Tom Williams

The start of Tom’s media career nearly didn’t happen. When he called Merrick & Rosso’s Triple J Drive show he forgot to turn the radio down in his ute. The resulting feedback down the line had Tom pleading with the show’s producer to let him stay on the line. Tom charmed his way past the producer and made such an impression on Merrick & Rosso that he became a regular. When Merrick & Rosso moved on to launch Sydney’s NOVA 969 radio station, Tom came with them.

Tom, a carpenter by trade, caught the ear of the producers at Seven’s DIY show Room For Improvement and soon was on air building a television career, as well as numerous pergolas and sunrooms. Tom was not a personality pretending to know what the pointy end of a drill does; he consulted for the program as a genuine tradesman. He also wrote a DIY column for New Idea for two years.

A snowboarding instructor, competitive Surf Life Saver and keen surfer, Tom is no stranger to adventure. So it made perfect sense when in 2001 Seven decided to spread Tom’s natural charm and easy humour to the Great Outdoors. Since then he has filed stories from around the world, crash testing holidays for Australia’s TV viewers on one of the nation’s most popular shows.

At the start of 2005 Tom took on his most frightening challenge yet – being a contestant on Dancing With The Stars. Tom is never one to do things half-heartedly and he attacked rehearsals as fiercely as anyone could. The results on the dance floor made him hugely popular with the voting audience and the show’s judges. Tom entered the competition as a bit of fun, but once he hit the dance floor his competitive drive took over and he ended up being crowned series two champion.

Tom was all of a sudden a household name, which got him his first hosting role on The Mole. Cast & crew, including Tom, flew to different locations in New Zealand and back to Sydney each week for a live elimination show. The show was a ratings winner for Seven and capped off an amazing and surprising year for Tom.

2006 was been a busy year for Tom.  As well as continuing to live out of a suitcase for The Great Outdoors, Tom was a key member of Seven’s broadcast team from this year’s Winter Olympics in Torino, Italy.

Tom Facts
¨       36 year old carpenter/builder from Sydney’s Northern Beaches.
¨       10 years school at St Aloysius College, Milsons Point.
¨       Studied Accountancy and Advertising at TAFE then worked at an advertising agency for     18 months (It was not his ‘cup of tea’).
¨       Mad keen Surf Lifesaver at Manly and Palm Beach. Rowed in Australian and World Lifesaving Championship finals.
¨       Silver & Bronze Medallions in SLSA.
¨       Snowboarded in North America, Canada, Europe & New Zealand. Seasons in various resorts.
¨       Loves his family, his mates and life to the max. Loves high adventure and travel.
¨       Favourite bands – You Am I, silverchair.
¨       Favourite movie – Spinal Tap.
¨       Favourite comedians – Merrick & Rosso, Dave Hughes.
¨       Hangs out at bands, the beach and the footy (go Sydney Swans).
¨       Wants either a TV career or at least his old job back.