The show airs every Sunday at 8.30am on TVNZ 2 and has segments such as Turtle Town, Fancy Feeds, and Gaming with Grandpa. It has no adverts, due to the Broadcasting Act 1989 which states that no commercial advertising can be shown on New Zealand television between 6am and noon on Sundays.
History
What Now (alternatively titled as What Now? or WN) was created in 1981 by TVNZ producer Rex Simpson before he left the state broadcaster in 1988 to set up a children's department for then upcoming new channel, TV3.[1]
The show was originally half an hour in duration and screened on Saturday mornings on TVNZ 1 between 10-10.30am. The original cast in the first year were Steve Hooper along with four children, Merryn Pugh, Richard Hillock, Oliver Huggins and Lucy Briant (and Murdoch the dog). According to Rex Simpson at the time the "whole idea of the programme [was] to create healthy leisure attitudes"[2] and followed on from the template set by his previous children's show, How's That?, of introducing children to fun and educational activities (and which had been hosted by Stu Dennison the previous year in 1980). For their scripted scenes Steve and the children would interact in a clubhouse set (recorded in TVNZ's Christchurch studio), and these would be interspersed with externally-filmed games and activity ideas, or skits by comedic character Murray Slack (portrayed by comedian Jon Gadsby in 1981, and then the next year by actor Tony Wahren).
For the 1982 series Lucy Briant and Oliver Huggins were retained as part of the cast but five new children were introduced - Carol Hoy, Jeffrey White, Debbie Matoe, Scott Flanagan and Adrian Sexton. Other segments were also added to the format such as illustrated comic book character Captain Leisure (drawn by artist Ashley Smith), and a "New Games Competition" co-presented by Peter Williams and Yvonne Moore.[3]
In 1983 the programme format was revamped again and new solo presenter Steve Parr was brought in to anchor the show, with the timeslot shifting to 8.25-9.30am. While sitting behind a studio desk Steve Parr introduced segments covering morning keep-fit exercises, sketches involving recurring characters such as complaining old man Clive Grumble (portrayed by Jim Hopkins), simple recipes by Alison Holst, trivia from Frank Flash (Alasdair Kincaid), law and safety with Constable Keith and Sniff (a puppet police dog), nationwide talent quest "Starbound", and a serialised interactive detective series called "The Retrievers", interspersed with regular cartoons. The opening theme song used for the show from the mid 1980s to early 1990s was Get Out of Your Lazy Bed, by Matt Bianco.[4]
In 1984 the timeslot again changed from 8.30–10am, and then in July 1985 onwards increased to a whole two hours duration, screening from 8-10am. When Steve Parr left the show at the end of 1984, after two years as the main presenter, the number of hosts also increased, usually to three, beginning with Danny Watson (from Spot On) joining in April 1985. Michelle Bracey, who had been part of show segments the year before in 1984, became a more prominent co-presenter and Frank Flash was given a central comedic manic role. When Michelle left the show, she was succeeded by Michèle A'Court in April 1987.
During the Steve Parr years onwards the show changed from being pre-recorded to live broadcast, and comedy sketches, interactive phone calls and competitions with the viewing audience, plus magazine-style segments going out and about, all became a more central part of the format. The style remained this way for many years, as hosts evolved and were replaced, until today where the format now involves live audiences of crowds of children, but still is closely faithful with the core concept established early on.[5]
In November of 1989 the show moved channels to TVNZ 2 and then in 1996 began screening on Sunday mornings. An after school version of What Now, What Now PM, also ran on TVNZ 2 during the week, between 1997 and 2002.
The weekdays version of What Now became its own separate show known as WNTV. First hosted by Carolyn Taylor and a face in a computer screen played by Mikey Carpenter. Later the show changed dramatically, but kept the same WNTV name. It became a drama showing behind the scenes of a children's afternoon magazine show. This was hosted by Antonia Prebble and Tom Hern, and featured several other characters. Anna Allbury and Jo Tuapawa featured as reporters.[citation needed]
The What Now show was moved to TVNZ's Avalon studios in Lower Hutt in 1999 until TVNZ shut down its Children's Department at the end of 2003. What Now the show was then brought back to Christchurch in 2004 to be produced by an independent company Whitebait Productions, headed by Janine Morrell-Gunn and Jason Gunn. What Now has been funded by NZ On Air since NZOA's inception in 1989; prior to that it was funded by TVNZ.
In 2004 the afternoon show WNTV was cancelled and replaced with the old children's afternoon TV show Studio 2 produced by Ian Taylor and Taylormade Productions. Although Taylormade was based in Dunedin, Studio 2 was produced live to air at TVNZ's Auckland studios.
In 2024 What Now halted its live studio production for the first time in its history. The show announced itself as "digital first" with the aim of growing it's Youtube subscriber base to reflect the shift in viewing habits of its young audience.[6] 2024 also saw the return of Christopher Kirk as host.
Various programme partnerships over the years have seen What Now promoting 'healthy eating healthy action', water safety and old-fashioned letter writing amongst many other things. What Now has a long-standing association with the Weet-Bix Kiwi Kids Tryathlon, and with Sport and Recreation New Zealand whose 'Push Play' message encourages children to be physically active.
Early What Now presenters were also credited as writers. They were people like Michele A'Court, Danny Watson, Al Kincaid, Michelle Bracey, Simon Barnett and Catherine McPherson, some of whom have gone on to roles as directors and writers. A more recent presenter who made a significant behind-the-scenes contribution was Anthony Samuels, who also trained as a director.[citation needed]
Off-screen personnel who have shaped What Now over the years are many. They include camera operator and director Alan Henderson (also the brains behind Jason Gunn's sidekick Thingee), Directors Keith Tyler-Smith, Bill de Friez, Peter Verstappen, Mike Rehu, Brian Wickstead, Mark Owers, Mike Ritchie, Jason Gunn, Richard Hansen, Matt Barrett, Kerry DuPont and Kingsley Hockley. Producers include Richard Driver, Mike Rehu, Tony Palmer, Anne Williams, Emma Martini(Gribble), Reuben Davidson, Jo Eade, Adam Percival and Executive Producer Janine Morrell-Gunn.
Current presenters
Host
Role
Duration
Chris Kirk
Studio host
2015-2020, 2024-Present
Previous hosts and segment presenters
Steve Hooper 1981 (along with intermediate school-aged children Merryn, Richard, Oliver and Lucy)
Peter Williams and Yvonne Moore 1982 (just for the New Games Competition segment)
Adam Percival 2011–2015 (He was a host in The 4:30 Show that was replaced by The Adam and Eve Show before he left. He later returned to What Now as a Content Producer in 2020 and will be a Creative Producer in 2021.)
Throughout the years, What Now has maintained the use of gunge and foam. Children, celebrities, parents and sometimes the presenters are often the subject of embarrassment in various gunge games. Examples include Happy Feet, Gunge Matters, Target your Teacher and Tug of War and general gunging.[citation needed]
In 2024, What Now performed it's most extreme gunging ever, dropping over 375 litres of gunge from a helicopter onto its host.[8]
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