Jeremy Wells is 49. He was born in Auckland on 19 January 1977, so he turns 50 in January 2027. In October 2026 he is still co-hosting TVNZ’s Seven Sharp with Hilary Barry, hosting the Radio Hauraki breakfast show and playing the Taskmaster in season seven of Taskmaster NZ.
Not many people get three regular jobs out of a nickname. Wells got his from reading the breakfast news on student station 95bFM in 1997, and almost 30 years later “Newsboy” is still one of the most searched phrases next to his name. Below are the questions New Zealanders actually type into Google about him, answered from what he and reliable NZ outlets have said.
How old is Jeremy Wells?
Jeremy Wells was born on 19 January 1977 in Auckland. That makes him 49 as of October 2026, and his 50th birthday falls on 19 January 2027. His height has never been published, so we do not guess it.
Who is Jeremy Wells’ wife?
This is the question asked most often, and the plain answer is that Wells keeps his home life out of the media. His Wikipedia entry, his NZ On Screen biography and his long interviews about his career do not name a wife, partner or children. A first name linked to him in search suggestions has not been confirmed by Wells or by any NZ news outlet we could find, so we do not repeat it. Whether he has children has not been made public either.
Jeremy Wells’ parents, Sir John and Sheryl Wells
His family is better known than he lets on. His father is Sir John Wells, a former merchant banker who chaired Sport and Recreation New Zealand (SPARC) from 2001 to 2009, later sat on the New Zealand Rugby board and was knighted for services to business and sport. His mother, Sheryl Wells, managed the Silver Ferns from 1992 to 2004 and later became president of Netball New Zealand.
Sheryl was the netball team manager when her son made one of his most cringeworthy early TV appearances on Havoc. “I’d say that’s probably one of my most embarrassing moments,” he said of her watching it, in an interview with The Spinoff.
Does Jeremy Wells have a brother?
Yes. John and Sheryl, who married in 1969, have two children, and Wells has talked about playing cricket with his brother when he was about four. His brother is not a public figure.
Why is he called Newsboy?
The name came from 95bFM, where he read the breakfast news after leaving an AUT journalism course. There he met DJ Mikey Havoc, and the pair went to MTV and then TVNZ as Havoc and Newsboy. Their Sell-Out Tour ran for three seasons in the late 1990s. School had not gone smoothly before that: he was expelled from Wanganui Collegiate in sixth form and finished at St Paul’s Collegiate in Hamilton.
Jeremy Wells’ TV shows, year by year
| Year | Show or role |
|---|---|
| 1997 | Breakfast news on 95bFM, first TV appearance on MTV’s Havoc |
| Late 1990s | Havoc and Newsboy’s Sell-Out Tour (TVNZ, three seasons) |
| 2003–2008 | Eating Media Lunch, which won Best Comedy Programme in its final year |
| 2005–2007 | The Unauthorised History of New Zealand; an Intrepid Journeys episode in Libya |
| 2009 | Birdland |
| 2011 | The Grand Tour, a documentary on 23 days touring Europe with the NZSO |
| 2014 | Radio Hauraki breakfast; founding member of the Alternative Commentary Collective |
| 2018–now | Seven Sharp co-host with Hilary Barry |
| 2020–now | Taskmaster NZ, with Paul Williams as his assistant |
Jeremy Wells and Mike Hosking
Wells took over from Mike Hosking on Seven Sharp. TVNZ confirmed the move at the end of January 2018, after Hosking and Toni Street left the show. “It’s nice to be a part of a grown-up, credible, ratings juggernaut,” Wells told Newstalk ZB, adding that he would be “leaning heavily on Hilary’s intelligence, professionalism and pronunciation to get me through.”
Jeremy Wells and Hilary Barry
That pairing with Hilary Barry has now run for more than eight years, including through the 2020 lockdowns. Neither presenter nor TVNZ has announced a change as of October 2026.
Jeremy Wells on Radio Hauraki, from Matt Heath to Manaia Stewart
For a decade the Hauraki breakfast show was Matt and Jerry, with Wells alongside Matt Heath and, for a stretch, Laura McGoldrick. Heath moved to Newstalk ZB in 2024, and in January 2025 Hauraki named Manaia Stewart as Wells’ new breakfast co-host.
Jeremy Wells on Taskmaster NZ season seven
Season seven premiered on TVNZ2 and TVNZ+ on 14 September 2026, with Wells back in the Taskmaster’s chair and Paul Williams again as his assistant. The line-up listed by The Spinoff is Rose Matafeo, Dave Fane, Morgana O’Reilly, Rhys Mathewson and Hoani Hotene. Wells has admitted the judging is not his favourite part. “I really don’t want to judge people if I can avoid it,” he said, and “after it’s all over, I am always slightly relieved.”
Frequently asked questions
Is Jeremy Wells married?
He has not spoken publicly about a marriage, and no NZ news outlet we checked names a wife or partner.
Does Jeremy Wells have children?
That has not been made public.
Who is Jeremy Wells' father?
Sir John Wells, former chair of SPARC and a former New Zealand Rugby board member. His mother is former Silver Ferns manager Sheryl Wells.
When is Jeremy Wells' birthday?
19 January. He was born in 1977.
What school did Jeremy Wells go to?
Wanganui Collegiate, then St Paul’s Collegiate in Hamilton.
