Susan Wood named as Holmes' permanent replacement

Susan Wood

Susan Wood was today confirmed as permanent host of the TV One current affairs programme that replaced the Holmes show.

The new show, Close Up at 7, started a month ago after broadcaster Paul Holmes announced he was moving from TVNZ to rival Prime.

In a statement today TVNZ said Wood would be the host next year of the new programme, screening on week nights at 7pm, with TVNZ political editor Mark Sainsbury as back-up host.

TVNZ head of news and current affairs Bill Ralston said the appointment of Wood, Sainsbury and a broad based, highly experienced journalistic and production team emphasised a fundamental shift in TVNZ's nightly current affairs show.

"With Close Up it is the story that counts, not the individual presenter of the programme," he said.

Hunter Wells is executive producer and Hamish Clark line up producer of the new programme.

- NZPA