Jeremy Wells
Encyclopedia
Jeremy "Newsboy" Wells (born in 1977) is a New Zealand
television
personality, most famous as the host of TVNZ's satirical news show, Eating Media Lunch
. He is also a co-host of The Saturday Special radio show with Steve Simpson on New Zealand radio station bFM.
Wells was born in Auckland
, New Zealand, the son of sports administrator Sir John Wells. He was expelled from the exclusive Wanganui Collegiate School
and later attended St Paul's Collegiate
in Hamilton. Wells first appeared on television in 1997 on MTV
. He later appeared with Mikey Havoc
, as Newsboy, on Havoc's television show. After the conclusion of Havoc, Wells and Havoc went their separate ways - Havoc fronting his own show on TV3 and Wells his for TVNZ, Eating Media Lunch. He also presented the satirical The Unauthorised History Of New Zealand in 2005 and an episode of Intrepid Journeys
in 2007. Wells' impassive, deadpan style has been called "newsnight-of-the-living-dead" by the New Zealand Listener
, though the same article claimed "Wells would be compelling viewing reading the phone book."
He became notorious in November 2003 when an episode of Eating Media Lunch featured a spoof of the smug current affairs
programme Target
, who often would use hidden cameras to catch less than reliable tradepersons or workers. In it, the spoof depicted two actors as Target camera technicians in someone else's home caught on hidden camera in various degrading acts such as masturbation
, defecation
(on a kitchen stove), injecting and smoking drugs and phone sex
. Also, one technician stripped naked and covered himself with cling wrap, and later urinated
on the other technician. The spoof attracted several complaints from viewers, however in March 2004 the BSA (Broadcasting Standards Authority
) of New Zealand found the episode had not breached any guidelines.
Wells and Havoc satirically labelled Gore
the gay capital of New Zealand in 1999, during Havoc and Newsboy's Sell-out Tour. Returning to the town to cover the 2008 election
, Wells was confronted by a group of fifteen men angry over the comments. The group started harassing him at a petrol station, and followed him back to his hotel room. They harassed him for ninety minutes and he was trapped in his hotel room until the police were called.
Wells spent 23 days travelling with the 108 members of the NZSO in October 2010 and produced a documentary The Grand Tour, a product of his own interest in classical music. The programme contains several interviews with the musicians and support crew, including Dame Kiri Te Kanawa.
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
television
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
personality, most famous as the host of TVNZ's satirical news show, Eating Media Lunch
Eating Media Lunch
Eating Media Lunch was a satirical New Zealand news show hosted by Jeremy Wells. It aired on TV 2 and online on from 2003 to 2008. The show was frequently controversial during its run.- Notable episodes :...
. He is also a co-host of The Saturday Special radio show with Steve Simpson on New Zealand radio station bFM.
Wells was born in Auckland
Auckland
The Auckland metropolitan area , in the North Island of New Zealand, is the largest and most populous urban area in the country with residents, percent of the country's population. Auckland also has the largest Polynesian population of any city in the world...
, New Zealand, the son of sports administrator Sir John Wells. He was expelled from the exclusive Wanganui Collegiate School
Wanganui Collegiate School
Wanganui Collegiate School is an independent, coeducational, day and boarding secondary school in Wanganui, New Zealand. The school is affiliated to the Anglican church.-About:...
and later attended St Paul's Collegiate
St Paul's Collegiate School
This article relates to an Anglican school. For a Catholic secondary school with a similar name see: St Paul's College in Ponsonby, AucklandSt Paul's Collegiate School is an independent Anglican secondary school in Hamilton, New Zealand...
in Hamilton. Wells first appeared on television in 1997 on MTV
MTV
MTV, formerly an initialism of Music Television, is an American network based in New York City that launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs....
. He later appeared with Mikey Havoc
Mikey Havoc
Mikey Havoc , also known colloquially as Havo is a New Zealand media personality.-Music:Roberts was the lead singer of the New Zealand glam metal group Push Push, best known for its 1991 number one singles "What My Baby Likes" and "Trippin'". He is now a house music DJ...
