Robert Trathen
Like most tattoo owners, Clint Randell is more than happy talking about the abstract phoenix inking that adorns his right arm.
The TV and radio personality, who returns to The Edge breakfast show this week, proudly shows off the fiery bird, which stretches from his lower forearm to his chest, detailing the many hours it has taken so far.
“I’ve always wanted a full sleeve,” says Clint, 37, chatting to Woman’s Day at the stylish Auckland villa he shares with his wife Jaime, 36, their daughter Cameron, seven, and son Ty, five.
It’s not the first time Clint’s been inked. Back in July, he, Jaime, his younger brother Bevan, 35, and his sister-in-law Rebekah, 29, all got tattoos at the same time.
Best known as bubbly nurse Dawn Robinson on Shortland Street, Rebekah has been besties with Jaime ever since she started dating her now-hubby Bevan in 2016, thanks to some stellar matchmaking by Clint. But while the women opted for matching hearts on their fingers, the Dancing With The Stars NZ host impulsively plumped for a panther on his wrist.
Clint laughs, “My brother said, ‘You’ll regret it!’ But that only made me want to get it even more. Maybe that’s what the phoenix represents too – being spontaneous, living my life and trying not to care what other people think of me too much.”
Shorty star Rebekah is married to Clint’s brother Bevan.
He also got a small cross on his neck during that sitting “because being a Christian has been a huge part of my life since I was 18”, tells Clint. “It’s what I believe, it’s how I raise my kids and it’s never going to change.”
But not everyone is happy with Clint’s ink – in particular, his mother Christine, 63. He confides, “Mum is not a fan at all. She doesn’t mind tattoos on most people – just not on her boys. So I might need to buy a rash top!”
Clint admits that as a radio presenter, he’s used to his life becoming on-air fodder. “When I first started at The Edge, I always had to make sure I was wearing good underwear ‘cos I just never knew what was going to be happening!”
For instance, there was the time he found himself being filmed buck naked at a pop-up clothes-free restaurant in Hamilton just months into the new job. “We’re always pushing the boundaries, but we try to stay the right side of the line.”
Upon his return to radio on 16 January, Clint will be reunited with his longtime co-host Meg Mansell, 33, and they’ll be joined by their “new plaything” and former Edge producer Dan Webby, 35.
Clint grins, “He’s an immense talent and I’m really excited he gets a chance to show New Zealand what he’s truly capable of every morning. As for Meg, I’ve really missed having a front-row seat to her talent. Her becoming a mum for the first time last year while bossing a very demanding job shows how incredible that woman is.”
Catch Clint, Meg and Dan on The Edge Breakfast from 6am weekdays.
The trio already has chemistry, adds Clint, who’s famous among colleagues for his “golden retriever energy”. Giving us an example of the team’s banter, Dan explains jokingly, “Golden retrievers are great, but you wouldn’t wanna own one!”
Jaime laughs in agreement at the analogy. She says, “I’m kind of excited for the early nights again. Because Clint hasn’t been doing breakfast radio for a while, he’s been a real night owl, whereas I need my sleep.”
The pair have been together since high school and despite only being in their mid-thirties, they’ve been married for an impressive 14 years. But they admit they have to “keep putting the work in”, like most couples.
Clint says, “We’ve never shied away from counselling and finding different ways to invest in our relationship.” Nodding, Jaime agrees, “With our busy lives, we don’t often have the time to say, ‘Let’s take an hour on a Tuesday night to discuss what’s going on with us.'”
The talented hair and makeup artist is also known to whip up dresses for events and photo shoots, and after years working with big-name designers, Jaime’s working on plans to launch her own fashion venture.
In between hosting Dancing With The Stars, The Masked Singer and Heartbreak Island, Clint spent most of 2022 at home, being “the most amazing house-husband”, enthuses Jaime, adding that it allowed her to pursue her career more freely. Despite having to solo-parent while Clint filmed Heartbreak in Fiji, she says, “Things are a bit easier now that both kids have started school.”
“It’s really awesome that they see both of their parents being really driven with their work,” adds Clint, noting that Cam and Ty are best of friends, despite their chalk-and-cheese personalities.
“Sassy and independent” Cam is a ball of energy, taking dance classes, shooting commercials (thanks to her dad’s coaching!) and earning her own coin. Clint acknowledges the privilege: “I tell her she’s so lucky to be making money in that way. When I was her age, I was doing a paper run in the rain for 12 bucks.”
Bandana-wearing, ear-pierced Ty, meanwhile, is an “observant, sweet and thoughtful” younger brother, picking flowers for his mum, attending dance classes with his sister and even taking her fashion tips.
Clint’s clever kids: Little heartbreaker Ty’s big sister Cam is already earning money making commercials.
“He wore a skirt to school the other day,” tells Clint. “I said, ‘I’ll pack shorts just in case you change your mind, but don’t change your mind if it’s because someone is being mean.’ When he came home, he was sweet. He said, ‘Someone teased me, but I didn’t care.’ I love that they can be themselves.”
At this, Clint pauses for a reflective moment. Musing on his hiatus from radio and focus on television, he continues, “This past year has been freeing for me. There’s things I have wanted to do and I actually had the time to do them.”
Sometimes, he confesses, he fantasises about renting out his house and travelling the world with his tribe, with no imminent return ticket. But that’s a dream for later. From this week, the alarm will once again be set for 4am every weekday morning, and Jaime will hear the faint sounds of videos playing on Clint’s phone as he wakes up, rustles up some breakfast and heads off to work in the inky darkness.
“We got a lot better at the juggle in 2022 and hopefully that will continue,” says Clint, who was formerly known as “Randell” on the radio but will now host under his first name.
He explains, “I was originally Randell because there was another Clint on The Edge, but everyone I know and love calls me Clint, so it always felt a bit weird that listeners didn’t.”
Now he’s officially Clint on the streets, in the sheets and in between the beats!
