'I HAD TO DRAW THE LINE'

The TV star's turned the lens on himself as he battles another addiction

- Rebekah Hebenton

The lights were bright, the audience buzzing and for the first time in more than 18 months, Paddy Gower was back behind the desk of Paddy Gower Has Issues.

But despite his reputation as one of the country's most fearless broadcasters, he wasn't afraid to admit he was nervous. This was more than just another TV show: it was the result of months of risk, resilience and an unwavering belief that his hit current affairs show deserved a second life.

"Filming was a little emotional, but now that it has been released, it's really emotional because it's becoming more real," admits the 48-year-old.

"People are watching it and commenting, and it's honestly the best feeling.

I missed it more than I realised." Paddy had just started work on a new season of Issues when Newshub suddenly collapsed in early 2024. He was one of hundreds of journalists left without work.

But he wasn't ready to let the show die.

Determined that Issues should live on, he approached Warner Bros. Together with his coproducer Jon Bridges, he took a leap of faith: they formed their own production company and applied for funding from NZ On Air.