The Player - First Episode

The concept for this 2004 reality series involved 10 bachelors trying to succeed on the Auckland dating scene, while overcoming specially set challenges. Hosted by model Nicky Watson, and produced by Touchdown supremo Julie Christie, this first episode sees Watson pick the 10 (from 15 who began) who will move into the bachelor pad. It introduces the lewd lines, lingerie and phallic fruit that saw The Spinoff’s Duncan Greive describe the show as "an affront to humanity – but man, was it ever fun to watch". Caution: the content from the ‘lads' mag’ era is PC free.

The Player remains one of the earthiest and most brilliantly base moments in New Zealand’s television history.

– Duncan Greive on website The Spinoff, 13 March 2015

Key Cast & Crew

Julie Christie

Writer, Producer

Tim Lawry

Field Director, Camera

Marc Laureano

Field Director, Camera

Lisa Goldapple

Associate Producer

Monique Van Dijk

Production Coordinator

Brigid Reilly

Co-Producer