Catching up with Suzy Clarkson feels like chatting with a dear friend. The television personality, newsreader, author and fitness inspiration was a regular in our homes for more than 20 years, hosting shows including Blind Date, aerobic videos New Zealand Fit Kit and the iconic game show It’s in the Bag.
Her diary looks different these days as Head of Communications at retirement living company Metlifecare. But she has fond memories of the TV career that brought her – and thousands of New Zealanders – so much joy.
“I was so lucky,” says Suzy, 55, who was known by her maiden name Suzy Aiken. “I’d studied as a physiotherapist for three years before co-hosting Blind Date in 1991. My life took a major right- hand turn into television and that was that.”
Suzy worked on New Zealand Today in 1992 and her four fitness videos were very successful. But her role alongside Nick Tansley in the third iteration of It’s in the Bag is arguably one of her favourites.
“I was so humbled to be asked to co-host this huge, popular show,” she says. “Selwyn [Toogood] was such an institution. Who doesn’t hear that voice saying, ‘What will you do, Te Awamutu? Is it the money or the bag?!’ It was such a cool programme. Nick was so kind and funny. He had so much experience, which made it easy for me.”
Suzy recalls travelling across Aotearoa, bringing the show to places that weren’t accustomed to TV filming.
“It had such a magical, exciting quality to it,” she reflects. “The call would go out that television was coming and the OB [Outside Broadcast] truck would roll into town – it was a huge production. We’d film at the local Lions club, school hall or whatever – it would be very simple, with just a kitchen out the back and a small catering area for us to set up. The production team would set up lights and cables, and the audience – many of whom had just come from sheep farms or stations to see us – would sit on those low wooden community hall benches. They knew we were there to have fun and give them the opportunity to win some big prizes. We had booby prizes because you have to, but there weren’t many.”
Suzy says the joy from the audience was what made it special. “Everyone needs a bit of joy – it’s something that’s sometimes sadly missing these days. This was just good, clean fun.”
Although the show wasn’t broadcast live, it was filmed without any retakes or editing, leading to some classic moments.
“Once, I was wearing this plunging neckline – it wasn’t revealing, but it was plunging,” she tells. “I leaned forward to get a bag from a lower shelf, not realising the camera was right there. It took a shot straight down my top! It didn’t show anything, but there was significant cleavage! I remember the whole audience going ‘Woah!’ That shot ended up in a bloopers reel that went international, and I still see it now and again!”
While Suzy adored the show, she loves her job and looking after her two boys, Ben, now 16, and Toby, 10 – who Weekly readers may recall was conceived by IVF. “The boys are great,” says Suzy. “Ben plays hockey for his school. Toby is also sporty. His current passions are jiu jitsu and hockey. The hockey influence comes from [husband] Tim – he played representative hockey in England and now coaches junior teams. Ben’s also naturally talented at art, but he doesn’t get that talent from me!”
Suzy has kept her fitness up. “I’m 55 and accepting my body isn’t what it used to be. I’m a bit kinder and gentler for my age and stage. I exercise for about 30-45 minutes five times a week, but it’s more restorative. I do stretching, yoga, Pilates and strength training – strength is a key exercise for older women to retain a healthy body mass. I also walk the dog and I’ll go to the gym with Tim. For me, exercise is relaxation and time out.”
Life is now out of the limelight, but she wouldn’t change a thing. “I was a newsreader for seven years with Prime and I just got exhausted with the negativity of the news. I was ready to move.”
Would she ever return to TV? “I don’t want to leave Metlifecare, but if I was offered something that was age appropriate I might. Perhaps I could host another Blind Date? Except nobody dates like that any more. Maybe I could do a Blind Date for the retirement village?” Now there’s an idea…
