Andrew Günsberg
Andrew G
Birth name	Andrew Jonas Günsberg
Born	1973 (age 35–36) London, England, UK
Nationality	British Australian
Years active	1994 - present
Spouse	Noa Tishby
Notable works and roles	Channel V Australian Idol The Con Test Take 40 Australia The Hot Hits Live The Kyle and Jackie O Show
Website	AndrewG.tv

Andrew Jonas Günsberg (born 1973^[1]), popularly known as Andrew G, is an Australian TV and radio presenter who is best known as the host of the reality series Australian Idol. He was also the compere of Network Ten's game show The Con Test, and is the current anchor of Network Ten's live New Year's Eve telecast. He is also a fill-in for Kyle Sandilands on 2Day FM's breakfast program, The Kyle and Jackie O Show and filling in for Charlie Pickering on The 7PM Project.

[edit] Early life

Günsberg was born in London, England in 1973^[2] to a Czech father Michael Günsberg and Lithuanian mother Birutė née Mikužytė^{[citation needed]}.

At four months of age, he moved to Adelaide, South Australia, and then to Brisbane, where he spent most of his youth and attended St. Joseph's College, Gregory Terrace. Günsberg 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 on the weekends, as well as studying for a year at South Brisbane TAFE where he completed an Advanced Diploma of Contemporary Music majoring in performance.

[edit] Bands

After leaving school, Andrew worked his way through music school as a roadie, where he learned many aspects of the music industry. Following this in 1994, Günsberg started performing in bands around the Brisbane scene, such as Feeble's Junky, and later, was in the original line-up of Resin Dogs, playing double bass. Feeble's Junky released two CDs, Panticlerevgator in 1996 and Dive in 1997.

[edit] Radio

At 20, Günsberg started working as a Black Thunder pilot and did on-air mid-dawn shifts for B105 radio station in Brisbane, during which time he bore the nickname Spidey. He filled in for late night announcing shifts, before taking on the role of the regular midnight-dawn announcer. In 1998, he left B105FM to join SAFM for the afternoon shift. It was here that he was first known as Andrew G.^{[citation needed]} He formally hosted the Australian radio chart countdown programme Take40 Australia, which airs on nearly 100 stations nationwide. Günsberg finished with Take40 Australia on 29 November 2009. In December 2009, Günsberg took over from Kyle and Jackie O as host of The Hot Hits Live from LA. In September 2009, he filled-in for controversial breakfast radio presenter Kyle Sandilands on 2Day FM's The Kyle and Jackie O Show along with Dannii Minogue and Brian McFadden.

[edit] Television

[edit] Channel [V]

In 1999, Günsberg 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, Günsberg worked mainly in live broadcasting, 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".

Günsberg 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, snowy mountains and deserts.

Günsberg 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 Günsberg would be leaving Channel [V].^[3]

[edit] Network Ten

Günsberg on the set of Australian Idol

In 2003, Günsberg became co-host (with Channel [V] co-star James Mathison) of Australian Idol on Network Ten. For this role, Günsberg was nominated for the Silver Logie in 2004. After James Mathison announced that he was moving on to other projects, Andrew is currently hosting the seventh season of Australian Idol solo.

Günsberg 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 Günsberg, 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."^[4]

Günsberg was one of the co-hosts of the televised Australia Day-eve celebrations on 25 January 2006. 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 2007, he hosted The Con Test. In February 2007, he appeared as himself on the soap opera Neighbours.^[5].

Since 2007 Günsberg has hosted Network Ten's National New Years Eve Celebrations, alongside Kim Watkins & Fuzzy. He also served as a creative consultant on the production.

Günsberg is also the narrator for Network Ten production, Bondi Rescue.^{[citation needed]}

Günsberg was a contestant in Season 2 Episode 34 of Good News Week that aired on Channel 10 on 2009-09-14^[6].

[edit] Other media

In 2004, Andrew G was named Cleo magazine's "Bachelor of the Year".

In 2005, Günsberg 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).

In The Twelfth Man's "Boned!" comedy album (released in 2006), Andrew G made an appearance teaching the commentators some hip words that the young people use on the streets. The impersonation of Richie Benaud calls him "Andrew V from channel G", and mistakes him for Australia cricketer Nathan Bracken, who also has long fair hair.

[edit] Personal life

Günsberg became an Australian citizen in 2000.^[7] Günsberg enjoys photography^[8], surfing, snow-boarding, Scrabble and poker. He is married to Israeli actress and producer Noa Tishby.^[9][10] He is a vegan.^[11]

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Andrew G at the Internet Movie Database
• Andrew G's Australian Idol Biography
• Take40
• Günsberg's MySpace
• Official Blog
• WHO.com Australian Idol blog
• MCM Entertainment