TOM SAINSBURY
The Kiwi comic is putting it all on the line to please the Taskmaster
The song I listen to when I need a pick-me-up is… I’m currently obsessing over a singer called Jessie Ware. I’m loving all her music, but Freak Me Now is infectious and energising.
My comfort food… All food!
I’m always chowing down. My sugar cravings at night are out of control, but my real comfort foods would be Cruskits with Olivani spread and Marmite. I also enjoying munching down on Oreos, but they have no nutrients to speak of!
My favourite Instagram character (that I play) is… ’80s Mum seems to really connect with people. People love reminiscing about trampolines and getting their ears pierced. I particularly like playing Satty Faction, a drag queen who is always complaining about the other drag queens. It just brings something out in me!
The shop I can’t walk past… Ones with interesting ceramics in the windows. I’m a big fan of ceramics. Women’s Book Shop in Ponsonby always lures me in. I love books with all my heart and get a big buzz out of cover page design. I do judge books by their covers…
The thing that always makes me laugh… Cats with attitude. My algorithm on Instagram is cute-animals heavy – I can never go past a cat being silly, sassy or behaving like a human. There’s one that says “Nicole” on repeat. That always makes me chuckle. The achievement I’m most proud of is… I’m a sucker for punishment. When I complete an exhaustive, draining tour of my comedy show, I feel like I’ve achieved something. My proudest achievement is probably my film Loop Track. It has moments that still make me so happy.
The series I’m bingeing right now is… I’ve just cancelled everything and watched
Escaping Utopia about Gloriavale. Grim, I know, but so addictive. I’m now going to watch Twin Peaks. I’ve never watched it and I know it’s iconic. When I was a child, I wanted to grow up and… Be a jockey. Can you believe it? I was very impressed by Lance O’Sullivan when he came to visit my school. But I was twice his size, so being a jockey was never on the cards.
Taskmaster NZ is especially good because… Of the cast! Tofiga Fepulea’i is glorious, Abby Howells is gorgeous, Hayley Sproull is hilarious and brash, and Ben Hurley is surprisingly theatrical and really sweet.
The banter between us is lit.
Watch Taskmaster NZ 7.30pm Tuesdays and Wednesdays on TVNZ 2 or stream on TVNZ+.