Four kids and a party JESSE'S BRINGING THE FUN!

The TV host is dancing to his own beat when it comes to fatherhood and fame

- Catherine Milford

Jesse Mulligan is a man of many talents. The RNZ National Afternoons radio host, former presenter of The Project, 7 Days, and Seven Sharp, New Zealand Herald columnist and restaurant reviewer is also an accomplished live performer, making him the perfect choice to co-host the Aotearoa Music Awards (AMAs) alongside Kara Rickard on Thursday, May 30.

But while Jesse hopes his wife Victoria will be able to come along to the event, his four kids are more likely to be at home doing what they love most – reading.

“All four of them adore books – to the point that if we do have to discipline the kids, it usually involves confiscating a book!” laughs Jesse, 48, who is dad to Hazel, 13, Daisy, 10, Felix, eight, and Scout, five.

“Scout is really into Roald Dahl books at the moment – he’s such a huge fan that he had a Roald Dahl-themed fifth birthday party last month. Which worked out great for me because when I last hosted the music awards in 2020, I had a purple suit made for the occasion and I haven’t had any occasion to wear it since. It was the perfect outfit for Scout’s birthday – I came as Willy Wonka!” It’s been a big few weeks for Scout, who earlier this month started school – the last of Jesse and Victoria’s four kids to do so.

“I put on a brave face,” he admits. “Scout was so excited because his older sister Daisy and his brother Felix are at the same school. He couldn’t wait to go and hang out with them at lunchtime. The main problem on the day was his mum – I had to drag her out of the classroom because she didn’t want to let her last baby go! It was quite an emotional morning, actually.”