Grant Denyer
Encyclopedia
Grant Denyer is an Australian television reporter, personality and motor racing
driver.
in Wagga Wagga
as a news reporter and journalist. He moved to Sydney to work as V8 Supercar pit reporter for Network Ten
, when he caught the eye of Television Producer Adam Boland
.
Boland saw the potential in Grant and offered him full time position as the weather presenter on the new look Sunrise
program from 2004 until the end of 2006. Denyer left this position in December 2006 due to wanting to spend more time with his family, though he remains as a roving reporter for the breakfast program
Sunrise
. In 2007 Grant started a new weekly segment on Sunrise
called Dare Denyer.
Denyer won the fourth series of Dancing with the Stars
, and also hosted the celebrity duet singing competition It Takes Two from 2006 to 2008. Denyer has also presented All Time Greatest Aussie Bloopers, Guinness World Records
with co-host Shelley Craft
, and Australia's Got Talent
.
In 2006 Denyer was recognised by voters in the TV Fugly Awards as being Australia's Spunkiest Male TV Personality. Grant has been voted 'sexiest presenter on TV' by a Melbourne Metro magazine poll plus he was voted the most dateable male by (Australian) New Woman magazine.
In 2007, his race and television career have seen him both racing and being a part of the team featuring Neil Crompton, Matthew White
, Mark Beretta
and Daniel Gibson to report on the V8 Supercar
Series.
In 2007, he became the host of the Carols in the Domain
in Sydney which he has been doing ever since.
In 2010, Denyer returned to Sunrise
as weather presenter replacing Fifi Box
who is now Entertainment editor.
In 2011, Denyer appeared in a video aired on the "Sunrise" show ( Aired at approximately 8AM on 30 June 2011 ), driving a car on a public road without any hands on the steering wheel whilst singing. The video was later posted on YouTube.
in the Fujitsu V8 Supercar
series for Speed FX Racing with Michael Caruso and Daniel Elliot. He debuted with Dick Johnson Racing
in 2005. In the same year he was awarded the Mike Kable Rookie of the Year prize finishing his debut season in the top 10 (10th).
In 2006, Grant raced in the Sandown 500
and the prestigious Bathurst 1000
with DJR and with Alex Davison
. Denyer and Alex came 9th overall at Bathurst.
Denyer also has had success in tarmac rallying, a podium finish in this year's Suncoast Rally in which he drove the Les Walkden-prepared Subaru Impreza WRX STi
. He finished 37.8 seconds behind the Skelta G-Force of Ray Vandersee, and 3.6 seconds clear third place-getter, Matt Close, in his Porsche Turbo. Going into the final stage he trailed Close by 4.7 seconds, but produced a nerveless drive under extreme pressure to move ahead of the Porsche and take second place.
"To be second outright and first production car home is a huge highlight," Denyer said. "To do that in my first full rally is a dream come true."
"It came down to that last stage and Dale (co-driver Dale Moscatt) and I decided that we wanted second really badly. So we pulled everything out, threw caution to the wind and we finished up winning the stage. That was a great way to finish."
"We were up against some really elite machines across the weekend so to be on the podium, to finish second in a production car, was great."
In October, 2005 he finished sixth place in the Mini Challenge World Title Championship, held at Italy's Santa Monica race track.
In 2002 Denyer competed in the Bathurst 24-hour
Endurance Event, he drove a Nissan 200SX
. In 2003
he competed in the same event, this time driving a Porsche 996 GT3 finishing second in his class, sixth overall.
Denyer won his first ever V8 Supercar race in the Development Series at Sandown on 7 June 2008 in the second race of the weekend. More wins came and Denyer had his best season in 2009, finishing fourth in the 2009 Fujitsu V8 Supercar Series
.
In early 2010 Denyer stated he would no longer be pursuing full season drives in motorsport, however in 2011 Denyer was announced as the lead driver of Shannons-Mars Racing, a V8 Supercar team formed for the purposes of a TV show, the Shannons Supercar Showdown. Denyer's Bathurst 1000 co-driver was Cameron Waters winning the competition beating runner-up British racing driver Andrew Jordan
.
. Since 1996, Grant has been the official face of The Spastic Centre's Technology Department. When not travelling around Australia, he actively works to raise awareness for children and adults with cerebral palsy and the importance technology plays in their lives.
Grant has been a passionate spokesperson on drought and its devastating effects on Australian Families. In March 2003, Grant revealed his own private battle to save his family's 100 year old farm. Since then, he has continued his quest to lobby and encourage more assistance and backing for drought-stricken families and communities.
He is married to TV producer Cheryl Rogers, and they have one daughter Sailor Shelley Denyer who was born 9 May 2011.
Denyer made a public apology the same night which was broadcast at the end of Today Tonight
.
