Osher Günsberg (born Andrew Günsberg; 29 March 1974), formerly known by the stage name Andrew G, is an Australian television and radio presenter and journalist. He was the host of the reality TV series The Bachelor Australia, The Bachelorette Australia, and Bachelor in Paradise Australia. He is the narrator of the factual TV series Bondi Rescue as well as the host of the music talent show The Masked Singer Australia.

Osher Günsberg
50xp
Günsberg on the set of Australian Idol (c. 2007)
Born
Andrew Günsberg

(1974-03-29) 29 March 1974 (age 50)
London, England, United Kingdom
NationalityAustralian and British
Other namesAndrew G
Occupation(s)Television and radio presenter, journalist
Years active1994–present
EmployerNetwork 10
Known for
Spouses
(m. 2008; div. 2011)
Audrey Griffen
(m. 2016)
Children2
Websitewww.oshergunsberg.com

He is also known for his hosting roles on Channel [V], Australian Idol, Live to Dance on CBS, and radio shows including Take 40 Australia and The Hot Hits. Günsberg also narrated the factual television program Recruits. He was a regular contributor to The Project.

Günsberg in 2006

Early life and education

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Osher Günsberg was born Andrew Günsberg[1] on 29 March 1974 in London, England, to a Czech-Jewish father and a Lithuanian mother. He moved to Australia when he was four months old. He grew up in Brisbane, Queensland.[2]

He developed an interest in music, learning to read and write sheet music as well as play several instruments. He later worked as a roadie, before performing in several Brisbane-based bands.[2]

Music

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Osher was active in the Brisbane band scene between 1994 and 1997, playing electric bass in Feeble's Junky and double bass in Resin Dogs.[3]

Radio

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At 20, Günsberg started working as a "Black Thunder" driver and did on-air midnight-to-dawn shifts for B105 radio station in Brisbane, during which time he bore the nickname "Spidey".[4] He filled in for late-night announcing shifts, before taking on the role of the regular midnight-dawn announcer.[citation needed]

At SAFM he adopted the stage name of "Andrew G", after his program director shortened his surname to its first letter. This change led to confusion between Günsberg and Australian former rugby league footballer for the Brisbane Broncos, Andrew Gee.[citation needed] In 2009, he decided to drop his abbreviated stage name and revert to his full surname.[5]

In December 2009, he launched a re-formatted version of The Hot Hits, bringing the show live every week around Australia from Los Angeles. The show was re-named The Hot Hits Live from LA. In July 2010, after only six months on air, the show was nominated for an Australian Commercial Radio Award in the category of "Best Syndicated Program".[6]

In November 2015, Southern Cross Austereo announced that Günsberg would join HIT 105's breakfast show with Abby Coleman and Stav Davidson.[7]

Podcasts

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Better Than Yesterday

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In 2013, Günsberg began releasing "The Osher Günsberg Podcast", a weekly interview show where he openly discusses and shares his own mental health journey, while having conversations with high profile guests. In 2019, the show's name changed to "Better Than Yesterday" to reflect the way that the podcast had developed from a straight interview conversation in the early years to a deeper exploration of how his guests overcome life's challenges. "Better Than Yesterday" is now released on a Monday and Friday in Australia.[citation needed]

DadPod

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In 2019, Osher started a second weekly podcast with Charlie Clausen called "DadPod".[8] As the two men both became fathers to babies within a month of each other, the show follows their learnings as they "forge a new understanding of what it is to be a modern father and how they helped their partners have the best birth possible."[9]

Television

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Channel [V]

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For seven years, Günsberg worked mainly in live broadcasting hosting the flagship request show, By Demand (later whatUwant) and various late night shows (including The Joint). [citation needed]

In 2006, it was announced that Günsberg would be leaving Channel [V].[10]

Network 10

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Günsberg has appeared on Studio 10, The Project, All Star Family Feud, Thank God You're Here, Celebrity Joker Poker, Good News Week, Ready Steady Cook, Celebrity Name Game and Chris & Julia's Sunday Night Takeaway.

In 2003, Günsberg became co-host (with Channel [V] co-star James Mathison) of Australian Idol on Network Ten. For this role, Günsberg was nominated for the Silver Logie in 2004. After Mathison announced that he was moving on to other projects, Günsberg hosted the seventh season of Australian Idol solo in 2009. He was also the compere of Network Ten's game show The Con Test.

