Todd Woodbridge thought he wasn’t ready for a TV career, until he looked at his past

Exclusive: Nobody is more shocked than Todd Woodbridge over his recent Gold Logie nomination, for him a television career was never part of the dream. After spending decades building a decorated tennis career, the 55-year-old became a household name for something entirely different – being a beloved TV game show host and commentator. It’s a career pivot he thought he was unprepared for, until he got stuck in. “It’s honestly quite surreal to be honest, I always dreamt of Wimbledon and Grand Slams, not Logies,” Woodbridge told nine.com.au. “To know that people have welcomed me into their homes, whether it’s through tennis, the Olympics or Tipping Point, and have taken the time to support me is incredibly humbling. I feel very grateful and a little bit shocked, if I’m being honest.” While a media job wasn’t part of the original plan, it was one he cooked up after retiring from tennis at 34.

After 15 years as a sports broadcaster, he became the face of Tipping Point Australia and had to learn a whole new skill set. “I think sport prepared me better than I realised. Tennis teaches you discipline, preparation, resilience and how to perform under pressure. Those skills transfer surprisingly well to television,” he said of his career transition. Woodbridge admitted that when he started out in television, there was plenty he didn’t know. “I had to learn a completely new craft.

I asked lots of questions, listened to people who were better than me and tried to improve every day. It’s very similar to how you approach a tennis career.” Even before his 2026 Gold Logie nomination alongside Ally Langdon, Julia Morris, Robert Irwin, Lisa Millar, Poh Ling Yeow and Sam Pang, there was no second guessing that Woodbridge was a standout in Aussie living rooms. His nomination comes a year after he won his first-ever Logie, taking home the Bert Newton Award for Most Popular Presenter in 2025. Woodbridge says there’s one simple key to connecting with Aussies around the country – authenticity. “What you see on screen is genuinely me.

Tipping Point is also a really positive show. It’s everyday Australians having a crack, sharing their stories, celebrating wins and sometimes dealing with heartbreak. Viewers connect with the contestants because they see themselves in them,” he said. Woodbridge was humble in his nomination, thanking Aussie audiences for giving him the opportunity. “The nomination belongs as much to the people who have supported me as it does to me,” he added. “Whether you’ve watched me play, tuned in to the Olympics, followed the tennis coverage or joined us each afternoon on Tipping Point, thank you for allowing me to be part of your lives.” Head to tvweeklogies.com.au to vote for your favourite Channel 9 stars and shows.