Breakfast Presenter Jenny-May Clarkson Blooper: What Happened

Jenny-May Clarkson has spent nearly two decades as a fixture of New Zealand mornings — first as a Silver Ferns netball star, then as the first wahine Māori to co-host TVNZ’s Breakfast. But even the most seasoned presenters have their off-days, and Clarkson’s 2022 giggling fit after bungling a German museum name became the kind of moment that still gets replayed years later.

Incident Date: 16 Oct 2022 · Show: TVNZ Breakfast · Location: Wiesbaden museum feature · Duration: Two minutes off-air · Top Coverage: NZ Herald

The table below consolidates key personal and career details referenced throughout this report.

Who is Jenny-May Clarkson?

Jenny-May Clarkson is a New Zealand television presenter and former elite athlete whose career has spanned netball, sports broadcasting, and morning television. Born in Aotearoa, she earned her first national prominence as a Silver Ferns netball player before transitioning to media. She later represented Touch Blacks, earning a silver medal at the 1999 World Cup before pivoting to a broadcasting career that would define a generation of New Zealand viewers.

Career on Breakfast

Clarkson joined TVNZ in 2005 as a netball commentator, leveraging her athletic credentials to build credibility in sports media. Her versatility led her to a role as sports presenter for 1News at Six, where she honed the skills that would later serve her on the much-watched Breakfast couch. In 2020, Clarkson was appointed co-host of TVNZ Breakfast, making history as the first wahine Māori in that role. Her appointment marked a significant milestone for representation in New Zealand broadcasting.

The combination of her athletic background, frank speaking style, and ability to connect with viewers made Clarkson a beloved presence on the programme. She co-hosted alongside Chris Chang, with whom she shared easy chemistry on screen. Her twenty-year tenure with TVNZ made her one of the broadcaster’s longest-serving presenters.

Public persona

Beyond her on-screen work, Clarkson authored a memoir titled Full Circle, chronicling her journey from elite sport to broadcasting. She has balanced roles as presenter, wife, and mother, frequently discussing family topics on air with characteristic openness. Her willingness to address personal subjects — from motherhood aspirations to everyday struggles — helped audiences feel connected to her beyond the television screen.

Is Jenny-May Clarkson leaving Breakfast?

In mid-November 2025, TVNZ announced that Clarkson would be departing Breakfast after nearly two decades with the broadcaster. The departure announcement came as a surprise to many viewers who had followed her career through multiple programme iterations. Her final show aired on 21 November 2025, bringing the curtain down on a remarkable tenure that began long before her Breakfast co-host appointment.

Rumors and statements

Prior to the formal announcement, social media speculation had circulated regarding Clarkson’s future on the programme. While neither Clarkson nor TVNZ had confirmed anything officially, the rumours proved accurate when the departure was finally announced on a Thursday before her final November broadcast. Clarkson herself had previously discussed the demands of early-morning television, describing the role as “the best job with the worst hours.”

Why is Jenny-May not on Breakfast?

Jenny-May Clarkson concluded her Breakfast tenure on 21 November 2025, having announced her departure earlier that month. Her absence from the programme following the announcement was expected as part of a standard transition process. The broadcaster has since signalled plans to refresh the show in 2026, with a search underway for new presenting talent to join remaining co-host Chris Chang.

Absence explanations

The November 2025 departure followed years of speculation about whether Clarkson would eventually step away from the demanding morning schedule. Early-morning television requires presenters to wake well before dawn, with Breakfast’s live format demanding alertness and quick thinking from its talent. Clarkson’s frank admissions about the challenging hours had fuelled speculation that she might eventually pursue other opportunities.

Blooper context

Some viewers have connected her 2022 giggling fit on the programme to her eventual departure, though no causal link exists between the two events. The blooper was simply a human moment during an otherwise successful tenure. Clarkson’s farewell on her final show was marked by genuine emotion, with colleagues, whānau, and co-host Chris Chang paying tribute to her contributions.

What happened in Jenny-May Clarkson’s Breakfast blooper?

During a segment on 16 October 2022 shortly after 7:33am, Clarkson was presenting a feature on a German museum in Wiesbaden that housed a painting by Friedrich Heyser. The moment she attempted to pronounce the museum’s name, something went wrong — and she simply could not stop laughing. The giggling fit persisted for nearly two minutes, rendering her unable to continue hosting the show while her co-host looked on.

Museum name mishap

The exact museum name has never been publicly corrected, but the incident centred on Clarkson’s attempt to pronounce a German proper noun during the live segment. The segment had been pre-recorded and featured artwork from the Wiesbaden collection, making the mispronunciation particularly awkward given the cultural content of the feature. Video footage of the incident was later provided by TVNZ to NZ Herald, which reported on the viral moment.

On-air reaction

Clarkson’s laughter was genuine and contagious — so much so that she required approximately two minutes to compose herself before continuing with the programme. The extended break in hosting occurred live on national television, making the moment all the more memorable for viewers who witnessed it in real time. The incident became one of the most-discussed Breakfast bloopers of recent years.

“She was unable to host the show for almost two minutes due to fits of laughter.”

— NZ Herald entertainment reporter

“Where are mine?”

— Chris Chang, co-host

How many children does Jenny-May Clarkson have?

The exact number of children Jenny-May Clarkson has has never been publicly confirmed in verified reporting. What is clear from her on-air discussions is that motherhood has been a recurring topic she has addressed with characteristic openness during her Breakfast tenure.

Family details

Clarkson is married to Dean Clarkson, and together they have navigated the demands of a media career alongside family life. She has spoken openly about discussions around expanding her family, including during on-air conversations that resonated with viewers navigating similar questions about work-life balance. The personal details of her family situation beyond these public discussions remain private.

Husband info

Her husband Dean Clarkson has largely remained outside the public eye, though he has been mentioned in her public discussions and appears in her memoir Full Circle. The couple have been together throughout her broadcasting career, supporting her through the demands of early-morning television and the intensity of live morning shows.

Related reading: TV Guide New Zealand · Funny Jokes for Adults

The giggling fit marked one of her final highlights on TVNZ Breakfast before her reasons for leaving Breakfast, driven by family priorities and future plans.

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