He 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 Günsberg, 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."[11]

He 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.[12] From 2007–09, he co-hosted the Sydney New Year's Eve telecast alongside Kim Watkins and Fuzzy.[citation needed]

Günsberg also narrated the Network 10 / Cordell-Jigsaw productions, Bondi Rescue and the second season of Recruits. He was a contestant in Season 2 Episode 34 of Good News Week that aired on Channel 10 on 14 September 2009.[13] He has been an occasional guest host for Charlie Pickering and was a regular contributor to The Project. From 2013-2023, he was the host of the reality television series The Bachelor Australia. From 2015-2021, he was the host of the reality television series The Bachelorette Australia.

In 2017, Günsberg made a cameo appearance as himself on episode 4 of Offspring. Günsberg assumed his role as The Bachelor Australia host on Offspring and popped up in a kitchen scene with Nina (played by Asher Keddie). He offered Nina some friendly advice as she hosted a dinner party with her boyfriend Harry (played by Alexander England) and his ex-girlfriend Georgie (played by Emily Barclay).

From 2018-2020, he was the host of the reality television series Bachelor in Paradise Australia.

In July 2019, it was announced that he will be the host of the music talent show The Masked Singer Australia.[14]

In October 2010, CBS announced that Günsberg would be the host of the Paula Abdul dance competition Live to Dance.[15] The show made its debut in January 2011 on CBS. It was announced that Live to Dance would not return for a second season.

In 2012, Günsberg co-hosted the photographic competition show Photo Finish.[16] In 2017, he made a cameo appearance as himself in the first episode of War on Waste.[17]

Personal life

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Günsberg holds dual British and Australian citizenship.[18]

In 2008, he married Israeli actress and producer Noa Tishby.[19][20] On 27 December 2011, he announced on Twitter that his marriage to Tishby was over.[21]

In September 2010, Günsberg exhibited a year of daily photographic self portraits (June 2009 – June 2010) at Mart Gallery in Surry Hills, Sydney, with part of the proceeds going to Lifeline.[22]

At the age of 38, he decided to change his name to 'Osher' – Hebrew for 'happiness' – in order to signal his changed outlook and attitude toward life. He claims that 'something about being Osher just feels right'.[23] He is an avid cyclist.[24] In October 2016, following criticism for attending Derby Day during the Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival, Günsberg stated "I say that I'm vegan because it's the quickest way to get the explanation across but the truth is I've never really called myself vegan".[25]

In December 2016, Günsberg married freelance makeup artist Audrey Griffen, becoming a stepfather to her daughter Georgia.[26] The couple met while Günsberg was filming season two of The Bachelor Australia, where Griffen was working as a makeup artist.

Mental health advocacy

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In August 2017, he revealed he had been living with depression for many years, as well as social anxiety disorder and obsessive compulsive disorder.[27]

His memoir, Back, After the Break, was published by HarperCollins in August 2018.[28] He has been open about his battles with psychosis,[29] alcoholism,[30] and suicidal ideation.[31]

