Weekend Rewind: Paul Henry's best on screen moments

In 2015 The Paul Henry Show has now become Paul Henry, with a shift from late night to breakfast, and a multi-platform news and talk show format. Photo / Michael Craig

Opinion

As Paul Henry’s final week of breakfast television comes to a close, NZ On Screen’s Nicky Harrop revisits some of his many memorable screen moments.

It's been a sad week for Paul Henry, and we send our condolences for the loss of his mother, Olive. It's also been his final week hosting his self-titled TV3 breakfast show. A return to our screens is indicated, including guest appearances on TV3's new 7pm show The Project. Whatever else his future holds, there's no doubt he has a wide range of television experience to draw from.

Henry's TV debut came in 1987, presenting game show Every Second Counts. This episode sees him sporting a very 80s suit and white loafers combo, while delivering a series of fairly tame dad jokes - certainly in contrast to some of his more controversial future screen moments.

Watch an episode of Every Second Counts here:

In the early 2000s Henry featured as a panelist on advice show How's Life? hosted by the late Charlotte Dawson. While some might doubt his credentials as an agony aunt, this episode illustrates Henry's not entirely unsympathetic ear. Others might argue, however, that extolling the virtues of bribery, and calling a viewer a "sorry-arse" might not be the most welcome advice.

See Henry in an episode of How's Life? here:

In 2004 Henry took an 'intrepid journey' to Tibet; bringing his straight-talking style to a place he dubbed "a work in destruction". Henry's travels see him visit Potala Palace - once home of the Dalai Lama - and stay at Mount Everest base camp. He urges viewers to visit the country soon, lamenting "Tibet is being snuffed out. This is just going to be another corner of China."

See Intrepid Journeys - Tibet here:

Henry also did a stint presenting documentary/entertainment show This is Your Life. His period as host saw him honour a number of Kiwi celebrities including Jonah Lomu, Mark Inglis and IndyCar star Scott Dixon. Here he surprises bungy jumping entrepreneur AJ Hackett, ambushing him at Auckland Airport with the famous red book and immortal phrase.

Watch This is Your Life - AJ Hackett here:

The year-long run of late night current affairs programme, The Paul Henry Show, began in 2014 - after Henry's failed attempt at co-hosting breakfast television in Australia. The debut episode saw Henry trading banter with then-PM John Key, questioning him on the wisdom of letting son Max beat Barack Obama at golf, and asking him to rate the trustworthiness of Peter Dunne (who, Henry quips "hasn't changed his hair for the last two decades"), Winston Peters, Kim Dotcom and Len Brown.

See an excerpt from the debut episode of The Paul Henry Show here:

In 2015 The Paul Henry Show became Paul Henry, with a shift from late night to breakfast, and a multi-platform news and talk show format. This clip from the show sees Henry once again put John Key in the hot seat, subjecting him to the '9-in-10' challenge, and demanding nine correct answers to general knowledge questions. The prize? A Jeep Cherokee for Ronald McDonald House.

See John Key's '9-in-10' challenge here: