundz Precinct, Dapto.[34] After practising a jump over five cars in the truck, Denyer removed his foot too soon from the accelerator which caused the vehicle to land heavily; his lower vertebrae was broken in eight places. He was moved to a Sydney hospital, and his recovery took months. He was reported as saying that his injury had reduced his rather short size by 1 cm.[34][35]

Denyer was then moved into intensive care, but there were no signs of any nerve damage or serious injuries, so he was back on the air to host Australia's Got Talent in 2009; however, he did not return to It Takes Two in May.

Controversies

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In 2017, Denyer was banned from appearing on the radio stations Triple M and KIIS 106.5 after he used a story told by former rugby league player Matthew Johns on Triple M as his own an hour later on KISS 106.5.[36] On the Triple M show The Grill Team, on which Denyer was a guest, Johns recounted about how he tried playing the board game Test Match with his children. Denyer later appeared on The Kyle and Jackie O Show on KIIS where he repeated the tale as his own. Johns later expressed his dismay to Kyle Sandilands on The Kyle and Jackie O Show and both hosts agreed to ban Denyer from ever appearing on either station.[37] Later on Twitter, Denyer admitted to stealing Johns' joke and changing the punchline, with The Kyle and Jackie O Show Twitter account posting a mocking reply to him.[38]

Denyer's 2018 Gold Logie win has proved controversial with people (including Russell Crowe) believing he only won because of Tom Gleeson's campaign.[39] Gleeson has denied these suggestions.[40]

