New series ‘terrified’ Chase host
Bradley Walsh is pushed to the limit on a hair-raising road trip with his son, for a new series called ‘Breaking Dad’. Jim Maloney reports. TV bonus
It is clear that Bradley Walsh loves his son and enjoys spending time with him. But accompanying him on an action-filled road trip across America turned out to be a challenging experience when he learned what was in store for him – such as jumping out of a plane at a height of 5000 metres.
In this four-part series, Bradley and his 20-year-old son Barney start their journey in Los Angeles before ending in New Orleans.
They may be father and son but they are poles apart when it comes to things they like and dislike. While Barney is an adventure junkie, Bradley likes the easy life.
‘‘If I go on holiday I want to sit on a beach and have a margarita,’’ he says. ‘‘I said I would go on this road journey with Barney if he got me my favourite tea and biscuits to take, and he did.’’
In the first episode they visit Muscle Beach in Santa Monica where they are put through their paces by fitness instructors. The day ends in a far more relaxing way with a beer and a singalong with fellow camper-van neighbours. But it is the lull before the storm because the following morning Bradley is shocked when his son tells him they will be jumping out of a plane over California.
‘‘I was terrified,’’ says The Chase host. ‘‘I am an anxious type so springing these different activities on me was worrying. Barnes is in his element doing them but I still worry about him because he’s my son. When he jumped out of the plane before me it was very upsetting because I tried to reach out for him but he had gone.
‘‘It upsets me now just talking about it because it’s like watching your little kid running towards the road. You make a grab for them.’’
There are plenty more ‘‘surprises’’ to come later in the series, such as stomach-churning
centrifuge training at a space centre in Texas used to prepare astronauts for the crushing gravitational forces at takeoff.
‘‘I can’t even get on a Waltzer at the fairground, because it makes me ill, and so going through that was horrid,’’ says Bradley.
It wasn’t all scary stuff though. There were activities that were very much to Bradley’s liking, such as riding a Harley-Davidson down Route 66 and attending Cowboy College.
‘‘Barney knows how much I love cowboy movies, so he set this up as a treat for me,’’ says Bradley.
We’re pleased to offer this extra television coverage – courtesy of our sister publication The TV Guide – while it is unable to publish under current restrictions.
‘‘I had never been on a horse before so that was challenging,’’ says Barney.
In fact, it was Bradley’s turn to have a chuckle at his son’s expense when he heard him crying out in pain as he came through the bush on horseback.
‘‘Typical Millennial. He was shouting, ‘Where’s the button to stop it?’ ’’ laughs Bradley before adding, ‘‘I loved getting the chance to spend time with Barney and I’m proud that he can do all the stuff well that I can’t.’’
Breaking Dad, TVNZ 1, Monday, April 20.