For Hayley Sproull, the art of communication is less of a career choice and more of a biological imperative. The 36-year-old entertainer, known for her sharp wit and unfiltered storytelling, is currently navigating a high-velocity season of her career, balancing a return to the national screen with a deep dive into the chaotic modern dating landscape.
Sproull is set to lead the revival of My House My Castle, a beloved staple of New Zealand television that originally aired for a decade starting in 2001. The reboot, which premieres April 8 on Three and ThreeNow, focuses on everyday New Zealanders seeking creative and courageous solutions to home ownership. For Sproull, the role marks a triumphant return to a television industry she describes as “fickle,” coming after a period of instability where several high-profile Kiwi productions were cancelled or not renewed.
While her television presence expands, Sproull is simultaneously preparing for the New Zealand International Comedy Festival in May. Her latest show, Sproull On The Prowl, serves as a comedic autopsy of her return to the dating scene after a 15-year hiatus. From the pitfalls of dating apps to the absurdity of first impressions, Sproull is leveraging her personal life as raw material for a national tour.
From Shakespeare to Stand-Up
Sproull’s path to the spotlight was not a straight line. A Toi Whakaari-trained actor and a self-described Shakespeare enthusiast in her youth, the dramatic foundations of her training provided a structure for what would eventually become a career in comedy. Her first significant foray into the television world began behind the scenes, writing for the popular Jono and Ben show.
Despite her success in front of the camera, Sproull admits to a period of internal conflict regarding her identity as a performer. For four years, she stepped away from creating new comedy shows, believing she had transitioned fully into a “TV gal.” But, the pull of the stage proved stronger than the stability of the screen.
“I actually felt for a while that I’m a TV gal now, like this is what I do. And I actually paused making comedy shows for about four years because I was too busy and thought this is my life now. Then I got the bug again. I just needed to be in front of a live audience and got back into making comedy shows every year,” Sproull said.
This duality—the polished TV host and the raw stand-up comic—allows her to explore topics with a level of vulnerability rarely seen in mainstream broadcasting. Her routines frequently touch upon her struggles with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) and her evolving relationship with body image. She often recounts the blunt advice she would offer her younger self: “Stop trying to lose weight. My god, seriously, was I set on earth to try to be smaller? It’s so boring!”
Mining the ‘Comedy Gold’ of Modern Dating
The premise of Sproull On The Prowl is rooted in the “fascinating” experience of re-entering the dating world after more than a decade. For Sproull, the process is an exercise in observation. She treats every interaction—especially the disastrous ones—as a research project for her act.
She recalls instances of dates ending abruptly, only for her to immediately document the details in her notes app to ensure no joke was lost. One particularly failed date, she notes, provided roughly 10 minutes of high-quality content for her show. Yet, she maintains a relaxed perspective on the search for partnership, noting that unlike many of her peers, she isn’t actively hunting for a husband, which allows her to view the absurdity of the process with more detachment.
The ZM Dynamic and Professional Mentorship
While TV and stage occupy her creative energy, Sproull has spent nearly four years as a fixture on the airwaves. Though radio was not her initial dream, she has found a home at ZM, where she co-hosts alongside Carl Fletcher and Vaughan Smith. She credits her co-hosts, particularly Fletcher, as vital mentors who helped her navigate the rhythms of live broadcasting.
Fletcher describes Sproull as a relentless worker, often juggling multiple roles in a single day—a trait he jokingly contrasts with his own perceived laziness. He notes that her early days on the show were marked by a refreshing lack of inhibition, often sharing personal or outrageous anecdotes that pushed the boundaries of traditional radio.
The camaraderie extends beyond professional mentorship. Fletcher has even stepped in as an unofficial dating consultant for Sproull, advising her against the over-ambition of her early Tinder dates. “My advice was to stop cooking these guys from Tinder a five-course dinner, because a guy coming over at 10pm doesn’t seek a lamb roast,” Fletcher said.
A ‘Special Unit’ of Four
Despite the public nature of her work, Sproull remains anchored by a tight-knit family structure. This bond was solidified at the end of last year when her parents moved from Featherston to live with her in her renovated Auckland cottage. Rather than seeing the arrangement as a burden, Sproull views it as a luxury, describing a household filled with dance parties, shared chores, and long, unplanned conversations.
This familial closeness extends to her brother, Sam, who lives in Melbourne. Sproull describes the four of them as a “special unit,” jokingly noting their collective skepticism toward any partner who attempts to “infiltrate” the family circle.
As she prepares for the dual launch of her television hosting duties and her comedy tour, Sproull remains grounded in her identity as a storyteller. “I’m a professional talker,” she says. “There’s actually not much I haven’t spoken about yet.”
The reboot of My House My Castle premieres on April 8 via Three and ThreeNow, followed by Sproull’s performances at the New Zealand International Comedy Festival throughout May. Tickets for her live shows are available through the official festival portal.
We would love to hear your thoughts on the return of classic Kiwi TV favorites. Share your memories of My House My Castle in the comments below.
