Ryan Bridge

Ryan Bridge
BornNovember 1987 (age 37)
CitizenshipNew Zealander
OccupationBroadcaster
Years active2010– present
EmployerWarner Bros. Discovery New Zealand

Ryan Bridge (born November 1987)[1][2] is a New Zealand broadcaster who previously co-hosted the breakfast show AM on Three alongside Melissa Chan-Green and Bernadine Oliver-Kerby.[2][3][4] Before this he previously hosted the Ryan Bridge Drive Show on Magic Talk radio.[5][6][7]

Early life

Bridge grew up in the Kāpiti Coast District, where his first job was delivering newspapers.[8] He was involved with the Youth Council and served as Youth MP for Darren Hughes.[9]

Career

When Bridge was 22 years old, he began working as a political reporter in the press gallery of the New Zealand Parliament.[10][11][12] He was also Three's Beijing correspondent and business newsreader for Morning Report on Radio New Zealand.[12][13]

Bridge has also worked on Three's previous current affairs show Story as a reporter and presenter, as well as Newshub on the same channel.[12]

In 2021, Bridge replaced Duncan Garner on AM, a New Zealand morning breakfast show.[14][15] He left the show in December 2023.[16][17]

Bridge had been expected in late 2023 to host an upcoming current affairs show, Bridge on Three.[18] It had been intended to replace The Project which finished in December 2023, although plans to launch the show fell through due to the closure of Newshub in 2024.[19]

Personal life

Bridge lives with his partner Fergy along with their beagle Fanny.[11][20] It wasn't until 2021, when previous AM co-host Mark Richardson questioned his sexuality on live television that Bridge shared publicly that he was gay.[11][21][22] In June 2023 Bridge announced he was engaged.[23]

References

  1. ^ Rohan, Lillie (8 December 2023). "Ryan Bridge to leave AM: Co-star Melissa Chan-Green's tribute as he moves to new 7pm show". New Zealand Herald.
  2. ^ a b Jack, Amberleigh (16 December 2023). "Ryan Bridge looking ahead to wedding bells and a new show in 2024". Stuff. Retrieved 7 January 2024.
  3. ^ "Ryan Bridge". Newshub. Retrieved 28 May 2023.
  4. ^ "Ryan Bridge". www.nzonscreen.com. NZ On Screen. Retrieved 28 May 2023.
  5. ^ "Newsroom | Independent New Zealand news and current affairs". Newsroom. Retrieved 28 May 2023.
  6. ^ Nealon, Sarah (15 September 2021). "The AM Show host Ryan Bridge reveals debt to Duncan Garner". Stuff. Retrieved 28 May 2023.
  7. ^ Ward, Tara (17 September 2021). "It's official: The AM Show has gone just as bonkers as Breakfast". The Spinoff. Retrieved 28 May 2023.
  8. ^ Harvey, Kerry (12 May 2021). "Ryan Bridge talks tears, joy and being outed on national television". Stuff.
  9. ^ "Fourth Youth Parliament, 2004" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 13 December 2004.
  10. ^ "Youth press gallery coverage of Parliament". RNZ. 7 July 2010. Retrieved 28 May 2023.
  11. ^ a b c "'Free to be me': Broadcaster Ryan Bridge on being outed as gay on live TV". The New Zealand Herald. 28 May 2023. Retrieved 28 May 2023.
  12. ^ a b c apac-admin. "New Zealand Law Awards". www.lawawards.co.nz. Retrieved 28 May 2023.
  13. ^ Sowman-Lund, Stewart (15 April 2023). "For the first time in 20 years, Ingrid Hipkiss is the 'new girl'". The Spinoff. Retrieved 28 May 2023.
  14. ^ Bevan, Darren (5 September 2021). "Ryan Bridge to replace Duncan Garner as AM Show host". Stuff. Retrieved 28 May 2023.
  15. ^ "AM Show's Ryan Bridge brought to tears reliving moment Mark Richardson outed his sexuality live on air". Newshub. Retrieved 28 May 2023.
  16. ^ Jack, Amberleigh (14 December 2023). "Matty McLean and Ryan Bridge sign off from breakfast television: 'I will miss you terribly'". Stuff. Retrieved 7 January 2024.
  17. ^ "Peter Williams to leave Magic Talk". RNZ. 6 September 2021. Retrieved 28 May 2023.
  18. ^ "They lured a legend to NZ, now a TV firm is in spotlight over bills; 7pm show's new name". NZ Herald. 20 February 2024. Archived from the original on 15 February 2024. Retrieved 19 February 2024.
  19. ^ reporters, Stuff (7 December 2023). "Ryan Bridge to replace The Project with new 7pm show". Stuff. Retrieved 7 January 2024.
  20. ^ "AM show's Ryan Bridge: 'Getting this job came out of the blue'". NZ Herald. 28 May 2023. Retrieved 28 May 2023.
  21. ^ "Watch: 'What have I done!' – AM Show host in tears, Richardson apologises". NZ Herald. 28 May 2023. Retrieved 28 May 2023.
  22. ^ Bevan, Darren (23 October 2019). "'This is as bad as I've ever felt': Mark Richardson accidentally outs Ryan Bridge on air". Stuff. Retrieved 28 May 2023.
  23. ^ "Kiwi TV news star announces 'risky' engagement live on air". NZ Herald. 12 June 2023. Retrieved 12 June 2023.