Andrew
G

Andrew
G (right) and friend at Movember
2007 (credit: Patricia - Media Man)
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. He was also
the compere of Network Ten's game show The Con
Test.
Early
life
Andrew
was born in London, England in 1974 to a Lithuanian
mother and a Czech father. 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.
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.
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 aspects of the music industry.
He has also released two CDs.
Radio
At
20, Andrew started working as a Black Thunder
pilot and did on-air mid-dawn shifts for B105
radio station in Brisbane. During this time he
bore the nickname Spidey and also did late night
announcing shifts. Four years later, he left B105
to join SAFM. He currently hosts Take40 Australia.
Television
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 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".
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].
Network Ten
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.
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."
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
(filmed 1 December 2005[3], aired 12 February
2006), in which he came third. In October of 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.
Other
media
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).
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".
Personal
life
Andrew
became an Australian citizen in 2000. Andrew enjoys
skateboarding, surfing, snow-boarding, Scrabble
and poker. He records his own music at home and
plays the theremin. He is a vegan, and is engaged
to actress Noa Tishby. (Credit:
Wikipedia).
Websites
Australian
Idol
Network
Ten
Take40
Australia
Andrew
G MySpace
Andrew
G blog
Profiles
Network
Ten
Celebrities
Bondi
Beach
Channel
Media Man Australia public congratulations for
appearance at Movember
Awards, Luna Park, Sydney
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