‘I do love playing tricks on people’
Former football manager Harry Redknapp on lockdown life and the show he’d love to make
Since being crowned 2018’s King of the Jungle, I’m A Celebrity winner Harry Redknapp has continued to rule the box. Now, following Harry’s Heroes and Harry Redknapp’s Sandbanks Summer, Harry, 74, is back with a brand new entertainment series, Redknapp’s Big Night Out.
The topical talk show will feature celebrity guests, live music, banter and laughter – mainly down to Harry’s anecdotes and tangents. Plus, it’s a real family affair, as he’s co-hosting alongside son Jamie, as well as family friend, comedian Tom Davis.
Here, Harry tells us about his great relationship with Jamie, why he’s the ultimate doting granddad, and how he and Sandra, his wife of 53 years, loved spending lockdown together…
Hi Harry. It sounds like you’re going to have a great time hosting
Redknapp’s Big Night Out...
It’s going to be a fun chat show with Jamie and Tom. We all get on very well. We’ve got good guests and a bit of music, so it’s a show that people can enjoy to get the weekend underway.
It’s a proper family affair…
Yes, and it’s being filmed in Poplar, right on the docks where my dad worked all his life, and where I lived until I got married at 21.
Was working with Jamie a draw?
Yeah, when Jamie said he wanted me to do it, I was up for it. It’s better to work with people you know, especially your son, so I’m looking forward to it. I haven’t got to see Jamie too much in the last year, obviously, so it’s good for me to spend a bit of time with him.
What’s your relationship like?
Great. I could count on one hand the times that I’ve had a cross word with Jamie. We’ve always got on well. I talk to him almost every day and we play golf together when we can.
Are your grandchildren excited to see you together on TV?
The kids are looking forward to it. My son Mark’s got three kiddies and Jamie’s got two boys, so I’m sure they’ll love it.The thing I missed most during lockdown was going to football with my grandkids, chatting and having a pizza after the game.
You’ll no doubt be sharing some family anecdotes. Should Sandra be worried?
She’s a goody two shoes – she doesn’t do anything wrong. She got lumbered with me! Sandra, never, ever wanted to be known.Then suddenly, after the jungle, it’s ended up that way. But that’s not her game. She’s quite happy being at home.
Some couples had ups and downs during lockdown – how was it for you?
It was great for me as there was football or racing on all day, so I’d watch that.
And Sandra is a huge fan of EastEnders and Coronation Street, so she had that. Sandra’s a really good cook and we’d also order a takeaway every week. We just got on with it. We’ve been very lucky.
Did you ever imagine you’d be hosting a primetime show at this stage of your career?
No! When I finished football, I said, “That’s it. I’m going to play golf three times a week, go down the stables and see my horses, and go to the races.” Then, suddenly, I’m busier than ever. I didn’t even want to do
I’m A Celebrity and I’d honestly never watched it before, so I didn’t realise the effect the programme had.
When did you realise how popular you had become?
After I came out of the jungle, me and Sandra stopped off in Dubai for five days for a holiday.The first night, we booked into a steak restaurant that seats about 200 people. We were waiting for a table and suddenly everyone was standing up, singing “There’s only one Harry Redknapp.” Sandra said, “Harry, what have you done to us? I thought we were going to have a quiet life!” [Laughs]
You and Jamie had viewers in stitches when you took part in Ant and Dec’s ‘I’m A Celebrity, Get Out Of My Ear’ prank. How much fun was that to do?
It’s right up my street. I do love playing tricks on people, so I can’t tell you how much I enjoyed that. That’s my type of humour. So I’d love to do a show where you wind people up and prank them. I’m ready for something like that.
‘I’d never watched I’m A Celebrity, I didn’t realise its effect’