Darren McMullen (born 10 February 1982) is a Scottish-Australian television and radio presenter and personality, music journalist and music critic. He was born in Glasgow, Scotland, and emigrated with his family to Australia at the age of 12.[1] He is best known as the co-host of The Voice Australia. Prior to his career as a presenter, he was a student at Bradfield College and then an advertising executive.[2]

Darren McMullen
McMullen at the Sydney premiere of the 2013 film The Great Gatsby
Born (1982-02-10) 10 February 1982 (age 42)
Glasgow, Scotland
Nationality
  • Scottish
  • Australian
OccupationTV presenter
Years active2000s–present
Employer(s)Nine Network (until 2016; 2020)
Seven Network (2016–2020)
Known forThe Voice Kids (2014)
The Voice (2012–2015; 2020)
Minute to Win It (2010)
Commercial Breakdown (2009)
PartnerCrystal Reed (2013–2019)
Websitedarrenmcmullen.tv

In August 2019, McMullen performed as the 'Prawn' in the first season of The Masked Singer Australia.[3]

Career

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McMullen's career as a host and presenter began as a presenter with Arena's Exclusive news on Foxtel and with appearances in major advertising campaigns for Westfield and Gloria Jean's.[citation needed] Darren appeared weekly on MTV Australia's The Lair in 2007 and 2008. In addition to hosting on The Lair, McMullen also hosted a monthly car DVD called Ignition.[2]

In 2009, he hosted Commercial Breakdown on the Nine Network.[citation needed] In 2010, McMullen signed with the Seven Network as host of their new primetime game show Minute to Win It.[2][4]

On 29 June 2011, McMullen debuted as the host of the prime-time reality show Love in the Wild on NBC in the US and CTV in Canada.[1][2] McMullen also returned to his native United Kingdom to host the British version of Minute to Win It on ITV2[1] (which was cancelled after one eight-episode season) and hosted Series 2 of The Magicians on BBC One.[citation needed]

It was announced that McMullen would host The Voice Australia when it debuted in 2012.[5] For the first and second seasons in 2012 and 2013, McMullen co-hosted the show with Faustina Agolley. He took over as a solo host in Season 3 in 2014 and then was joined by Nine Network personality Sonia Kruger for Season 4 in 2015. McMullen announced via social media that he was leaving The Voice after four seasons.[6] Sonia Kruger will stay as solo host.[6]

In 2014, McMullen hosted the six-episode series Darren McMullen's Outsiders on National Geographic Channel, which focused on alternative lifestyles taking him on taboo adventures.[6][7]

In 2014, McMullen was cast as Alex Larden on the drama House Husbands.[6][8][9]

On 13 March 2016, it was announced that McMullen had re-joined the Seven Network once again to host a new show, The Big Music Quiz.[10]

In late 2019, McMullen appeared in the first season of The Masked Singer Australia as the Prawn and he was fifth voted out of the show.[3]

In 2022, McMullen competed on the sixth season of The Celebrity Apprentice Australia.[11] He finished the series as the runner-up, raising over $500,000 for his chosen charity Feel the Magic.[12] He is also set to host Australia's version of The Real Love Boat on Network 10.[13]

In 2023, McMullen competed on the seventh season of The Amazing Race Australia with his nephew, Tristan Dougan.[14]

Personal life

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McMullen was in a relationship with Crystal Reed from July 2013 to early 2019.[15][16] McMullen had previously said that the two had planned on marriage and children, but he was not willing to get married until his country of Australia legalised same-sex marriage.[17]

References

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  1. ^ a b c Nededog, Jethro (29 June 2011). "'Love in the Wild' Host Darren McMullen: 5 Things You Didn't Know About Me". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 10 October 2016.
  2. ^ a b c d "Darren McMullen is in 'Love' with hosting a TV show". Nola.com. 28 June 2011. Retrieved 10 October 2016.
  3. ^ a b Morgan, Michaela (7 October 2019). "'I Was So Scared of You!': Dannii Minogue Finally Finds Out Who 'The Masked Singer's Prawn Is". 10 Daily. Retrieved 7 October 2019.
  4. ^ Schipp, Debbie (20 June 2010). "Storm clouds a crowd". The Daily Telegraph. Sydney. Retrieved 25 June 2012.
  5. ^ Byrnes, Holly (28 October 2011). "Darren McMullen returns on a high note to host The Voice for Channel 9". The Daily Telegraph. Sydney. Retrieved 10 October 2016.
  6. ^ a b c d Byrnes, Holly (30 January 2016). "Darren takes a shine to acting roels". The Daily Telegraph. Sydney. Retrieved 10 October 2016.
  7. ^ "Darren McMullen's Outsiders". National Geographic. Retrieved 10 October 2016.
  8. ^ Vickery, Colin (29 July 2014). "Voice host Darren McMullen spies big career move as the next 007". News.com.au. Retrieved 10 October 2016.
  9. ^ Casamento, Jo (26 June 2014). "Bianca Dye and Darren McMullen on their new roles". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 10 October 2016.
  10. ^ Byrnes, Holly (13 March 2016). "Darren McMullen joins Seven for The Big Music Quiz, Chrissie Swan and Anh Do get weepy". News.com.au. Retrieved 9 October 2016.
  11. ^ Knox, David (22 May 2022). "Celebrity Apprentice 2022: Meet the Cast". TV Tonight. Retrieved 22 May 2022.
  12. ^ Haddad, Kailah (21 June 2022). "Exclusive: Darren McMullen admits it was 'tough' going up against Benji Marshall in Celebrity Apprentice finale". 9Now. Retrieved 4 July 2022.
  13. ^ Knox, David (23 June 2022). "Crew sets sail on 10's Real Love Boat". TV Tonight. Retrieved 7 July 2022.
  14. ^ "The Amazing Race Australia Celebrity Edition: Meet The 11 Teams". 10Play. 9 June 2023. Retrieved 9 June 2023.
  15. ^ Confidential, Sydney (10 January 2014). "Darren McMullen finds new love". The Daily Telegraph. Sydney.
  16. ^ "Darren McMullen admits: The truth about Delta Goodrem and Me". 28 July 2019.
  17. ^ "Darren McMullen opens up about tying the knot with girlfriend Crystal Reed". 6 July 2017.
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