Jason Gunn (born 26 December 1968) is a New Zealand TV personality, director, and writer. He is best known for co-hosting Dancing With The Stars and The Rich List.
The TV personality is the face of New Zealand children’s television. Many kids grew up watching Jason tell stories on TV with his sidekick Thingee on The Son of a Gunn Show and What Now. He began to host children’s and after-school television in the 80s.
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| Quick Facts | |
| Name: | Jason Kenneth Gunn |
| Born: | 26 December 1968 (age 55 years old) |
| Place of birth: | Christchurch, New Zealand |
| Nationality: | New Zealander |
| Occupation: | Broadcaster, entertainer, director, actor |
| Employer | MediaWorks, TVNZ |
| Spouse: | Janine Morrell-Gunn |
| Children: | Louis Gunn, Faith Gunn, Eve Palmer (step daughter), Grace Palmer (step daughter) |
| Siblings: | Andrew (brother) |
Early Life
Jason Gunn was born on 26 December 1968 in Christchurch, New Zealand. He grew up on Reading Street in Upper Riccarton, Christchurch. He learned a lot from his mother, who is a great storyteller. His father worked at a nearby university.
Career
Jason made his television debut after playing the lead role of Adrian Mole in the touring musical The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole.
Gunn auditioned for a presenting job, and TVNZ offered him a six-week contract with the children’s department. After doing justice to the role, the contract lasted for over 14 years. He became the face of Kiwi children’s television.
The TV personality has hosted long-running programmes such as After School, the Son of a Gunn Show, and What Now, appearing alongside his grey puppet sidekick Thingee. Following the end of Son of a Gunn in 1995, Jason started to host Young Entertainers and Small Talk.
In 2001, TV host Jason Gunn made headlines for appearing in Havoc’s Luxury Suites and Conference Facility. He also joined the cast of voluntary prisoners on Celebrity Treasure Island in 2003.
Together with his wife, Gunn launched the Whitebait Media. He is a writer and director for the local independent production company. In 2003, Whitebait Media took over the production of the Saturday morning show What Now?
Jason won Best Presenter for Dancing With The Stars at the 2007 Air New Zealand Screen Awards.
Gunn hosted the high-rating New Zealand series Dancing with the Stars in 2005. The show pairs celebrities with dancers as they compete for charity. He won the best-presenting awards in 2007, 2008, and 2009 for his performance on Dancing with the Stars.
Readers of TV Guide voted Gunn the funniest person on New Zealand television in 2007. He hosted the game show Wheel of Fortune from 2008 to 2009. He returned onscreen as a presenter of the New Zealand take on the British game show You’re Back in the Room in 2016.
Gunn has also established his presence on the radio. He co-hosted the breakfast show for Classic Hits FM in 2009 and moved to a nationwide networked show alongside Dave Fitzgerald in July 2012. He resigned at the end of 2013, with his last show airing in December 2013.
Jason started working as an afternoon drive show host at More FM but left to pursue his business venture in 2019. He is a noted Patron of the National Youth Theatre Company of New Zealand (NYTC).
Gunn’s passion for storytelling led to his transition to children’s books. He and his brother Andrew wrote Jason Mason and the World’s Most Powerful Itching Powder.
Personal Life
Jason Gunn is married to the children’s television producer Janine Morrell-Gunn. He has four children, two with his wife Louis Gunn and Faith Gunn, and two from his wife’s former marriage, Eve Palmer and Grace Palmer.
Gunn suffered several health scares in the past. He broke his back after tumbling from a wheelie bin in 2016 and had a heart attack in 2017. He lives with his wife and children just out of Christchurch.