Family, fame and turning 50: I'M MAKING MY MARK ON THE WORLD

MEET THE TEAM! THE SPORTING LEGEND AND TV STAR GIVES US AN ALL-ACCESS PASS TO HIS LIFE

- Marilynn McLachlan

Turning half a century is an important milestone for anyone, but rather than wanting a big celebration, Mark Richardson has an unusual wish – to learn to relax.

“The second half of my life I need to chill out,” the former Black Cap and TV presenter tells the Weekly as we sit down for a chat with his wife Mary and teenage twins Annabel and Charlie at their Auckland home.

“The problem is that I find it hard to relax because I haven’t reached where I want to be,” he explains. “I’m not far off, but I’m not there yet.

“It would be fantastic to one day be doing my own show that’s a bit like The AM Show or The Project, but it’s mine. In the next decade, I want to do at least three years where it’s The Mark Richardson Show!”

It’s exciting talk from the cricketer-turned-TV star, who, in addition to presenting on Three’s The AM Show and holding down a regular spot on news and entertainment show The Project, this month also returns to our screens as the host of The Block NZ. But Mark has always been full of surprises.

As a top-tier sportsman he describes his style of play as “conservative”, but on the airwaves he’s the opposite, often hitting the headlines with his controversial statements.

“A guy once wrote an article about how I was desperately trying to be Paul Henry or Mike Hosking and it’s always stuck with me,” he shrugs. “I’m angry about it because all I’ve ever tried to be is me. I’m one of those people who listens to criticism and tries to make the negative a positive. So, it makes me angry, but I use it.”