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Tim Bailey

Tim Bailey is an television presenter, journalist, and former radio broadcaster, renowned for his three-decade career at Network Ten, where he served as the primary for the network's evening news from 1996 until his redundancy in 2020. Bailey began his media career in print journalism as a reporter for the Hobart Mercury, covering topics such as , , and sports including , , , and the . After working in radio including at Sydney's providing updates on weather, surf, and snow reports, he joined Network Ten in 1990 as a reporter on the morning program Good Morning Australia, hosted by Mike Gibson and . Throughout the 1990s and 2000s, Bailey expanded his television roles at Network Ten, hosting youth-oriented and sports programs such as Totally Wild, NRG, The Chilli Factor, The Big Breakfast, Airtime, and the Vodafone Beach Volleyball Tour. He also served as a sports reporter and made daily guest appearances on 2DAY FM's Kyle and Jackie O breakfast show for over 17 years. His weather presentations, often delivered on location across New South Wales for First at Five News (later 10 News First), became a signature feature, earning him a reputation as one of Australia's most recognizable and beloved on-air personalities. Bailey's career included extensive event coverage, such as the , six Melbourne Cups, the motor race, and the Indy Car Carnival in Surfers Paradise, as well as participation in four Sydney to yacht races. Following his departure from Network Ten in August 2020 amid cost-cutting measures, he provided weather updates for Nine Radio's station from September 2020 on programs hosted by and Jim Wilson (as of 2021). He later took on the role of Chief Weather Officer in a national advertising campaign for Allianz Australia and relocated to the Gold Coast, where he has pursued corporate emceeing, including hosting the Gold Guitars Awards, and brand ambassadorships.

Early life

Birth and family background

Tim Bailey was born on 19 February 1963 in , , . , the capital city of and 's island state, served as both his birthplace and initial hometown. Situated on the banks of the River Derwent with Mount Wellington rising prominently in the background, the city provided a picturesque, temperate coastal environment during his early years. Bailey was raised in by his parents, within a that maintained strong ties to local . Two generations of his relatives had worked at the Hobart Mercury prior to his birth, fostering an environment rich with media influences from a young age.

Influences on journalism career

Bailey's interest in was profoundly shaped by his 's longstanding involvement in the field, with two generations preceding him having worked at the Hobart Mercury in . This familial legacy provided early exposure to the world of and media, instilling a sense of tradition and familiarity with journalistic practices from a young age. Bailey's interest in began at age 6, when he and his brother Scott 'Boo' Bailey started early activities. Growing up in , Bailey was immersed in an environment where journalism was not just a profession but a family heritage, naturally sparking his curiosity about storytelling and news dissemination. The proximity to the Hobart Mercury, a key local publication, allowed him to observe the inner workings of newsrooms and the impact of reporting on community life, motivating his pre-professional pursuit of media-related interests. Complementing this familial influence, Bailey's Tasmanian upbringing cultivated personal passions for sports and outdoor activities, such as , which honed his observational skills and aligned with the environmental and sports-oriented themes that would later define his reporting style. These early hobbies, rooted in the rugged Tasmanian landscape, fueled a self-driven enthusiasm for narrative-driven pursuits without reliance on structured academic training.

Career

Print journalism

Tim Bailey began his journalism career in the early 1980s at the Hobart Mercury in , where he started as a copy boy at age 19 before advancing to reporting roles. Initially, he covered and , drawing on his family's multi-generational legacy in Tasmanian journalism. He later shifted to the sports department, reporting on senior , , , and the . In the mid-1980s, Bailey relocated to and joined the Gold Coast Bulletin as a feature writer, spending four years there focusing on local stories in , environmental matters, and sports. During this period, he handled reporting on community and regional developments, building expertise in on-the-ground that mirrored his Hobart work but adapted to the Gold Coast's and growth-oriented context. Marking an entrepreneurial turn, Bailey established and operated his own on the Gold Coast, providing domestic and international coverage to various outlets. This venture allowed him to expand beyond traditional newspaper roles, syndicating content and honing skills in independent . Bailey's experience laid the groundwork for his move into , as his proficiency in naturally translated to on-air demands requiring quick analysis and clear communication.

Radio broadcasting

Bailey began his radio career in the mid-1980s at Sea FM on the Gold Coast, where he served as a and became an inaugural member of the station's morning crew. He later moved to and joined as a sportscaster on The Morning Crew with , holding the role for 12 months in the early 1990s. In this position, Bailey acted as the sports reader, colorful reporter, and humorist, delivering lively updates and commentary that engaged listeners with his energetic style. His contributions to the sports segments built on his earlier print journalism experience, allowing him to provide detailed, narrative-driven insights into major events and athlete performances. After a long tenure in television, Bailey returned to radio in a brief capacity following his redundancy from Network Ten in August 2020. He joined on 21 September 2020 as a host, presenting weather updates on programs including and , before departing in July 2021.

