Suzie Wilks
Encyclopedia
Suzie Wilks is an Australian TV lifestyle presenter and host of six prime time television shows since 1997.
lifestyle series Our House in February 1998. She was recruited to host Changing Rooms
(1998–2005), the Australian version of the very successful BBC lifestyle program, which premiered on the Nine Network
in September 1998. That year Wilks became the first woman to host two prime-time shows on Australian television in the same year. In 1999, she dropped her Our House commitment to focus solely on Change Rooms. That success continued through into 2001 with the series spinoff Changing Rooms Special Operations and concurrently a new series Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner which ran for one season.
After an eight-year run on Changing Rooms, Wilks resigned to return to her home town, Melbourne. She then hosted ‘Body Work’ for the Nine Network, which won its weekly timeslot. This was followed by a special called Mothers In War, again on Channel 9.
Since Wilks' time on Changing Rooms she has accepted invitations to various celebrity events and TV programs. In 2002 she drove in (and crashed out of) the celebrity race at the Australian Grand Prix
. In 2004, Melbourne's Age newspaper named her as one of Melbourne's Top 25 sexiest people. She was a celebrity contestant on Channel 7's Dancing with the Stars
(2005, 2007). She also won her episode of the 2008 series The Singing Bee
and made two appearances on Channel Ten's Thank God You’re Here (2006, 2007) as an ensemble cast member.
During the years 2006–2008 Wilks broadened her media experience with a weekly radio show Lunch With Suzie Wilks on Melbourne radio's 3AW. In 2007 she accepted a speaking part on the Australian movie December Boys
alongside popular English actor Daniel Radcliffe
.
Wilks maintains a portfolio of several national and local product endorsements and in the past has featured in TV and press advertisements for Holden
cars and Cadbury chocolates. She is currently the face of the Australand property group and is signed to Solomons Flooring with The Suzie Wilks Collection of carpets. In 2009 she coauthored a book called 'RUEA?' (Are You Emotionally Available?) with PR and media person Deborah Gray.
At the end of 2009, Wilks resigned as host of the Victorian edition of 'Postcards', a local travel series broadcast on Channel 9
with Giaan Rooney
replacing her in 2010.
Wilks has two older siblings, Sally who works in the Human Resources Industry and Tim who owns and operates a hat merchandising and IT business.
Wilks is committed to a number of animal related charities. She is an active voice against animal experimentation
for the Australian Association for Humane Research
(AAHR) and the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals
. Wilks is also an Australia Day Ambassador
.
She married businessman Nick O'Halloran (Owner of Maranello Motorsport) on Aug 20, 2010 in Melbourne and is pregnant.
Her Husband is nine years her junior and despite the nine year age gap and Suzie's age of 42, she and Nick are very happy that she could conceive naturally because of her advanced years.
Professional life
Wilks' TV career began on the Nine Network replacing Tracey Dale on the Nine NetworkNine Network
The Nine Network , is an Australian television network with headquarters based in Willoughby, a suburb located on the North Shore of Sydney. For 50 years since television's inception in Australia, between 1956 and 2006, it was the most watched television network in Australia...
lifestyle series Our House in February 1998. She was recruited to host Changing Rooms
Changing Rooms
Changing room may refer to:*changeroom, a room or enclosure in a clothing store where customers may try on clothes before purchasing them*Changing Rooms, a BBC television series*The Changing Room, a stage play by David Storey...
(1998–2005), the Australian version of the very successful BBC lifestyle program, which premiered on the Nine Network
Nine Network
The Nine Network , is an Australian television network with headquarters based in Willoughby, a suburb located on the North Shore of Sydney. For 50 years since television's inception in Australia, between 1956 and 2006, it was the most watched television network in Australia...
in September 1998. That year Wilks became the first woman to host two prime-time shows on Australian television in the same year. In 1999, she dropped her Our House commitment to focus solely on Change Rooms. That success continued through into 2001 with the series spinoff Changing Rooms Special Operations and concurrently a new series Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner which ran for one season.
After an eight-year run on Changing Rooms, Wilks resigned to return to her home town, Melbourne. She then hosted ‘Body Work’ for the Nine Network, which won its weekly timeslot. This was followed by a special called Mothers In War, again on Channel 9.
Since Wilks' time on Changing Rooms she has accepted invitations to various celebrity events and TV programs. In 2002 she drove in (and crashed out of) the celebrity race at the Australian Grand Prix
Australian Grand Prix
The Australian Grand Prix is a motor race held annually and is held to be the pinnacle of motor racing in Australia. The Grand Prix is the oldest surviving motor racing competition held in Australia having been held 76 times since it was first run at Phillip Island in 1928. Since 1985 the race has...
