Quickfire questions: Shannon Ryan

Shannon Ryan is the new host of the Official NZ Top 40 show on C4 and reads the breakfast news on George FM. She answers Gabriel Pollard's quick-fire questions.

What TV shows do you like to watch?

I like shows with a bit of light-hearted humour, so I can feel good while watching them, rather than on edge. I'm really excited about The Cleveland Show (Thursdays, 8.pm, C4). Something like that is the perfect winddown for me after a busy day!

What was your favourite show of 2009?

A tie between Jono's New Show which I could watch on the telly and Trailer Park Boys, which my boyfriend has the DVD collection to.

The character Bubbles is my fave, there's no way to explain him in words, he's just great!

Of all time?

Sliders. Jerry O'Connell was so cute jumping between different dimensions haha. You never knew what strange backwards world they would slide to, and although things were bizarre compared to the world they all knew and were trying to find again, it opened your eyes to the possibility of things being so different.

I never watched it on TV though; it was another DVD experience for me.

What's your favourites TV genre?

Comedy. I enjoy laughing, who doesn't? Although I do like a good sci-fi or drama/FBI type show every now and then, I always seem to go for something funny and naff.

When you watch a film or TV series, do you critically think about it?

I find myself "studying" and picking apart many of the things I watch. Not in a critical or negative kind of way, but because I like to talk about things that have struck a chord with me.

I enjoy watching and trying to understand why/how things have been represented.

Who is your favourite movie director and why?

I love Quentin Tarantino. Death Proof is one of my favourite films. I liked how he portrayed the old school car chase scenes.

One in particular, with Zoe Bell scrambling about on the bonnet of a car being chased by the "crazy guy" - that had me sitting on the edge of my seat! Of course, I didn't watch it on a week night!

Favourite movie?

Avatar was a big winner for me, great start to the decade! Death Proof also. See above.

How do you spend your free time?

On a free Friday or Saturday, I like to go out and dance, like a lunatic. My boyfriend, Dan, DJs most weekends and I love his music so my best buddy Amanda and I plaster the glitter on our faces and dance til we drop.

I also enjoy blobbing on the couch for a snooze, writing, and painting my nails. If there's too much free time, nothing gets done.

Read a good book lately? How often do you read a book?

I used to read books a lot, but now I get halfway through a page and my eyes get all blurry then I fall asleep!

But I'm up and at work reading and writing by 6.30am at GeorgeFM, then continue that at C4 so I'm pretty sure I read the equivalent of a novel each week.

What's your favourite technology and why?

The microwave! Not only does it re-heat and cook food, but it tells me the time!

Ever broken something that was expensive?

I can't think of anything that I've broken, but I lost one of the diamond earrings Dan gave to me on our anniversary. The moment I felt it missing from my ear was devastating.

Much worse could happen I know, but I'm a very sentimental person and don't like to lose special things!

I have a number of cards from years ago that I can't throw out because they have such lovely messages on them.

Official New Zealand Top 40: Fridays, 6pm, C4.

- © Fairfax NZ News