Television presenting

Tim Bailey entered television as a reporter on Network 10's morning program Good Morning Australia in 1990, where he contributed segments alongside hosts Kerri-Anne Kennerley and Mike Gibson. His prior experience in provided a foundation for his on-air presence, enhancing his comfort in the visual medium. In 1993, Bailey transitioned to hosting , a children's breakfast television series on that featured cartoons, interviews, and entertainment segments, which he presented until 1996. This role marked one of his early prominent presenting positions, appealing to young audiences with its lively format. Bailey continued general news reporting for throughout the 1990s and beyond, including cover reporting duties that supplemented his growing portfolio of hosting assignments. In 2000, he hosted The $20 Challenge, a reality series on where participants navigated urban survival tasks with a limited budget, showcasing his versatility in light-hearted, investigative presenting styles. Over more than three decades, from 1990 until his departure in 2020, Bailey maintained a sustained association with , contributing to various general television presenting and reporting roles that solidified his status as a familiar face in morning and entertainment programming.

Sports reporting

Bailey's sports reporting career began with his early work in print journalism at the Hobart Mercury, where he covered sports such as , , golf, and the , providing a foundation that he later integrated into his visuals through dynamic on-location segments and vivid . This print experience, combined with his radio roles as a sports reader and reporter on stations like and CFM , allowed him to transition seamlessly to TV, where he emphasized engaging narratives drawn from his beat to enhance visual broadcasts. On Network Ten, Bailey hosted and reported for several sports-oriented programs, including Totally Wild, where he presented wildlife and adventure sports content, and The Chilli Factor, focusing on extreme sports like and . He also fronted Airtime , covering professional and youth leagues with live action and interviews, and contributed to the Beach Volleyball Tour, delivering on-site reports from coastal events that highlighted athletic performances and crowd energy. These roles showcased his ability to blend his radio-honed humor and print-depth analysis into fast-paced TV formats, earning him a reputation for accessible, enthusiastic coverage that appealed to diverse audiences. Bailey's coverage extended to major events, including reporting from the in as a feature , where he provided on-the-ground updates on competitions like . He contributed to Network Ten's broadcasts over six editions, offering color commentary on the horse racing spectacle, and delivered live reports from the , broadcasting from the challenging to capture the intensity of the motor race. Additionally, he covered racing events, integrating high-speed visuals with insights from his background to engage viewers in the adrenaline-fueled action. His on-location approach, often involving direct interaction with athletes and environments, solidified his standing as a versatile sports known for immersive and relatable reporting.

Weather presentation

Tim Bailey was appointed as the weather presenter for Network 10's 10 News First bulletin in 1996, a role he held continuously until 2020, spanning a 24-year tenure that established him as a longstanding fixture in Australian television news. His appointment marked the beginning of a dedicated focus on meteorological reporting within the network's Sydney-based evening broadcasts, where he delivered daily forecasts tailored to viewers. This extended commitment contributed to his status as a staple of Network 10's bulletins, providing consistent coverage through various events and seasonal changes. Bailey's presentation style was characterized by high energy, enthusiasm, and an engaging flair that often incorporated his personal interests in surfing and outdoor activities, making his segments both informative and entertaining. He frequently conducted on-location weather reporting from various towns across , offering live updates from beaches, rural areas, and urban sites to provide context-specific forecasts and visual demonstrations of conditions. This approach, featured prominently in segments like the "Daily Bailey Weather Wall," allowed him to connect directly with audiences by showcasing real-time environmental details beyond studio-based graphics. Throughout his career, Bailey earned recognition as one of Australia's most trusted weathermen, reflected in public admiration and media portrayals of his reliability and in delivering forecasts. His long-term presence fostered a sense of familiarity and dependability among viewers, solidifying his reputation within the landscape.

Later and

In August 2020, Tim Bailey was among several high-profile presenters made redundant by amid a major restructure driven by financial pressures. His departure from the network, where he had served as chief weatherman for nearly three decades, took effect on 11 September 2020. Bailey later described the sacking as "brutal," expressing deep sadness over the abrupt end to his long tenure. Following his exit from Network 10, Bailey briefly returned to broadcasting on Sydney radio station 2GB, starting 21 September 2020. He provided weather updates for the morning program Ben Fordham Live and the drive show with Jim Wilson, a role that lasted until July 2021. In his farewell to 2GB listeners, Bailey expressed gratitude for the opportunity but announced his departure to pursue a new chapter. Bailey's move to the Gold Coast in 2021 with his wife marked the end of his time in Sydney-based media. He later relocated to , , . As of 2025, no major activities have been reported, indicating a to a low-profile focused on personal life.

Personal life

Marriage and family

Tim Bailey has been married to Samantha Bailey. The couple does not have children of their own but maintains a close partnership alongside their beloved toy poodles, Motu and Surfie.

Residences and lifestyle

Tim Bailey was born and raised in , . Following his initial professional steps there, he relocated north to the Gold Coast in during the early 1980s. This move marked a significant shift from his Tasmanian roots to a more coastal, subtropical environment that aligned with his personal interests in and outdoor activities. During his extensive tenure with and in the 1990s and 2000s, resided in , , primarily on the city's . He owned a three-story home in Elanora Heights from 2009 until selling it in 2016 for $1.8 million, reflecting a stable urban amid his high-profile roles. In July 2021, shortly after departing from his role at radio, relocated back to the Gold Coast with his wife, purchasing what he described as their dream home near the beach. By 2025, he and his wife had relocated to , , . Since then, has maintained a low-profile focused on personal relaxation, with no reported professional engagements as of November 2025.

References

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