Broadcaster Phillip Leishman has had one of the longest and most successful TV presenting careers in New Zealand. He began presenting sports news and events in the 1970s, and has hosted major live events such as the Olympics and test rugby. Leishman also helmed long-running game show Wheel of Fortune, and, more recently, the internationally-syndicated Golf Show.

Broadcaster Phillip Leishman has had one of the longest and most successful TV presenting careers in New Zealand. He began presenting sports news and events in the 1970s, and has hosted major live events such as the Olympics and test rugby. Leishman also helmed long-running game show Wheel of Fortune, and, more recently, the internationally-syndicated Golf Show.

In this ScreenTalk, Leishman talks about:

• Becoming Glyn Tucker’s ‘little shadow’ on Turf Talk
• How tech problems led to him commentating on the 1976 Olympic Games
• The difficulties of covering the 1981 Springbok Tour
• Loving the pace of production on Wheel of Fortune
• Initially failing to notice David Tua’s infamous ‘O for awesome’ moment
• Hosting the last televised Miss New Zealand contest
• Missing the cool atmosphere of Weekend
• Why The Golf Show has been his favourite gig
• Traveling the world having a good time on Air New Zealand Holiday
• Being proud of his 41 years on air

This video is available on YouTube to embed and distribute via a Creative Commons licence.

NZ On Screen: Camera and Editing – Andrew Whiteside