Opposition multicultural spokesman at the time, Laurie Ferguson, stated that "the comments were deplorable and could be referred to the Australian broadcasting watchdog". ACMA, however, did not proceed after Denyer's public apology.
Hospital.
The accident occurred while Denyer was in training for the Monster Truck Championships, driving a monster truck at Dapto
Showground. After practising a jump over five cars in the monster truck, Grant removed his foot too soon from the accelerator which caused the vehicle to land heavily leaving the star with a compressed fracture to his lower vertebrae, broken into eight pieces. He was moved to a Sydney hospital and his recovery took months.
He was then moved into intensive care but there were no signs that there was any nerve damage issues and he was be back on the air in to host Australia's Got Talent
in 2009, however he did not return to It Takes Two in May.
Auto racing
Auto racing is a motorsport involving the racing of cars for competition. It is one of the world's most watched televised sports.-The beginning of racing:...
driver.
Television career
In 1997, Denyer began his career in the media, he gained a position at Prime TelevisionPrime Television
PRIME7 is an Australian television network owned by Prime Media Group Limited. Prime Television launched on 17 March 1962 as CBN/CWN in Orange and Dubbo, New South Wales, and has since expanded to cover regional New South Wales, Victoria and the Australian Capital Territory as a Seven Network...
in Wagga Wagga
Wagga Wagga, New South Wales
Wagga Wagga is a city in New South Wales, Australia. Straddling the Murrumbidgee River, and with an urban population of 46,735 people, Wagga Wagga is the state's largest inland city, as well as an important agricultural, military, and transport hub of Australia...
as a news reporter and journalist. He moved to Sydney to work as V8 Supercar pit reporter for Network Ten
Network Ten
Network Ten , is one of Australia's three major commercial television networks. Owned-and-operated stations can be found in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth, while affiliates extend the network to cover most of the country...
, when he caught the eye of Television Producer Adam Boland
Adam Boland
Adam Boland is currently a director of social media and strategy with the Seven Network and executive producer for Weekend Sunrise....
.
Boland saw the potential in Grant and offered him full time position as the weather presenter on the new look Sunrise
Sunrise (TV program)
Sunrise is an Australian breakfast television program, broadcast on the Seven Network. On weekdays the programme follows Seven Early News, and runs from 6am through to 9am.-History:...
program from 2004 until the end of 2006. Denyer left this position in December 2006 due to wanting to spend more time with his family, though he remains as a roving reporter for the breakfast program
Breakfast television
Breakfast television or morning show , is a type of infotainment television program, broadcast live in the morning...
Sunrise
Sunrise (TV program)
Sunrise is an Australian breakfast television program, broadcast on the Seven Network. On weekdays the programme follows Seven Early News, and runs from 6am through to 9am.-History:...
. In 2007 Grant started a new weekly segment on Sunrise
Sunrise (TV program)
Sunrise is an Australian breakfast television program, broadcast on the Seven Network. On weekdays the programme follows Seven Early News, and runs from 6am through to 9am.-History:...
called Dare Denyer.
Denyer won the fourth series of Dancing with the Stars
Dancing with the Stars (Australian TV series)
Dancing with the Stars is a Logie Award-winning, Australian light entertainment reality show airing on the Seven Network and filmed live from the HSV-7 studios in Melbourne...
, and also hosted the celebrity duet singing competition It Takes Two from 2006 to 2008. Denyer has also presented All Time Greatest Aussie Bloopers, Guinness World Records
Guinness World Records
Guinness World Records, known until 2000 as The Guinness Book of Records , is a reference book published annually, containing a collection of world records, both human achievements and the extremes of the natural world...
with co-host Shelley Craft
Shelley Craft
Shelley De Billinghurst Craft and known professionally as Shelley Craft is an Australian television personality....
, and Australia's Got Talent
Australia's Got Talent
Australia's Got Talent is an Australian reality television talent show which premiered on 18 February 2007 on the Seven Network. The show was based on the Got Talent series format that originated in the United Kingdom with Simon Cowell...
.
In 2006 Denyer was recognised by voters in the TV Fugly Awards as being Australia's Spunkiest Male TV Personality. Grant has been voted 'sexiest presenter on TV' by a Melbourne Metro magazine poll plus he was voted the most dateable male by (Australian) New Woman magazine.
In 2007, his race and television career have seen him both racing and being a part of the team featuring Neil Crompton, Matthew White
Matthew White (journalist)
Matthew White is an Australian journalist, and currently presenter of Today Tonight and sports presenter.-Career:White began his journalism career at a local newspaper in Manly before moving to radio and joining Newcastle's NEWFM to present breakfast news...
