Mike's best man - 'RYAN HELPED ME LOVE AGAIN'

The broadcasting buddies value the friendship that got them through heartache

- Fleur Guthrie

Enduring male friendships – ones that share deep, emotional moments and a seemingly infinite capacity for mocking each other – aren’t often talked about.

Unless you’re broadcasters Mike McRoberts and Ryan Bridge, whose loyalty to each other is right up there with the affinity of other famous TV “bromances” like Kirk and Spock from Star Trek or Joey and Chandler from Friends.

Despite a 22-year age gap and never working together onscreen, when it came time for Mike to choose a best man at his wedding to partner Heidi Ettema last month, it “wasn’t a hard decision” to pick Ryan.

“From the moment we started hanging out socially six years ago – which was a pretty pivotal time in our lives when we were both at a crossroads personally – we became best friends,” reveals the Newshub Live at 6pm anchor.

“One thing I said in my wedding speech was that Ryan’s friendship is something I’ll always treasure.

“Because at that time when I was feeling pretty low, he made me laugh, he made me have fun again and love again, and I don’t think I would have been in a position to have met Heidi or be where I am today if I didn’t have that friendship.”

“Of course, I was bawling my eyes out when he said that,” chimes in Ryan. “And likewise, when we’d just met, I was coming out of a relationship and didn’t have any strong male friends in Auckland.

“We both enjoyed talking about media and politics – rugby, not so much – over a drink and it’s been a really awesome bond that we’ve both relied on a lot over the past few years.