, as Newsboy, on Havoc's television show. After the conclusion of Havoc, Wells and Havoc went their separate ways - Havoc fronting his own show on TV3 and Wells his for TVNZ, Eating Media Lunch. He also presented the satirical The Unauthorised History Of New Zealand in 2005 and an episode of Intrepid Journeys
Intrepid Journeys
Intrepid Journeys is a New Zealand television series, which screens on TV ONE. Making its debut in 2003, the show focuses on New Zealand "celebrities" who travel over to exotic countries to see the country's history, culture and people....
in 2007. Wells' impassive, deadpan style has been called "newsnight-of-the-living-dead" by the New Zealand Listener
New Zealand Listener
The New Zealand Listener is a New Zealand magazine. First published in 1939 and edited by Oliver Duff and the Monte Holcroft it originally had a monopoly on the publication of of upcoming television and radio programmes. In the 1980s it lost its monopoly on the publication of upcoming television...
, though the same article claimed "Wells would be compelling viewing reading the phone book."
He became notorious in November 2003 when an episode of Eating Media Lunch featured a spoof of the smug current affairs
Current affairs (news format)
Current Affairs is a genre of broadcast journalism where the emphasis is on detailed analysis and discussion of news stories that have recently occurred or are ongoing at the time of broadcast....
programme Target
Target (New Zealand TV series)
Target is a New Zealand consumer advice show. It's hosted by Jeanette Thomas and Brooke Howard-Smith. The show has run for 11 seasons and remains one of New Zealand's highest rated factual programs and has won 1 Qantas Media Award-Hidden Camera Trials:...
, who often would use hidden cameras to catch less than reliable tradepersons or workers. In it, the spoof depicted two actors as Target camera technicians in someone else's home caught on hidden camera in various degrading acts such as masturbation
Masturbation
Masturbation refers to sexual stimulation of a person's own genitals, usually to the point of orgasm. The stimulation can be performed manually, by use of objects or tools, or by some combination of these methods. Masturbation is a common form of autoeroticism...
, defecation
Defecation
Defecation is the final act of digestion by which organisms eliminate solid, semisolid or liquid waste material from the digestive tract via the anus. Waves of muscular contraction known as peristalsis in the walls of the colon move fecal matter through the digestive tract towards the rectum...
(on a kitchen stove), injecting and smoking drugs and phone sex
Phone sex
Phone sex is a type of virtual sex that refers to sexually explicit conversation between or other persons via telephone, especially when at least one of the participants masturbates or engages in sexual fantasy...
. Also, one technician stripped naked and covered himself with cling wrap, and later urinated
Urine
Urine is a typically sterile liquid by-product of the body that is secreted by the kidneys through a process called urination and excreted through the urethra. Cellular metabolism generates numerous by-products, many rich in nitrogen, that require elimination from the bloodstream...
on the other technician. The spoof attracted several complaints from viewers, however in March 2004 the BSA (Broadcasting Standards Authority
Broadcasting Standards Authority
The Broadcasting Standards Authority is a New Zealand Crown Entity created by the Broadcasting Act 1989 to develop and uphold standards of broadcasting for radio, free-to-air and pay television.The main functions of the BSA are:...
) of New Zealand found the episode had not breached any guidelines.
Wells and Havoc satirically labelled Gore
Gore, New Zealand
Gore is a town, surrounding borough, and district in the Southland region of the South Island of New Zealand.-Geography:The Gore District has a land area of 1,251.62 km² and a resident population of...
the gay capital of New Zealand in 1999, during Havoc and Newsboy's Sell-out Tour. Returning to the town to cover the 2008 election
New Zealand general election, 2008
The 2008 New Zealand general election was held on 8 November 2008 to determine the composition of the 49th New Zealand parliament. The conservative National Party, headed by its Parliamentary leader John Key, won a plurality of votes and seats, ending 9 years of government dominated by the social...
, Wells was confronted by a group of fifteen men angry over the comments. The group started harassing him at a petrol station, and followed him back to his hotel room. They harassed him for ninety minutes and he was trapped in his hotel room until the police were called.
Wells spent 23 days travelling with the 108 members of the NZSO in October 2010 and produced a documentary The Grand Tour, a product of his own interest in classical music. The programme contains several interviews with the musicians and support crew, including Dame Kiri Te Kanawa.