Guy Malachi Jones Williams (born 19 September 1987)[1] is a New Zealand comedian and television personality. Williams was a co-host on satirical news and entertainment television programme Jono and Ben, until the show's end in 2018.[3][4] In 2019, he began hosting New Zealand Today, a show detailing the lives and events of New Zealand towns and the people who live in them.[5]
Early life
Williams was born in Christchurch to Gary and Roseanne Williams, and moved to Nelson when he was twelve months old.[6] His younger brother is comedian Paul Williams. He attended primary school at St Joseph's School,[7] and was educated at Nelson College from 2001 to 2005; in 2005 he travelled to Gallipoli with Prime Minister Helen Clark after winning a student essay competition.[8] He was a member of the school's 'A' basketball team from 2003 to 2005.[9]
Williams began performing stand-up comedy in Wellington in 2007. In 2009 he performed as Dai Henwood's opening act after winning Dai's Protégé Project.[14] He is a regular performer in the New Zealand Comedy Festival in Wellington and Auckland.
In 2010, he started co-hosting on The Jono Project, where he appeared on TVNZ's breakfast show in a prank in which he claimed to be a promoter of commercial whaling in New Zealand as a way to save whales.[15] When the show was merged with WANNA-BEn in 2012 to form Jono and Ben at Ten, Williams followed. He was promoted to co-host in 2013.
In 2012 Williams won the Billy T Award for his debut solo show On the verge of nothing.[16]
On 15 January 2014, it was announced in a press release that Williams would join The Edge in a new radio show, The Edge Afternoons with Guy, Sharyn & Clint with Sharyn Casey and Clint Roberts. In comedic fashion, he is quoted in the press release as saying: "It has been my dream to work on The Edge radio station ever since last week when they told me I would be working on The Edge radio station. I'm super excited to make my dream a reality."[17] In March 2014, Williams was selected by TV Guide magazine as New Zealand's Sexiest Male Television Personality, beating Shortland Street's Benjamin Mitchell, who had won the award for several years beforehand.[18] He also co-hosted The Xtra Factor, a follow-up programme of The X Factor with Casey and Roberts from March–May 2015.[19][20]
In September 2015, Williams released a charity single entitled "The Pigeon Song", featuring Christchurch rapper Scribe. It peaked at the number two position in the New Zealand singles chart.[22]
He left The Edge in December 2016 to focus on other work, including television projects.[23]
In 2017, he recorded and released his first half hour stand-up special In an election year live at Q Theatre, Auckland.[24]
In 2019, he began hosting the satirical news show New Zealand Today,[5] which began as a popular segment on Jono & Ben.[25]
In 2020, Williams competed on the first season of Taskmaster NZ, the New Zealand version of the British television show. His brother, Paul, serves as the Taskmaster's assistant throughout the show.[26]
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