, Mark Beretta
Mark Beretta
Mark Beretta is an Australian media personality. He is known by the common nickname of Beretts.-Early life and career:Beretta was born in Geelong, Victoria on 16 June 1966. He was educated at St. Joseph's College...
and Daniel Gibson to report on the V8 Supercar
V8 Supercar
V8 Supercars is a touring car racing category based in Australia and run as an International Series under Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile regulations...
Series.
In 2007, he became the host of the Carols in the Domain
Carols in the Domain
Carols in the Domain is an annual Christmas concert free event held in the Domain Gardens, Sydney, Australia. It began in 1982. It is broadcast around Australia on the Seven Network and simulcast on 101.7 WSFM....
in Sydney which he has been doing ever since.
In 2010, Denyer returned to Sunrise
Sunrise (TV program)
Sunrise is an Australian breakfast television program, broadcast on the Seven Network. On weekdays the programme follows Seven Early News, and runs from 6am through to 9am.-History:...
as weather presenter replacing Fifi Box
Fifi Box
Fifi Box is an Australian radio broadcaster and television personality, formerly hosting The Shebang with Marty Sheargold on Triple M, and presenter on the Seven Network's Sunrise program....
who is now Entertainment editor.
In 2011, Denyer appeared in a video aired on the "Sunrise" show ( Aired at approximately 8AM on 30 June 2011 ), driving a car on a public road without any hands on the steering wheel whilst singing. The video was later posted on YouTube.
Motor racing
He drove a Ford FalconFord Falcon (Australia)
The Ford Falcon is a full-size car which has been manufactured by Ford Australia since 1960. Each model from the XA series of 1972 onward has been designed, developed and built in Australia and/or New Zealand, following the phasing out of the American Falcon of 1960–71 which had been re-engineered...
in the Fujitsu V8 Supercar
V8 Supercar
V8 Supercars is a touring car racing category based in Australia and run as an International Series under Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile regulations...
series for Speed FX Racing with Michael Caruso and Daniel Elliot. He debuted with Dick Johnson Racing
Dick Johnson Racing
Dick Johnson Racing is Australia's oldest operating motor racing team. Founded by Dick Johnson, the team has won seven Australian Touring Car Championship titles and has taken three victories in Australia's hallmark race, the Bathurst 1000...
in 2005. In the same year he was awarded the Mike Kable Rookie of the Year prize finishing his debut season in the top 10 (10th).
In 2006, Grant raced in the Sandown 500
Sandown 500
The Sandown 500 is an endurance motor race staged at the Sandown Raceway, near Melbourne in Victoria, Australia between 1964 and 2011. It was typically held in September, the month before Australia’s premier endurance race, the Bathurst 1000. The “500” was not run in 1966, 1967, 1999, 2000, 2008,...
and the prestigious Bathurst 1000
Bathurst 1000
The Bathurst 1000 is a touring car race held annually at Mount Panorama Circuit in Bathurst, New South Wales, Australia...
with DJR and with Alex Davison
Alex Davison
Alex Davison, born 3 November 1979, in Melbourne, Australia, is best known as a racing driver. Davison currently races for Stone Brothers Racing driving a Ford Falcon in the V8 Supercar Championship Series....
. Denyer and Alex came 9th overall at Bathurst.
Denyer also has had success in tarmac rallying, a podium finish in this year's Suncoast Rally in which he drove the Les Walkden-prepared Subaru Impreza WRX STi
Subaru Impreza WRX STI
The Subaru Impreza WRX STI, has the highest trim in the Subaru Impreza compact car line, produced by Japanese automaker Subaru.In the late 1980s, Subaru created the Subaru Tecnica International division to coordinate development for the FIA World Rally Championship and other motorsports activities...
. He finished 37.8 seconds behind the Skelta G-Force of Ray Vandersee, and 3.6 seconds clear third place-getter, Matt Close, in his Porsche Turbo. Going into the final stage he trailed Close by 4.7 seconds, but produced a nerveless drive under extreme pressure to move ahead of the Porsche and take second place.
"To be second outright and first production car home is a huge highlight," Denyer said. "To do that in my first full rally is a dream come true."
"It came down to that last stage and Dale (co-driver Dale Moscatt) and I decided that we wanted second really badly. So we pulled everything out, threw caution to the wind and we finished up winning the stage. That was a great way to finish."
"We were up against some really elite machines across the weekend so to be on the podium, to finish second in a production car, was great."
In October, 2005 he finished sixth place in the Mini Challenge World Title Championship, held at Italy's Santa Monica race track.
In 2002 Denyer competed in the Bathurst 24-hour
2002 Bathurst 24 Hour
The 2002 Bathurst 24 Hour was an endurance motor race staged at the Mount Panorama Circuit just outside Bathurst in New South Wales, Australia. The race, which was the first 24 hour event to be held at Mount Panorama, started at 4:00pm on 16 November and finished at 4:00pm on 17 November.The race...
