Andrew G
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Andrew Jonas Günsberg (Born 1974), popularly known as Andrew G, is an Australian television and radio presenter who is best known as the co-host of the reality series Australian Idol.
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[edit] Early life
Andrew was born in London, England in 1974 to an English mother and a Swedish father. At four months of age, he moved to Adelaide, Australia, and then to Brisbane, where he spent most of his youth and attended St. Joseph's College, Gregory Terrace, afterwards transfering to Trinity Catholic College. Andrew had an intense interest in music from a young age, playing in school orchestras, and performing in barbershop quartets and school musicals. In his youth, he learned to read and write music, and to play the bass and double bass, attending music school and weekend school, as well as studying for a year at South Brisbane TAFE.
[edit] Bands
After leaving school, Andrew started performing in bands (such as Feeble's Junky, and later, Resin Dogs), and took advantage of opportunities as a roadie, where he learned many technical aspects of the music industry. He has also released 2 CDs.
[edit] Radio
At 20, Andrew started working as a Black Thunder pilot and did on-air mid-dawn shifts for B105 radio station in Brisbane. Four years later, he left B105 to join SAFM.
He currently hosts Take40 Australia which is heard on 92 stations throughout Australia.
[edit] Channel [V]
In 1999, Andrew shot a short video tour of himself on his skateboard and sent it to Channel [V] , resulting in his selection as a host for the station.
For the next seven years, Andrew worked mainly in live broadasting, and hosted the flagship request show, 'By Demand' (later 'whatuwant'), and various late night shows (including "The Joint"). He also hosted a nightly live variety show during the Sydney Olympics of 2000, "Rings of Fire".
Andrew was also involved with Channel [V]'s Bus tours - a show broadcast via satellite from the back of a truck from various locations in Australia. Bands and skaters would perform, and crowds varied in size from several hundred to several thousand. They toured throughout summer around the country, broadcasting from cities, beaches and deserts.
Andrew travelled to Europe and North America in July 2005 to shoot the interview series "Andrew G's Excellent Adventure". Highlights included a ride in the private plane of the Offspring's Dexter Holland to the Vans Warped tour, and seeing Jamiroquai perform to 100,000 in Naples, Italy.
In 2006, it was announced that Andrew would be leaving Channel [V].[1]
[edit] Australian Idol
In 2003, Andrew became co-host (with Channel [V] co-star James Mathison) of Australian Idol. For this role, Andrew was nominated for the Silver Logie in 2004.
[edit] Other appearances
- In 2004, Andrew G was named Cleo magazine's "Bachelor of the Year".
- In 2005, Andrew appeared (with Jackie O) in a television commercial for the Ford Focus, in which he 'forgets' that he has left an iPod on the roof of the vehicle (an exaggerated demonstration of the smoothness of the vehicle's handling).
- Andrew appeared on a celebrity episode of the Australian version of Ready Steady Cook in October 2005. As a committed vegan, his recipe ideas were not extremely well-received by the audience. According to Andrew, the audience's response when he revealed tofu on the menu, was "similar to the look you see on peoples [sic] faces when they view two dogs rooting on the side of the road - puzzled, curious, but all together uncomfortable."[2]
- Andrew was one of the co-hosts of the televised Australia Day-eve celebrations on 25 January 2006.
- He was a contestant on Australia's Brainiest TV Presenter (aired 12 February 2006) in which he came third.
- In October 2006 he was a contestant on the Australian comedy TV Show, Thank God You're Here, and played in "Celebrity Joker Poker", winning $10,000 for charity.
- In February 2007 he will appear as himself on the soap opera Neighbours.
[edit] Trivia
Andrew enjoys skateboarding, surfing, snow-boarding, Scrabble and poker. He also writes and records his own music at home and plays the theremin, and is a vegan.
In 1999, Andrew became an Australian citizen.
He is dating actress Noa Tishby.[3]
[edit] External links
- Andrew G at the Internet Movie Database
- Andrew G's Australian Idol Biography
- Take40
- Andrew's MySpace
- Official Blog
- WHO.com Australian Idol blog
| Australian Idol |
|---|
| Hosts and Judges |
| Andrew G | James Mathison Mark Holden | Marcia Hines | Ian "Dicko" Dickson | Kyle Sandilands |
| Winners |
| Guy Sebastian | Casey Donovan | Kate DeAraugo | Damien Leith |
| Runners-Up |
| Shannon Noll | Anthony Callea | Emily Williams | Jessica Mauboy |
| Seasons |
| Idol 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 |
| Other |
| List of semi finalists | Young Divas | Australian Made: The Hits | List of commercial releases |
