Brian Henderson

Biography Early years

Henderson was born in Dunedin, on the South Island of New Zealand, on 15 September 1931. His father worked variously as a bus driver and a pastry cook, and served in World War II. Henderson grew up in the South Island, and attended Waitaki Boys' High School. During this time, his interest in broadcasting was piqued when he became resident announcer and disc jockey of the hospital's radio station. or "the way it is", followed by the date of the broadcast, to sign off after every bulletin, similar to United States newsreader Walter Cronkite.

At the end of his final bulletin, Henderson's voice wavered as he told viewers it was time to watch the news, not present it: Not the way it was, as has been suggested, but for the last time, the way it is, this Friday the 29th of November, this is Brian Henderson, a sad Brian Henderson, saying not good night, this time, but goodbye.

Bandstand Henderson whilst serving as a newsreader, hosted the early television music variety program Bandstand from 1958 until 1972, based on the American version hosted Dick Clark but unrelated. The show had a regular roster of stars who became known as the bandstand family and included Col Joye, Judy Stone and Little Pattie

Recognition National honours In the 2009 Australia Day Honours, Henderson was named a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) for "service as a pioneer in the television news and entertainment sectors, and as a mentor to aspiring and established presenters, readers and journalists".

Awards Award Association Year Work results Gold Logie Logie Awards 1968 Bandstand Gold Logie Logie Hall of Fame Logie Award 2013 Lifetime Achievement Award Henderson won his first TV Week Gold Logie award for Most Popular Personality on Australian Television in 1968. He received a second Gold Logie at the Logie Awards in April 2013 when he was inducted into the Logie Hall of Fame. Industry peers vote for the award and he was the 30th inductee since the award began in 1983. Henderson was on the shortlist in 2010 when it was awarded, posthumously, to Brian Naylor.

The King of Pop Awards were voted by the readers of TV Week. The award started in 1967 and ended in 1978. Henderson won the award for his Contribution to Teenage Television in 1972.

Henderson won a Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2019 Kennedy Awards.

Personal life and death Henderson was married to Mardi Ozoux from 1966 until his death. Together, they had two children, Nicole and Jodie. He also had two children from his first marriage. In February 2020, it was announced that Henderson had kidney cancer and that he had opted not to receive treatment.

Henderson died on 5 August 2021