Osher Günsberg

Andrew G
File:Andrewg.jpg Andrew G
Birth name	Andrew Jonas Günsberg
Born	1974 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
Website	AndrewG.tv

Andrew Jonas Günsberg (born 1974), popularly known as Andrew G, is an Australian TV 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, and is the current anchor of Network Ten's live New Year's Eve telecast.

Early life

Andrew was born in London, England in 1974 to a Czech father and Lithuanian mother. His paternal grandfather, Jacob Günsberg, was a Czech of Ashkenazi Jewish descent, while his wife (Andrew's paternal grandmother) was a Czech Catholic.

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 Australia's biggest chart countdown, Take40 Australia with Alexis Savaidis which airs on nearly 100 stations nationwide.

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, snowy mountains 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. He is currently hosting the sixth season of the show.

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. 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..

He co-hosted 2007 New Years Eve Celebrations alongside Kim Watkins & Fuzzy.

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", and mistakes him for Australia cricketer Nathan Bracken, who also has long fair hair.

Personal life

Andrew became an Australian citizen in 2000. Andrew enjoys photography, surfing, snow-boarding, Scrabble and poker. He is married to Israeli actress and producer Noa Tishby.

External links

• Andrew G at IMDb
• Andrew G's Australian Idol Biography
• Take40
• Andrew's MySpace
• Official Blog
• WHO.com Australian Idol blog
• MCM Entertainment