| Dominic Bowden | |
|---|---|
| Born | 15 December 1977 Auckland, New Zealand |
| Nationality | New Zealander |
| Occupation | Host |
| Years active | 1999–present |
| Spouse | Claire Robbie |
| Website | |
| http://www.dominicbowden.com | |
Dominic Joseph Bowden (born 15 December 1977). is a New Zealand television personality, host, radio and voice actor. He is best known as the host of the reality series New Zealand Idol. Bowden was also the host of TVNZs game shows Are You Smarter than a Ten Year Old? and Dare to Win, which has a similar format to Minute to Win It. Based in Los Angeles, he has hosted the American reality music competition show, The Next Great American Band for Fremantle and Fox. Currently, he is an entertainment correspondent for TVNZ.
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Bowden was born in Auckland, New Zealand. He attended Sacred Heart College, where he had an intense interest in music, playing in the school jazz band and as a member of the Aotea Orchestra, touring Asia and Australia. In his youth, he learned to play clarinet and piano and to read and write music. Bowden is a graduate of the Auckland University of Technology, with a Bachelor of Communication Studies, majoring in Television which he achieved in 2000.
After graduating from AUT, Bowden began hosting the popular Saturday morning Children's television programme, Squirt for TVNZ. Then moved into live television on the weekly late-night magazine style music-show Space, where he stayed for 3 years, interviewing stars as broad as Pink, Bon Jovi and Coldplay on a weekly basis. He also traveled the country with British Popstar, Robbie Williams for a television special, Robbie Williams: Be Here Now.
Bowden, then moved to Australia and into Radio, working as a roving nightly reporter for Austereo, on 2Day FM, under Kyle Sandiland. Then in 2004, it was announced Bowden would return to New Zealand as the sole host of New Zealand Idol for TVNZ. New Zealand Idol catapulted Bowden into one of the country’s most familiar faces. The Idol series one Grand Final was watched by a quarter of the country's population.
During this time, Bowden hosting hie own nightly radio show for MediaWorks Radio, called Most Wanted. He also appeared as a contestant on Celebrity Treasure Island: Series 1 and Shock Treatment. As well as hosting the successful game-shows, Are You Smarter than a Fifth Grader and Dare to Win, which has a similar format to Minute to Win It.
Bowden has worked as a reporter for the magazine news show 20/20 (US television series), traveling to Los Angeles to interview Ryan Seacrest for a television special in New Zealand. Shortly after, Bowden signed with Seacrest's then agent William Morris Endeavor and moving to Los Angeles. He was selected by American Idol executive producers Nigel Lythgoe and Ken Warwick to host "The Next Great American Band."[1]
Bowden has co-hosted the televised Qantas Television Awards, New Zealand Music Awards, Girlfriend Model Search, NZ Color Trophy Awards and the Christmas at St Matthews Music Special. He has also been enlisted as a weekly columnist for the New Zealand Woman's Weekly, New Idea and The TV Guide.
He appeared on Shortland Street's 15th anniversary show. He has done voice over work for Bond and Bond and Burger King as well as appearing in numerous TV commercials.
As an actor, Bowden appeared in the independent feature "The Devil Dared Me To". The film had its world premiere at Austin's "South by Southwest Festival" and received a standing ovation. In addition to his film role, he had small roles on the television series Hercules, Xena and Shortland Street. He also played himself on "Go Girls".
Bowden is married to TV3 reporter Claire Robbie.
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Television Shows (Host)
Television Show reporters/co-host
Game Shows (Contestant)
Other