KEY POINTS:
Marc Ellis has shaved his head and joined the Hare Krishnas.
Spotted yesterday walking out of Blossoms cafe in Kumeu, looking like any other member of the sect, it seemed the wild-boy days of TVs larrikin were gone - temporarily.
Ellis is filming How the Other Half Live, a series focusing on breaking down the religious and cultural stereotypes of Kiwi minority groups. The show, which will screen on TV One, seems topical, given Friday's declaration by Destiny Church Bishop Brian Tamaki that Christianity is New Zealand's "national religion".
Ellis immerses himself with members of different cultures, including the Muslim community, hip-hop dancers in South Auckland and a hippy community in Nelson.
A friend of Ellis told the Herald on Sunday: "The show plays on the fact that there is a lot of ignorance in New Zealand... It's about him getting behind the stereotypes and getting to know the real people."