Endurance Event, he drove a Nissan 200SX
Nissan 200SX
From 1995 to 1998 Nissan applied the name "200SX" to two different lines of automobiles in different markets these years.In 1995, Nissan reintroduced the 200SX nameplate in United States and Canada to designate a two-door version of the Nissan Sentra , known in Japan and Mexico as Lucino, replacing...
. In 2003
2003 Bathurst 24 Hour
The 2003 Bathurst 24 Hour was the second 24 hour race run at Bathurst. The race started at 2:00pm on 22 November 2003 at the Mount Panorama Circuit just outside Bathurst and finished at 2:00pm on 23 November....
he competed in the same event, this time driving a Porsche 996 GT3 finishing second in his class, sixth overall.
Denyer won his first ever V8 Supercar race in the Development Series at Sandown on 7 June 2008 in the second race of the weekend. More wins came and Denyer had his best season in 2009, finishing fourth in the 2009 Fujitsu V8 Supercar Series
2009 Fujitsu V8 Supercar Series
The 2009 Fujitsu V8 Supercars season was the tenth running of the V8 Supercar Development series. It supported the 2009 V8 Supercar Championship Series, beginning on 19 March at the Clipsal 500 and ending on 6 December at the Sydney 500 after seven rounds....
.
In early 2010 Denyer stated he would no longer be pursuing full season drives in motorsport, however in 2011 Denyer was announced as the lead driver of Shannons-Mars Racing, a V8 Supercar team formed for the purposes of a TV show, the Shannons Supercar Showdown. Denyer's Bathurst 1000 co-driver was Cameron Waters winning the competition beating runner-up British racing driver Andrew Jordan
Andrew Jordan (racing driver)
Andrew Jordan is an English auto racing driver, who drives in the British Touring Car Championship.-Rallycross:...
.
Personal life
Grant was born in Coffs Harbour, New South WalesCoffs Harbour, New South Wales
-History:By the early 1900s, the Coffs Harbour area had become an important timber production centre. Before the opening of the North Coast Railway Line, the only way to transport large items of heavy but low value, such as timber, was by coastal shipping. This meant sawmillers on the North Coast...
. Since 1996, Grant has been the official face of The Spastic Centre's Technology Department. When not travelling around Australia, he actively works to raise awareness for children and adults with cerebral palsy and the importance technology plays in their lives.
Grant has been a passionate spokesperson on drought and its devastating effects on Australian Families. In March 2003, Grant revealed his own private battle to save his family's 100 year old farm. Since then, he has continued his quest to lobby and encourage more assistance and backing for drought-stricken families and communities.
He is married to TV producer Cheryl Rogers, and they have one daughter Sailor Shelley Denyer who was born 9 May 2011.
Off the record
On the 8 May 2007, Denyer created controversy during a radio interview on Nova 969, where he said he felt as though he "had sex with a black man", making reference to being exhausted after heavy filming and travelling and late night due to the 2007 Logie awards.Denyer made a public apology the same night which was broadcast at the end of Today Tonight
Today Tonight
Today Tonight is a controversial Australian News and Current Affairs program, produced by the Seven Network and shown weeknightly at in direct competition with rival Nine Network program A Current Affair....
.
Opposition multicultural spokesman at the time, Laurie Ferguson, stated that "the comments were deplorable and could be referred to the Australian broadcasting watchdog". ACMA, however, did not proceed after Denyer's public apology.
Injury
On 17 September 2008, Grant Denyer injured his back by participating in a monster truck promotional event resulting in a compressed fracture of the lower vertebrae. Grant was taken by ambulance to the WollongongWollongong, New South Wales
Wollongong is a seaside city located in the Illawarra region of New South Wales, Australia. It lies on the narrow coastal strip between the Illawarra Escarpment and the Pacific Ocean, 82 kilometres south of Sydney...
Hospital.
The accident occurred while Denyer was in training for the Monster Truck Championships, driving a monster truck at Dapto
Dapto, New South Wales
Dapto is a southern suburb of Wollongong in the Illawarra region of New South Wales, Australia, located on the western side of Lake Illawarra and covering an area 7.15 square kilometres in size...
Showground. After practising a jump over five cars in the monster truck, Grant removed his foot too soon from the accelerator which caused the vehicle to land heavily leaving the star with a compressed fracture to his lower vertebrae, broken into eight pieces. He was moved to a Sydney hospital and his recovery took months.
He was then moved into intensive care but there were no signs that there was any nerve damage issues and he was be back on the air in to host Australia's Got Talent
Australia's Got Talent
Australia's Got Talent is an Australian reality television talent show which premiered on 18 February 2007 on the Seven Network. The show was based on the Got Talent series format that originated in the United Kingdom with Simon Cowell...
in 2009, however he did not return to It Takes Two in May.