Police Ten 7 host Graham Bell has died
The veteran police officer who became famous on the reality TV show has died after living with cancer. He was 78.
Graham Bell, famous for being the straight talking host of Police Ten 7, has died after living with cancer, TVNZ has reported. He was 78.
His family confirmed the news in a statement, saying he died peacefully surrounded by loved ones on Tuesday.
"He leaves behind his devoted wife of 57 years, Joyce, his children David, Megan, and Chrissy, their partners Shar, Dobbo, and Morne, and his adored grandchildren Tom, Ruby, Scarlett, Ollie, Jack, and Bella," the family statement read.
Bell served 33 years in the New Zealand Police, rising to the rank of Detective Inspector and leading some of the country's most high-profile criminal investigations.
"Known for his straight-shooting delivery and one-liners, this will be sad news for the many New Zealanders who tuned in to watch him each week over his time presenting the show," a TVNZ spokesperson told RNZ.
Police Ten 7 first hit TV screens in 2002. Bell retired from the police in 2001 but continued to serve the public through his work on Police Ten 7, which he hosted for more than a decade, until 2014.
"Bell – a retired Detective Inspector – was an avuncular grouch who earnt the respect of the viewers," Stuff TV reviewer Graeme Tuckett wrote in 2023.
"No matter how salty Bell was in describing the 'lunatic scumbags' and 'gutless morons' who featured each week, there was also no hiding that Bell had a real love of community and the best interests of the victims at heart."
Before his TV role, Bell led investigations into some of New Zealand’s most harrowing crimes. In 1998, he led a team of 60 officers probing the violent home invasion and murder of Reporoa woman Beverly Bouma — one of 19 murder cases he oversaw during his career.
A review in 2021 concluded that the show's "goodies-versus-baddies" format wasn't working anymore – and that Bell's "provocative language" had been unhelpful.
The show was given a new presenter in 2014, Detective Sergeant Rob Lemoto, and a new name, but eventually pulled in 2023.
Detective Sergeant Rob Lemoto.
New Zealand Police
Lemoto said of Bell: "He was a larger-than-life personality and passionate about helping police to solve crimes. He was very successful on Police Ten 7 at getting the public to call in to steer investigations in the right direction.
"He set the bar very high having seen the gratitude of victims who received justice, thanks to his tenacity.
"On screen and on the front line, Graham was formidable. He oversaw the investigations into 19 murders and many other serious crimes; he was focused on justice for victims, and pursued leads relentlessly.”
Commissioner of Police Richard Chambers said Bell was someone he admired.
"As a young police officer and fresh detective, Graham Bell was someone I certainly looked up to in terms of his passion for policing but also his drive to hold some of our worst offenders to account.
"He was a bit of a legend when it comes to policing in New Zealand and a real personality as well."
