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]

Ryan Bridge
BornNovember 1987 (age 36)
CitizenshipNew Zealander
OccupationBroadcaster
Years active2010– present
EmployerWarner Bros. Discovery New Zealand

Early life edit

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 edit

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 is expected to host an upcoming current affairs show, Bridge on Three.[18] This show will be replacing The Project which finished in December 2023.[19]

Personal life edit

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 edit

  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.