References

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  1. ^ "Grant Denyer". IMDb. Retrieved 22 October 2017.
  2. ^ "Grant Denyer with the 2018 Gold Logie". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 2 July 2018.
  3. ^ a b Huntsdale, Justin (27 September 2010). "The rise (and crash) and rise of Grant Denyer". ABC Western Plains. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 30 December 2010.
  4. ^ "Guiness World Record Holder".
  5. ^ (16 January 2015) "Family Feud host Grant Denyer in talks with Channel 10 to do an extra prime time TV show" Archived 13 February 2015 at the Wayback Machine
  6. ^ a b Clune, Richard (24 January 2010). "Denyer granted new Sunrise". The Sunday Telegraph. Retrieved 30 December 2010.
  7. ^ Halliwell, Elle (28 March 2013). "Grant Denyer quits Seven breakfast show Sunrise". Adelaide Now. Retrieved 2 April 2013.
  8. ^ Grant Denyer to host Iron Chef Australia | The Age 10 September 2010. Retrieved 28 August 2013
  9. ^ Grant Denyer quits Million Dollar Minute. Simon Reeve to host, TV Tonight, 29 November 2013
  10. ^ "Under pressure: can Grant Denyer's Family Feud revive Ten's fortunes?", Sydney Morning Herald (Australia), 27 June 2014.
  11. ^ "Grant Denyer on Sunrise role: 'I thought I was invincible and I f***ed up'" Archived 13 February 2015 at the Wayback Machine (15 January 2014)
  12. ^ "Grant Denyer | I'm A Celebrity...Get Me Out Of Here!". 10 play. Retrieved 19 February 2024.
  13. ^ "I'm a Celeb Australia 2021: All of this year's stars revealed". News.com.au. 4 January 2021.
  14. ^ "A shot at the crown: Grant Denyer in line to be King of the Jungle". The Canberra Times. 29 January 2021. Retrieved 19 February 2024.
  15. ^ "The Amazing Race Australia Celebrity Edition: Meet The 11 Teams". 10Play. 9 June 2023. Retrieved 9 June 2023.
  16. ^ Baker, Danica (6 October 2023). "Interview: Grant Denyer was 'completely bedridden' for 7 weeks after The Amazing Race". Chattr. Retrieved 29 October 2023.
  17. ^ a b Laidlaw, Kyle (24 October 2023). "GRANT DENYER returns to the 6pm timeslot to host DEAL OR NO DEAL on CHANNEL 10 in 2024". TV Blackbox. Retrieved 3 January 2024.
  18. ^ a b "Deal Or No Deal Returns in 2024, Hosted By Grant Denyer". Paramount Networks UK & Australia. 24 October 2023. Retrieved 3 January 2024.
  19. ^ a b Knox, David (9 September 2018). "TEN confirms variety show scoops". TV Tonight. Retrieved 9 September 2018.
  20. ^ "2006 Fuglies" Archived 19 September 2006 at the Wayback Machine, Fugly Awards, retrieved 2006
  21. ^ Grant Denyer Resume Archived 13 February 2015 at the Wayback Machine
  22. ^ Idato, Michael (9 May 2016). "Gold Logie 2016 winner Waleed Aly stuns with powerful speech". The Age. Fairfax Media. Retrieved 23 August 2016.
  23. ^ Naughton, Julia (9 May 2016). "Logie Awards 2016: All the Winners". The Huffington Post Australia. The Huffington Post Australia Pty Ltd. Retrieved 23 August 2016.
  24. ^ "Can Grant Denyer save Em Rusciano's struggling radio show?". NewsComAu. Retrieved 8 December 2017.
  25. ^ Elshawarby, Nadia (3 October 2019). "Grant Denyer and Yvie Jones to Host 2Day FM Breakfast Show". Retrieved 5 October 2019.
  26. ^ "Driving Home for Christmas - single". iTunes Australia. 7 December 2018. Retrieved 7 December 2018.
  27. ^ Bannon, John (27 January – 2 February 2010). "Denyer gives it away". Auto Action (1375). Sydney: ACP Magazines: 7.
  28. ^ Grant Denyer - Driver Database
  29. ^ "Grant Denyer's History" at official website.
  30. ^ "Sun rises on a perfect wedding for Grant Denyer". Herald Sun. 26 February 2010. Retrieved 30 December 2010.
  31. ^ Mills, Amy (22 November 2010). "Grant Denyer's baby surprise". New Idea. Archived from the original on 24 November 2010. Retrieved 30 December 2010.
  32. ^ "Grant Denyer set to be a father again". The Daily Telegraph. 16 April 2015. Retrieved 17 April 2015.
  33. ^ "BREAKING NEWS: Grant and Chezzi Denyer announce they're expecting their third child together". 11 August 2020.
  34. ^ a b c Devlyn, Darren (18 September 2008). "Grant Denyer injured as stunt misfires". Herald Sun. Retrieved 19 September 2008.
  35. ^ Field, Katherine (18 September 2008). "Denyer's recovery to take months". The Australian. Archived from the original on 18 September 2008. Retrieved 19 September 2008.
  36. ^ Weir, James (27 January 2017). "Grant Denyer busted and shamed for 'stealing' Matty Johns' story and recycling it on Kyle & Jackie O". News.com.au. Retrieved 3 February 2017.
  37. ^ Jepsen, Belinda (27 January 2017). "Grant Denyer has been "banned" from two top radio shows amid accusations of "plagiarism"". MSN. Retrieved 3 February 2017.
  38. ^ Jepsen, Belinda (27 January 2017). "Grant Denyer has admitted he "stole" another host's material". MamaM!a. Retrieved 3 February 2017.
  39. ^ The Fix website.
  40. ^ TVTonight.com.au website.
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Media offices
Preceded by
originator
Fifi Box
Sunrise
Weather presenter

2004–2006
January 2010 – March 2013
Succeeded by
Preceded by
Program started
Million Dollar Minute
Host

2013
Succeeded by
Preceded by Family Feud
Host

2014–2018
2020
Succeeded by
Axed
Preceded by
Program started
All Star Family Feud
Host

2016–2018
Succeeded by
Axed
Preceded by Dancing with the Stars
Host

2019–2020
Succeeded by
Axed
Preceded by
Program started
Celebrity Name Game
Host

2019–2020
Succeeded by
Axed
Preceded by Deal or No Deal
Host

2024-current
Succeeded by
Incumbent
Sporting positions
Preceded by
Grant Sherrin
Australian Endurance Championship
Champion

2016
Succeeded by
Awards and achievements
Preceded by Mike Kable Young Gun Award
2005
Succeeded by
Preceded by
Ada Nicodemou & Aric Yegudkin
Dancing with the Stars (Australia) winner
Season 4 (Early 2006 with Amanda Garner)
Succeeded by
Anthony Koutoufides & Natalie Lowe
Preceded by Gold Logie Award
Most Popular Personality on Australian Television

2018
for All Star Family Feud and Family Feud (Network Ten)
Succeeded by