1. Clarke Timothy Gayford was born on October 1976 and is a New Zealand television and radio broadcaster, presenter of the fishing documentary show Fish of the Day.
20 Facts About Clarke Gayford
1. 2.
Clarke Gayford is the husband of Jacinda Ardern, who served was prime minister of New Zealand from October 2017 to January 2023.
3.
In 1999, Clarke Gayford appeared as a contestant on Treasure Island, a reality television game show.
4.
In 2010, Clarke Gayford presented the third season of Extraordinary Kiwis, a biographical documentary series.
5.
Clarke Gayford presented several radio shows, including morning and afternoon drive time shows on More FM and George FM, respectively.
6.
In 2015, with producer Mike Bhana, Clarke Gayford created fishing show Fish of the Day, for Choice TV.
7.
Clarke Gayford made a guest appearance as himself in the first season 2 episode of Wellington Paranormal.
8.
In mid-April 2020 during the first year of COVID-19 pandemic, Clarke Gayford appeared on a short Wellington Paranormal video encouraging people who were looking after young children.
9.
Police Commissioner Andrew Coster defended Clarke Gayford's presence on the grounds that he was a well-known television personality who had participated in the television series.
10.
On 12 March 2021, Clarke Gayford attracted media attention when he posted a tweet stating that the New Zealand Cabinet had made an "in principle decision" pending final test results in relation to the lifting of a COVID-19 Alert Level 2 lockdown in Auckland.
11.
In mid-January 2022 amid COVID Deltacron variant surging in New Zealand, Clarke Gayford drew controversy after speaking to a pharmacist in December 2021 about obtaining rapid antigen testing for several musician friends.
12.
Clarke Gayford had claimed that there had been a change to testing guidance from New Zealand Health Ministry that would allow them to obtain rapid antigen testing instead of the more invasive polymerase chain reaction testing.
13.
Clarke Gayford was criticised by National Party's COVID-19 Response spokesperson Chris Bishop for allegedly using his position as the Prime Minister's partner to obtain special favours for his friends.
14.
Clarke Gayford subsequently apologised for "any issues or confusion" this created for pharmacy staff.
15.
Since becoming the partner of the Prime Minister, Clarke Gayford has been the target of false rumours that he was under police investigation or due to appear in court.
16.
Clarke Gayford was previously in relationships with musician Hollie Smith and Shortland Street actress Shavaughn Ruakere.
17.
Clarke Gayford had been referred to as the spouse of the prime minister, although the couple were not married at the time.
18.
Clarke Gayford accompanied Ardern on international visits, including the 2018 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in London, UK.
19.
On 19 January 2018, Ardern announced that she and Clarke Gayford were expecting their first child in June.
20.
On 8 May 2022, Clarke Gayford tested positive for COVID-19, for which he experienced "very mild" symptoms.