Wesley Dening
Wesley Dening | |
|---|---|
| Born | July 14, 1983 Australia |
| Occupation(s) | Television producer, television presenter |
| Years active | 2004–present |
| Known for | Host of Totally Wild, contestant on Big Brother Australia 2004, Executive Producer of Holey Moley, Dating Around, Crikey! It's the Irwins |
Wesley Dening (born 14 July 1983) is an Australian-born television producer currently operating out of Los Angeles. He holds the position of President at WD Entertainment Group Inc. and serves as Executive Producer for various series created by Eureka Productions, headquartered in Santa Monica. Dening initially gained prominence in Australia as a television host on shows such as Totally Wild, Totally Wild: Antarctica, Ten's First at Five News, and Kick2Kick. He also participated as a contestant on Big Brother Australia 2004.
As Executive Producer, Dening oversees the ABC series Holey Moley, an extreme miniature golf competition developed by Eureka Productions alongside Stephen Curry's Unanimous Media. The show earned the Realscreen 2020 Award for Best New Format. His executive production credits extend to Netflix’s Dating Around, Animal Planet’s Crikey! It's the Irwins and its related series such as Life in Lockdown and Bindi's Wedding, which achieved record-breaking viewership. He also manages executive production for Facebook’s Pick, Flip & Drive.
Among his forthcoming projects are HBO Max’s unscripted show The Real Magic Mike, featuring Channing Tatum and Steven Soderbergh as Executive Producers; HBO Max’s series Full Bloom; and CBS’s The Real Love Boat.
Dening's work has been recognized with numerous accolades, including Realscreen's Format of the Year award in 2020 for Holey Moley, the Critics' Choice Award for Best Relationship Series for Dating Around, and multiple Telly Awards for Pick, Flip & Drive. His productions have also received nominations for prestigious honors such as the Cannes Content Innovation Awards and Rose d'Or Awards.
In the United States, Dening gained additional visibility as the host of Disney Channel’s hidden camera prank show Code: 9 and contributed as a commentator on truTV’s World's Dumbest....
Early life
During his school years, Dening served as College Captain at St. Joseph's Nudgee College. As a teenager, he competed nationally in swimming and pursued acting and modeling, earning the title of Young Model of the Year. He is also the founder of 'Seriously Pink', a fashion enterprise located in central Brisbane.
Television
Dening took part in Series 4 of the Australian edition of Big Brother, finishing in eighth place after spending 69 days in the house. He later returned for Big Brother 5 as a member of an All Star Team competing against current contestants. Following his reality TV appearances, he featured in radio advertisements for Brisbane-based stations including 4 BC, B105, and Triple M. In 2005, he was appointed as an ambassador for Tourism Queensland, promoting the region.
He also toured major Australian cities speaking at National Young Leaders Day events and acted as an Australian Day Ambassador.
Network TEN
Dening began hosting duties on Network Ten's Totally Wild in 2004. In 2006, he was awarded the Australian Antarctic Arts Fellowship. By 2007, he expanded his role to presenter, writer, and producer for Totally Wild, while also serving as a Sports presenter on 10 News First Queensland during the Christmas period. His hosting portfolio on Network Ten includes shows like Kick2Kick, documentaries such as Spirit of the Outback and Ghosts of the Gulf, along with guest appearances on programs like Rove Live and 9am with David & Kim. In 2008, he co-hosted Network Ten’s New Year's Eve broadcast.
United States
At Eureka Productions in Los Angeles, Dening spearheads the creation and production of several series, including Holey Moley (ABC), Crikey! It's The Irwin's (Animal Planet), Dating Around (Netflix), and Pick, Flip & Drive.
The summer 2019 debut of Holey Moley achieved remarkable success, particularly within the 18-49 age demographic. Its second season, which aired in May 2020, garnered critical praise and dominated its time slot. Dening highlighted the productive partnership with NBA legend Stephen Curry, who was actively involved in every episode of the second season.
He has also delivered presentations at notable industry gatherings such as the Realscreen Summit.
In 2009, Dening co-hosted truTV’s The Smoking Gun Presents, which was filmed in both New York and Los Angeles. Later, in 2011, he became the host of Disney Channel’s Code: 9, which premiered in July 2012 and was broadcast internationally across various countries. Additionally, he served as Executive Producer and creator for Travel Channel’s Big Crazy Family Adventure.
WDE
In 2010, Dening established WD Entertainment Group. The company’s inaugural television series, The Stafford Brothers, aired on Fox8 Australia with a six-episode run, documenting the ascent of two leading Australian DJs. The program achieved significant domestic success and was subsequently distributed to more than ten international territories. Its second season, comprising ten episodes, was broadcast on Fox8 in 2012.
By 2014, WDE had produced The Flying Winemaker for Discovery Channel’s TLC and Big Crazy Family Adventure for Travel Channel—a nine-episode series launched in 2015 with Dening as Executive Producer. Today, WDE’s original content is available in over 55 countries worldwide.