Clarke Gayford

Clarke Timothy Gayford[2] (born 24 October 1976[1]) is a New Zealand radio and television broadcaster, presenter of the fishing documentary show Fish of the Day. He is the partner and fiancé of New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern.

Clarke Gayford
Gayford in 2017
Partner of the Prime Minister of New Zealand
Assumed role
26 October 2017
Prime MinisterJacinda Ardern
Preceded byMary English
Personal details
Born
Clarke Timothy Gayford

(1976-10-24) 24 October 1976[1]
Gisborne, New Zealand
NationalityNew Zealander
Domestic partnerJacinda Ardern (2013–present)
Children1
ResidencePremier House, Wellington
ProfessionBroadcaster

Education and career

Gayford was raised on a farm outside Gisborne.[3] From the age of 11 he boarded at Palmerston North Boys' High School. In 1995, he matriculated at Otago University to study for a Bachelor of Arts, before transferring to the New Zealand Broadcasting School in Christchurch.[3] While studying at broadcasting school, Gayford successfully pitched student-life show Cow TV (1999) to Dunedin's Channel 9.[4][5]

In 1999, Gayford appeared as a contestant on Treasure Island,[3] a reality television game show. In 2003, he began broadcasting on the C4 music channel, presenting youth programmes. In 2010, Gayford presented the third season of Extraordinary Kiwis, a biographical documentary series.[3] Gayford also presented several radio shows, including morning and afternoon drive time shows on More FM and George FM, respectively.[5]

In 2015, with producer Mike Bhana, Gayford created fishing show Fish of the Day, for Choice TV.[3][6] The documentary series is also broadcast on National Geographic Channel, and has screened in over 35 countries.[3]

He made a guest appearance as himself in the first season 2 episode of Wellington Paranormal.[7]

Personal life

Gayford is the eldest of three siblings.[6] He is the partner of Jacinda Ardern; the couple began dating in 2013.[5] In August 2017, Ardern was elected as Leader of the Labour Party and, following a general election, she became prime minister on 26 October 2017.[5] Gayford has been referred to as the spouse of the prime minister, although the couple are unmarried. He has accompanied Ardern on international visits, including the 2018 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in London, UK.[8]

On 19 January 2018, it was announced that the couple were expecting their first child in June.[9] Their daughter Neve Te Aroha was born on 21 June at 4:45 pm in Auckland City Hospital.[10]

In May 2019, it was reported that he and Ardern were engaged to be married.[11][12]

References
  1. "Clarke Gayford – Genealogy". Geni.com. Retrieved 24 April 2018.
  2. "Prior to dating the PM Clarke Gayford thought Danger was a 'rad' middle name for a child". The New Zealand Herald. 25 June 2018. Retrieved 25 June 2018.
  3. "Clarke Gayford". NZ On Screen. Retrieved 24 April 2018.
  4. "COW TV". Channel 39. 5 January 2011. Retrieved 24 April 2018.
  5. "Who is Jacinda Ardern's TV presenter partner Clarke Gayford?". Stuff.co.nz. 2 August 2017. Retrieved 24 April 2018.
  6. Knight, Kim (17 July 2016). "Clarke Gayford: Jacinda Ardern is the best thing that's ever happened to me". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 24 April 2018.
  7. Ramsey, Teresa (16 October 2019). "Clarke Gayford makes cameo appearance on Wellington Paranormal". Stuff.
  8. Jacobi, Stephen (22 April 2018). "PM's London visit not just 'pure nostalgia'". Radio New Zealand. Retrieved 24 April 2018.
  9. "Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announces pregnancy". The New Zealand Herald. 19 January 2018. Retrieved 24 April 2018.
  10. "It's a girl! Jacinda Ardern gives birth to her first child". Newshub. 21 June 2018. Retrieved 21 June 2018.
  11. "Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern engaged to partner Clarke Gayford". Radio New Zealand. 3 May 2019. Retrieved 3 May 2019.
  12. "Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and Clarke Gayford engaged". New Zealand Herald. 3 May 2019. Retrieved 3 May 2019.
Honorary titles
Preceded by
Mary English		 Spouse of the Prime Minister of New Zealand
2017–present		 Incumbent
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