. In 2004, Melbourne's Age newspaper named her as one of Melbourne's Top 25 sexiest people. She was a celebrity contestant on Channel 7's Dancing with the Stars
Dancing with the Stars
Dancing with the Stars is the name of several international television series based on the format of the British TV series Strictly Come Dancing, which is distributed by BBC Worldwide – the commercial arm of the BBC. Currently the format has been licensed to over 35 countries...
(2005, 2007). She also won her episode of the 2008 series The Singing Bee
The Singing Bee (Australian game show)
The Singing Bee is an Australian game show which is based on the original American version of the same name. By combining karaoke singing with a spelling bee-style competition, contestants have to sing lyrics to songs without making a mistake or risk being eliminated immediately.The show premiered...
and made two appearances on Channel Ten's Thank God You’re Here (2006, 2007) as an ensemble cast member.
During the years 2006–2008 Wilks broadened her media experience with a weekly radio show Lunch With Suzie Wilks on Melbourne radio's 3AW. In 2007 she accepted a speaking part on the Australian movie December Boys
December Boys
December Boys is a 2007 Australian film directed by Rod Hardy and written by Marc Rosenberg and adapted from the 1963 novel of the same name by Michael Noonan. It was released on 14 September 2007 in the UK and US and 20 September 2007 in Australia...
alongside popular English actor Daniel Radcliffe
Daniel Radcliffe
Daniel Jacob Radcliffe is an English actor who rose to prominence playing the titular character in the Harry Potter film series....
.
Wilks maintains a portfolio of several national and local product endorsements and in the past has featured in TV and press advertisements for Holden
Holden
GM Holden Ltd is an automaker that operates in Australia, based in Port Melbourne, Victoria. The company was founded in 1856 as a saddlery manufacturer. In 1908 it moved into the automotive field, before becoming a subsidiary of the U.S.-based General Motors in 1931...
cars and Cadbury chocolates. She is currently the face of the Australand property group and is signed to Solomons Flooring with The Suzie Wilks Collection of carpets. In 2009 she coauthored a book called 'RUEA?' (Are You Emotionally Available?) with PR and media person Deborah Gray.
At the end of 2009, Wilks resigned as host of the Victorian edition of 'Postcards', a local travel series broadcast on Channel 9
Nine Network
The Nine Network , is an Australian television network with headquarters based in Willoughby, a suburb located on the North Shore of Sydney. For 50 years since television's inception in Australia, between 1956 and 2006, it was the most watched television network in Australia...
with Giaan Rooney
Giaan Rooney
Giaan Leigh Rooney OAM is a retired Australian swimmer. She won an Olympic gold medal and broke a world record at the Athens Olympics...
replacing her in 2010.
Personal life
Born and raised in Melbourne to parents Barry and Ann Wilks (deceased), Wilks completed her schooling at Carey Grammar School in suburban Kew. After further studies, she was awarded a Certificate of Journalism. By the age of 22, she was an experienced renovator, having transformed her first house, a Victorian weatherboard in suburban Richmond. By the time of Changing Rooms, she had started her second renovation – a second storey addition to a house in Hawthorn. Wilks also renovated her current home.Wilks has two older siblings, Sally who works in the Human Resources Industry and Tim who owns and operates a hat merchandising and IT business.
Wilks is committed to a number of animal related charities. She is an active voice against animal experimentation
Vivisection
Vivisection is defined as surgery conducted for experimental purposes on a living organism, typically animals with a central nervous system, to view living internal structure...
for the Australian Association for Humane Research
Australian Association for Humane Research
The Australian Association for Humane Research Inc. is an Australian-based non-profit anti-vivisection organisation.-History:Humane Research Australia was originally founded in 1979 by Ms Elizabeth Ahlston....
(AAHR) and the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals
Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals
The Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals is a charity in England and Wales that promotes animal welfare. In 2009 the RSPCA investigated 141,280 cruelty complaints and collected and rescued 135,293 animals...
. Wilks is also an Australia Day Ambassador
Australia Day
Australia Day is the official national day of Australia...
.
She married businessman Nick O'Halloran (Owner of Maranello Motorsport) on Aug 20, 2010 in Melbourne and is pregnant.
Her Husband is nine years her junior and despite the nine year age gap and Suzie's age of 42, she and Nick are very happy that she could conceive naturally because of her advanced years.