He’s talked cricket with Rihanna, flirted with Miley Cyrus and had a moment with Charlize Theron at the Oscars, but behind the cameras, Jack Tame is yet to find the dream girl to go with his dream job.
Ranking sixth on US website Elle.com’s 41 Most Eligible Bachelors, the New York-based TVNZ correspondent received an influx of messages from prospective bachelorettes, but despite dabbling in dating apps, he remains coy about any romance, saying he’s single and there’s nothing serious to report.
“I joined Tinder and OkCupid briefly, but it’s not me, eh,” laughs Jack, who’s back in the Big Apple this week after a short trip to New Zealand to fill in for Mike Hosking on Seven Sharp. “And I’ve just got Bumble, but the only time I remember to check it is when I’m in South Carolina or Iowa, then I’m like, ‘This is hopeless. Even if I find the girl of my dreams, I don’t think I’ll be commuting between Des Moines and Harlem!’ I’m too much of a workaholic.”
He’s not kidding. Between covering the increasingly bizarre US election campaign, pursuing general news, hosting a Saturday morning show on Newstalk ZB and writing newspaper columns, the 29-year-old Christchurch bloke barely has time to sleep, let alone date.
Yet he’s living the dream, having developed an addiction to the 6pm news as a kid. After broadcasting school, he landed an internship at TVNZ, which soon led to a proper job there.
Rocking up to work on day one, Jack looked “like a semi-prepubescent 14-year-old wearing my dad’s oversized polyester suit”, but before long he was on camera, covering a nun’s Christmas tea-cosy business for his first story.
Watch Jack’s quick fire questions with Woman’s Day in the video – story continues below.
American dream: Jack has made himself at home in The City That Never Sleeps.
While travelling around the US on holiday, Jack felt a real affinity with New York, so when a correspondent job came up in 2012, he happily relocated.
Jack recalls, “Moving from Auckland’s Grey Lynn to Spanish Harlem was like, ‘Hello!’ The first night, I saw a pamphlet outside my house saying, ‘It’s been so-and-so weeks since Reggie was shot here. If anyone knows what happened, ring this number.’ It’s pretty safe, though, and everyone on my street is cool. They’ll go, ‘Yo, wassup, New Zealand? How you doing, baby?’”
While making friends hasn’t been easy, Jack relishes New York life – having no car, the incredible diversity and eating out almost every night.
Meanwhile, his career has thrived, with reporting duties ranging from the Boston Marathon bombings to dog-sledding in Alaska.
He has also interviewed everyone from Helen Clark to Rihanna. Jack says, “Rihanna was great. We were talking about cricket, which was a shock. I don’t think she’d been expecting questions about cricket!
The likeable lad has been up close and personal with some of the world’s most famous faces, from Miley to Sir Elton John.
“Miley, I flirted with. She was refreshing because she didn’t have a massive entourage, did her own make-up, asked the cameraman to show her the shots, then went, ‘I like that, but go a little wider.’ She was nice.”
Kiwi musician Gin Wigmore remains his favourite, while “obscenely nice” Hugh Jackman even made him a cup of coffee. Then, of course, there are the Academy Awards, which he’s covered five times. “What I love most about the Oscars is the food,” says Jack. “Everyone’s trying to look good in floor-length chiffon dresses, so I’m like, ‘If no-one’s going to hit this pecan pie, I’m going to smash it!’”
Jack won’t be drawn on rumours he and Hilary Barry will be taking over as the hosts of Breakfast on TV One. For now, he’s focused on trailing Donald Trump on the US election campaign. “The Trump thing is the biggest story in the world right now. It’s shaping up to be the most amazing election ever, so I’m happy to be doing it, but it’s pretty bad for everything else in my life.”
Between the election and the Rio de Janeiro Olympics, Jack will likely retain his bachelor status for now. He confesses, “I’d like the linear family thing one day – not yet! – but my life is totally imbalanced. Whether it’s dating or friends, so many times I’ve had to cancel for work.
Jack is all smiles in this snapshot with Elton John.
“It’s a selfish life. For friends or girlfriends who have to put up with you not being there and letting them down, it’s not fair. You have a window in life where you can do the selfish thing, whether that’s mucking around at uni, working hard or travelling. My attitude is to make the most of that period while it’s fun, then find something more stable or conducive to a relationship.”
So what would it take to win his heart? “I’m attracted to a bit of quirk and wit,” he grins. “I like to be surprised by people.”
