NINJA WARRIOR’S BEC MADDERN ‘BEN FORDHAM AND I ARE BEST MATES’
THE HOST REVEALS ALL THE BEHINDTHE-SCENES GOSS ON THE HIT SHOW
Alot has changed since the first season of Nine’s Australian Ninja Warrior.
In the past two years, host and journalist Rebecca Maddern, 41, has become a mother, the show has moved from Sydney to Melbourne, and the obstacle challenges are that much harder.
“It is truly better than Season 1 and 2 – the athletes are even better. The course is more challenging and what you’re about to see is quite extraordinary,” Rebecca tells New Idea.
“Some of the returning heroes who Ninja watchers will be very familiar with … they will surprise you, and when I say surprise you,
I mean by going very well or going very badly.”
In the American iteration of Ninja Warrior, it took contestants seven seasons before someone could conquer the notoriously tough course.
The athletes have worked extraordinarily hard and sometimes there’s a lot more than what meets the eye.
“What I find particularly impressive is if a guy or girl is wearing daggy shorts and a T-shirt, and they’re standing there on the start line, and
Ben [Fordham] and I sort of look at each other and think, ‘Yeah, nah’, because they just look like average Joe Blow. And then they blow the course out of the water,” Rebecca says.
Not only does the seasoned journalist have her hands full with the show, but she has also recently welcomed a daughter, Ruby, who she shares with cameraman husband Trent Miller.
“She’s got her own little personality, she’s got a real spunk about her and each and every day she just grows and develops. I’ve got a smile on my face just talking about her ... she’s just a delight,” Rebecca muses.
And when it comes to Season 4, Rebecca is crossing her fingers she can return with co-hosts Ben and Freddie Flintoff next year.
“We are great friends and sometimes I can’t believe we’re getting paid to do this.
It’s like best mates hanging out for a couple of weeks for eight hours straight, and we have an absolute ball,” Rebecca adds.