References

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  1. ^ Günsberg, Osher. "My name". Tumblr. Retrieved 23 November 2024.
  2. ^ a b "Andrew Günsberg Biography". BuddyTV. 6 October 2021. Archived from the original on 1 October 2015. Retrieved 15 July 2022.
  3. ^ "The Little Dum Dum Club Podcast – Episode 571". Archived from the original on 8 September 2021. Retrieved 8 September 2021.
  4. ^ "My Name". Tumblr. Archived from the original on 15 November 2019. Retrieved 15 November 2019.
  5. ^ Knox, David (14 September 2009). "Australian Idol's G-Force". tvtonight.com.au. Archived from the original on 22 September 2009. Retrieved 31 January 2010.
  6. ^ [1][permanent dead link], 2010 ACRA nominees.
  7. ^ "Osher & Heather for Hit Network". Radio Today. 4 December 2015. Archived from the original on 13 December 2015. Retrieved 9 December 2015.
  8. ^ "DadPod with Charlie Clausen and Osher Günsberg on acast". Archived from the original on 3 January 2020. Retrieved 3 January 2020.
  9. ^ "Babytalk: Meet Osher & Charlie from Dad Pod". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 2 November 2019. Archived from the original on 6 April 2023. Retrieved 3 January 2020.
  10. ^ "Andrew G's Blog". andrewg.tv. 6 May 2006. Archived from the original on 27 September 2007. Retrieved 14 May 2008.
  11. ^ "Manifesting Your Inner Power Ballad". andrewg.tv. 27 August 2005. Archived from the original on 27 September 2007. Retrieved 14 May 2008.
  12. ^ "Andrew G's blog". andrewg.tv. Archived from the original on 27 September 2007. Retrieved 9 September 2017.
  13. ^ Ten, Network. "tenplay". ten.com.au. Archived from the original on 23 May 2012. Retrieved 30 July 2016.
  14. ^ "Osher Günsberg to host The Masked Singer". TV Tonight. 30 June 2019. Archived from the original on 1 July 2019. Retrieved 3 July 2019.
  15. ^ Andreeva, Nellie (13 October 2010). "CBS Crowds Paula Abdul's 'Live To Dance'". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on 14 December 2013. Retrieved 30 July 2016.
  16. ^ "Airdate: Photo Finish". TV Tonight. 12 June 2012. Archived from the original on 14 February 2020. Retrieved 14 February 2020.
  17. ^ "Kerri-Anne Kennerley says size doesn't matter". Starts at 60. 26 May 2017. Archived from the original on 4 September 2018. Retrieved 4 September 2018.
  18. ^ "Reality News Online – Survivor – reality TV – Big Brother – Apprentice – Amazing Race – American Idol – Television Entertainment". Archived from the original on 20 January 2011. Retrieved 27 February 2011.
  19. ^ "Celebrity Grapevine". The Jerusalem Post. 4 March 2007. Retrieved 14 May 2008. After dating for several years, despite the geographic distance between them, Israeli actress Noa Tishby, who lives in Los Angeles and Australian musician and radio and television personality Andrew G who hosts Australian Idol, have decided to get hitched.[permanent dead link]
  20. ^ "Andrew G's blog". Archived from the original on 4 August 2008. Retrieved 28 November 2008.
  21. ^ "Andrew G and wife announce marriage break up on Twitter". Herald Sun. 27 December 2011. Retrieved 27 December 2011.
  22. ^ "Perfect way to start the Last Day at the Gallery today for 365". 25 September 2010. Archived from the original on 7 July 2011. Retrieved 25 September 2010.
  23. ^ Gunsberg, Osher. "My Name". Osher Gunsberg. Archived from the original on 22 August 2015. Retrieved 12 August 2015.
  24. ^ Gunsberg, Osher. "About". The Osher Gunsberg Podcast. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |url= (help)
  25. ^ "Osher Gunsberg responds to Derby Day controversy". News.com.au. 31 October 2016. Archived from the original on 1 November 2016. Retrieved 1 November 2016.
  26. ^ "Osher Gunsberg and Audrey Griffen Wedding". Cosmopolitan. Archived from the original on 31 July 2017. Retrieved 23 July 2017.
  27. ^ Pearce, Lara (21 August 2017). "Osher Günsberg on Cracking The Genetic Code of Mental Illness". Huffington Post. Archived from the original on 9 September 2017. Retrieved 9 September 2017.
  28. ^ Günsberg, Osher (2018). Back, After the Break. HarperCollins. ISBN 9781460756249. Archived from the original on 24 July 2018. Retrieved 24 July 2018.
  29. ^ "Osher Günsberg opens up about the downside of anti-psychosis medication". celebrity.nine.com.au. 12 September 2018. Archived from the original on 3 January 2020. Retrieved 6 January 2020.
  30. ^ "'Unemployed, divorced and suicidal': How Osher Günsberg took back control". Topics. Archived from the original on 3 January 2020. Retrieved 6 January 2020.
  31. ^ Jennings-Edquist, As told to Grace (15 November 2018). "Osher Gunsberg on the isolation that can come with mental illness – ABC Life". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Archived from the original on 24 June 2020. Retrieved 6 January 2020.
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External videos
  Osher Günsberg tells all in his book, 'Back, After the Break', Matter Of Fact With Stan Grant, ABC News
Preceded by Cleo Bachelor of the Year
2004
Succeeded by