Jude Dobson
April 25, 2024Jude Dobson, née Kirk, is a New Zealand television presenter and producer. She is best known for presenting a run of lifestyle shows in the ’90s. She co-hosted the game show Sale of the Century but resigned after three months.
The presenter has been featured in magazines, appearing first in April 1989. She was a former maternity nurse-turned-medical rep and was also a part-time model. She entered the Miss Universe New Zealand (Lana Coc-Kroft won). Dobson worked at a pharmaceutical company.
Quick Facts
| Name: | Jude Dobson |
| Age: | 57 years old |
| Parents: | Bill Kirk (father), Naomi Kirk (mother) |
| Nationality: | New Zealander |
| Education: | Nurse |
| Occupation: | Presenter, Producer |
| Spouse: | Graeme |
| Children: | Ella, Jack, Rosie |
| Relatives: | Ernest Kirk (Grandfather) |
The Origin of Jude Dobson: Parents and Maiden Name.
Jude Dobson was born to Bill Kirk and Naomi Kirk. She grew up in the Auckland suburb of Mangere Bridge. She is 57 years old. Her parents are no longer with her. Her mother died in 2016, and her father in 2018.
She graduated as a registered nurse and has worked as a nurse, nanny, model, and pharmaceutical representative.
Where has Jude Dobson Worked?
Dobson hosted her self-titled show for five years in the late ’90s. She established production companies Homegrown Television and Raising Children Media.
Her television career has its roots in a beauty contest she entered in 1988. She finished fourth in the Miss Universe New Zealand pageant.
Jude landed her first TV gig and joined Steve Parr on the primetime quiz show Sale of the Century. She finished working on Sale of the Century after TVNZ axed. She started to present other lifestyle shows such as The Paradise Picture Show, Body and Soul, and Open Home.
Jude was a presenter, along with Rikki Morris, on the show Alive and Kicking in 1993. In early 1997, June landed a slot as presenter of 5.30 with Jude, although she nearly turned it down. After three seasons, it changed its name to 5 O’Clock with Jude Dobson.
She has talked about issues such as breast cancer awareness. She is an ambassador for the New Zealand Breast Cancer Foundation. She was featured in a magazine in April 1989 after being the co-host of the show Sale of the Century alongside Steve Parr.
In 2000, the television personality launched her television program company Homegrown TV. She has made many programs, including a documentary on cot death. She has done a series on parenting – Homegrown, Nought to Five, and Raising Children.
Passionate about telling veterans’ stories, Jude has helped to preserve history and honor those who fought. Her audio documentary about WWII aviators earned her a bronze award at the New York Festivals Radio Awards.
In no time, Dobson will fly to France to work with the New Zealand Liberation Museum in Le Quesnoy. She competed in Dancing With the Stars in 2019 and is a retirement village ambassador.
Who is Jude Dobson married to? Does she have children?
Jude Dobson married her husband, Graeme, in 1992. Her husband was an Air Force pilot before setting up the airport shuttle business Super Shuttle. The couple share three children – Ella, Jack, and Rosie.
Dobson had her first child, Ella, in 1995 and spoke about a ‘serious reaction’ her child had had to the whooping cough vaccine as a baby in 1997.
When she had her lastborn child, Rosie, in 2003, Jude did a story with the Weekly. She lives in the Dobson family home in Auckland. Her grandfather, Ernest Kirk, died when her father was 16.
