Michelle Hyslop.
Comedian and broadcaster Hayley Sproull carefully chooses the phrase “rebuilding year” to describe why 2025 was one of the most challenging of her life. Becoming single, then experiencing the ups and downs of dating in her mid-thirties, have made for great comedy content, she jokes. As for those dates that went absolutely terribly? “The more trauma, the better!” laughs the 36-year-old.
As a stand-up comic, a co-host on ZM’s breakfast show and the new presenter of TV favourite My House My Castle, a quick, self-deprecating sense of humour is to be expected. But she’s also perpetually honest and vulnerable.
Of being open about her personal life on the radio show she presents with Carl Fletcher and Vaughan Smith, Hayley says, “It’s too early in the morning to filter anything, so I don’t bother. Ever since I informed the public I was single, I’ve shared little stories of my dating life.”
Such candour has led to quite a few changes, including the birth of her new stand-up show Sproull On The Prowl, which debuts at the NZ International Comedy Festival next month. Disastrous dates, awful apps and a fabulous plot twist are all up for dissection in this ode to a fun and slightly traumatic time of her life.
Back on the dating scene
“Going dating again, I’d write down everything that happened,” grins Hayley.
“It got to the point where the worse the dates were, the more I’d be like, ‘Brilliant!’ It’s been kind of amazing.”
After 15 years in a long-term relationship, she’s loved trying dating apps for the first time.
First time on dating apps
“I was quite excited to see what they were about,” Hayley confesses.
“They’re fun and entertaining. I know a lot of my friends had stressful and depressing experiences, but to be fair, they were on there looking for the love of their life – I wasn’t! “They’re feeling that ticking clock, whereas I’m very casual about it and the dates make me laugh a lot. I love observing humans in a very vulnerable way – and there’s nothing more vulnerable than trying to sell yourself on the internet as alluring and desirable!”
“I live for the content”
Although it’s been a roller-coaster ride – especially the “odd experience” of being ghosted for the first time – Hayley jokes, “I live for the content!”
Given she juggles radio, TV and comedy tours, her personal life has had to take a backseat at times. How does she balance it all? Hayley insists her secret is that she just doesn’t stop.
“I have my moments!” she says.
“I literally looked at a friend two hours ago and was like, ‘I’ve fallen into a depression.’ But I’m just a show pony. Anything to do with performing, I can turn it on. It fills my cup to be working, performing and entertaining. “When I’m stressed or worried, I remind myself that this is everything I dreamed of. I just shut up and show up, and as soon as I’m on that stage or in front of an audience, I’m rejuvenated. I’m like one of Captain Planet’s Planeteers!”
Unsurprisingly, then, Hayley is not great at chilling. “I don’t relax – I crash,” she says. But she has incredible support at home in the form of Mum Patsy and Dad Craig, with whom she’s very close. The fact they’ve both moved into her renovated West Auckland cottage is an absolute dream.
Back under the same roof
“People have asked me about what it’s like to live with my parents at this age and, honestly, it’s been phenomenal,” she smiles.
“But you have to make sure you’re close with them! “Just before I jumped on this call, Mum was sorting out dinner and Dad chucked the vacuum on before the photoshoot. It’s been awesome spending time with them. We’ve always been open-minded. We don’t hide a lot from each other and we talk about everything.”
From family influence to My House My Castle
Hayley’s passion for home improvement comes from Patsy, who has spruced up a fair few homes herself. When Hayley was asked to helm the reboot of My House My Castle, it felt like an absolute dream to see her loves of hosting and homes come together.
“It almost didn’t happen because I was working on radio, touring for 7 Days Live, filming another TV show and working on my comedy tour,” she recalls.
“When the producers told me they wanted me to host it, I literally sent them a calendar with 10 available days on it and said, ‘You can have these if you want them!’ Thankfully, they were able to make it work – I thought they’d have a look and go, ‘God, no!’ But here we are.”
A nod to the originals
A massive fan of the original My House My Castle, which featured the late John “Cocksy” Cocks and host Robert Harte, Hayley was keen to pay tribute to her predecessors.
“I remember Rob so well with that dorky little black suit,” she says.
“Mum and I watched every single episode when I was growing up, and it still lives in my brain rent-free. “I was very excited to hear that I was going to be that suited dork! I talked to the producers about also wearing a black suit every episode as a little nod, but the show has been refreshed and changed a little. “Now it’s about embracing silliness, which totally suits me. Back in the day, the show was a lot about leaky homes and neighbours at war, but now it’s more inspirational, asking, ‘What can you do with your castle?’”
Renovation reality check
As someone who has renovated her own personal palace, Hayley says she’s constantly awed by New Zealand’s DIY spirit, although she rules out entering a reno show like The Block.
“Renovating is one of the most stressful experiences ever!” she says.
“The idea of cameras being there when you’re constantly flipping your lid… To hell with that! But I’d love to show off my finished house. “I do think my home is so beautiful. There are no white walls – it’s a lot. My friends look at the house and go, ‘This is incredible, but I’d never live here!’ which is fine. I like a bit of colour in my life!”
My House My Castle screens 7.30pm Wednesdays on Three and streams on ThreeNow. For tickets to Sproull On The Prowl, visit comedyfestival.co.nz.
