Q&A with Dean McCarthy ahead of Hayu's FanFest

The first-ever Hayu event of its kind, Hayu FanFest, is set to take place in London on Saturday October 26th!!

Dean McCarthy, Bree & Clint's very own Hollywood Reporter will take centre stage as the host of Hayu’s first-ever Hayu FanFest, a unique fan experience featuring reality TV favourites from Hayu, including Andy Cohen, Lisa Barlow, Craig Conover, Ashley Darby, Austen Kroll, Sutton Stracke, Jessel Taank, and Captain Sandy Yawn.  

We’re nearing a year of having the Hayu platform available here in New Zealand, and Kiwis love it. Will you be incorporating any Kiwi humour into your interviews? 

Best year ever, right!? That is the great part about bringing the down-under personality and Kiwi humour to the stars - they love it. It’s playful, it’s cheeky, it’s fun. The Hayu stars respond so well to it - we are going to have an absolute blast at Hayu FanFest.  

What led you to being the host of this event? 

I am probably one of the biggest Hayu fan you’ll ever meet! I follow all the shows, and over the years, I’ve interviewed and become friends with many Hayu stars! I’ve met Andy Cohen a few times, so when the event was first mentioned to me, I was like - “I would not miss this for the world.”  

Have you hosted/attended events similar to this before? Do you know what to expect? 

I sure have and I can tell you now - there’s nothing like Hayu fans. I’ve never seen a fanbase like theirs, ever. I’ve been to BravoCon in the USA before and the fans are next level! For fans in London, seeing their favourite stars up close and personal is going to be such a treat. The hype is already building - I mean, the event sold out in mere minutes. I am expecting the atmosphere and energy to be electric!   

You’re a die-hard reality tv fan. What’s the reality show you’ve been watching for the longest? 

I have loved The Real Housewives franchise since day one! I know all the OGs, the iconic one-liners, and all the most unforgettable scenes. The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills is shot around where I live, so I’ve been immersed in that show for many years, and I’ve even appeared in the background, in a few episodes myself. I can confirm - the drama is real!  

Who are you most excited about chatting to at Hayu FanFest? 

I am so excited to chat to all of them but, I’ve never met Ashley Darby in person before so I cannot wait to get the real tea from her!  

ZM listeners might be familiar with your name - as you do a regular segment on their drive show as the Hollywood reporter. On which, you’ve done a handful of interviews with Hayu talent in the past. Who’s been your fave? 

I’m honestly not just saying this, but New Zealand native Aesha Scott from Below Deck Mediterranean is one of my favourite Hayu stars, ever. She is down-to-earth, humble, sweet and so charming. It’s impossible not to love her. Every time I see her  it’s hugs all around.   

Are the talent you’ve interviewed in the past the same in real life as they are on the silver screens? Who surprised you the most? 

That’s what I love about Hayu shows - the cast are such interesting, dynamic and real people. Most are just as you would imagine them to be in real life! I would say the ones who surprised me the most are the cast of Vanderpump Rules. They are literally like a family. They have so much drama and so much intensity, it’s like a family gathering when they all get together! They are very sweet and very likable, and I was just so surprised by how genuinely close they are.  

We recently had Captain Sandy Yawn here in NZ, and she was incredible. Have you interviewed her before? Are you excited to chat with her? 

I have interviewed Captain Sandy a few times; what an icon! Who doesn’t love Captain Sandy? I am looking forward to getting all the behind-the-scenes tea from her..  

If you could make a dream Hayu FanFest lineup, who would be on it? 

I would line up all the Hayu stars who have had major blow-ups. Lisa Vanderpump and Kyle Richards would be great! I’d also invite the entire cast of The Real Housewives of New Jersey (their last season got so wild), Phaedra Parks and Monica Garcia for maximum drama. It’s hard to stop there; I could go on and on!   

Hayu FanFest is in London, how can Kiwis get access? 

The best way to follow all the action in real-time is to follow @hayusocial! We will be going live, interviewing the stars, and getting the fans’ reactions - it’s going to be wild. Let the games begin! The panels and interviews from Hayu FanFest will also be available to stream on Hayu at a later date, ensuring subscribers around the world won’t miss out.  

Will you be attending the after party, and do you have an outfit in mind? 

I will be hitting up the after-party for sure! I’ve been going around in circles on my outfit; it’s a hard decision to make! Given the cooler London weather, I’m leaning towards an all-black velvet suit. The Hayu stars will be ready to party, so the outfit needs to be layered so that I can still carve it up on the dance floor.  

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