Sunday - Holmes Special With Janet McIntyre

I hurt a very brilliant, beautiful and loving woman.

– Sir Paul Holmes admits he failed his first wife, Hinemoa Elder.

If Millie can forgive me what I did, then I sure as hell can forgive her for this.

– Sir Paul Holmes on his unconditional love for adopted daughter Millie Elder-Holmes

Well I'm staring it in the face now.

– Sir Paul Holmes on whether he fears death

Because I love people. And I've really worked hard...and I did it well, I think, on the whole did it well. There were some slip ups, there were some bloody stupid moments, I went too far, I upset some people. I upset some bad people too, which I don't mind...

– Sir Paul Holmes on why he was happy to receive a knighthood

Yes, more or less. I'll admit it, mea culpa. I wanted some theatre on that first night and we didn't have any.

– Sir Paul Holmes on orchestrating the infamous 'walk-out' by yachtsman Dennis Conner

The son of a Hawkes Bay mechanic, Holmes was arguably the country's most famous broadcaster. He had a yearning for radio at an early age, using the family tape-recorder to practise announcing as a school pupil. He also auditioned at the local radio station and acted in theatre productions. After graduating with a Bachelor of Arts at Victoria University in Wellington, Holmes joined the New Zealand Broadcasting Corporation as an announcer in Christchurch. It was a path that would see him serve 16 years on prime time television and nearly 22 years as NewstalkZB breakfast host. His tendency to inject himself into stories shifted the landscape of broadcasting in New Zealand, and catapulted him to as much a celebrity as those he interviewed.

– Excerpt from an obituary for Sir Paul Holmes, Dominion Post, 1 February 2013

I don't think Houdini will do it this time. There's a time limitation now – the old cancer found me out and is starting to do some funny things.

– Sir Paul Holmes in a speech at his investiture in 2013, Stuff, 1 February 2013