T The Northern takeover – long may it continue!
Top Gear’s Freddie Flintoff and Paddy McGuinness are causing a splash with classic Total Wipeout. MARION McMULLEN discovers how they came to dip their toes in the water
V CHALLENGE show Total Wipeout is enjoying a revival with classic episodes being given a modern twist with banter from Top Gear presenters Freddie Flintoff and Paddy McGuinness.
The original series ended in 2012 after 69 episodes including 10 celebrity specials. All the water challenges were filmed in Buenos Aires in Argentina and the format was so successful it was picked up by more than 30 markets including Australia and Latin America.
Now Freddie and Paddy are bring their own touch to some of the popular past episodes. So are they a winning double act?
Were you excited to get involved and to be working together again for this project?
FREDDIE: (Laughs) I’m never excited to work with Paddy! It’s interesting isn’t it, because the two of us are doing Top Gear now and we’ve so much fun on that and it’s so good to do.
And then we got the chance to do Wipeout and for both of us it was a no brainer. We both know the show.
It’s quite strange you’ve got one from Preston, one from Bolton doing all these shows now - long may it continue! The Northern takeover. We’re coming, it’s great! PADDY: There was a great response when the news was announced so I really hope people enjoy seeing it back on BBC 1. We need those big red balls back in our lives! The show, not Fred.
Do you have any special rituals or routine before a recording? FREDDIE: No, Paddy never sees what I do before we start because he’s always late! So whatever I do, Paddy’s oblivious, and then Paddy waltzes in and then just starts as if we’ve got the call time wrong.
So there’s no warm ups, there’s no nothing, we’re just sat there waiting for Paddy and then he comes in and we start.
PADDY: Fred still has a lot to learn from me so part of that routine is him getting the chance to sit back and watch a professional at work.
But really it’s always fairly easy for us to get stuck in and get the job done while having a laugh.
What are your memories of watching the original series? FREDDIE: It was really bizarre watching. Obviously you see the big red balls and you remember all those things, but there was a person on it when I watched the series and it’s a friend’s daughter.
There was a cricketer in the 80s and early 90s called Alan Lamb, he had a big moustache, bit of a character, and I know Alan and I know his daughter. And she was on! I remember at the time watching and saying, “Oh it’s Lamby’s daughter!”
I was in the voiceover studio and we were doing that episode so I’m commentating and talking about someone I know, 10 years on. So that was a bit different. PADDY: I’ve always loved the mix of contestants that take part in the show - they’re up for anything and aren’t afraid of looking daft, bit like myself and Fred. I think the brilliant thing about it is you can’t really prepare for the course or the obstacles – you have to leave your pride at the door and give it your all! It brought back loads of happy memories watching it, felt really nostalgic.
How do you think each other would do if they were a contestant?
FREDDIE: His biggest strength would be that he’s really competitive. His biggest weakness is that his ambition outweighs his ability. PADDY: His biggest strength would be his ability to stride across the big red balls with ease. His biggest weakness would be not being able to maintain his blue steel look for the entire course.
What would be your tips for tackling the Total Wipeout course?
FREDDIE: The easiest obstacle is when you get onto the course you just slide down but after that it’s all hell. It’s all balance, it’s bouncing, it’s jumping.
I think the only one I might have a chance with is that wall where they punch you, just trying to stay on the wall. I think that’s the only one, but then if anyone saw me boxing, they’d probably disagree.
PADDY: My tips would be, don’t be self-conscious, don’t over think it and definitely try to get in swimming practice beforehand as most people end up stuck in the water at some stage or another!
What is the appeal of the show? FREDDIE: I think a lot of things have been tried over the years… but nothing’s been as good as Wipeout. Hence bringing it back, and even watching the old episodes, it just doesn’t date. It’s still very funny. It’s fun, there’s a bit of jeopardy and it’s quite hard so hopefully it’ll go well and who knows - they might make it again!
PADDY: I hope that it’s one parents introduce to their kids and that it gives people the chance to sit down and have a laugh together. For anyone that’s seen it before, it’s nostalgic and it’s actually even funnier and more ridiculous than I remembered.
Contestants famously had nicknames on the show. What nickname would you give each other?
FREDDIE: You know the cartoon character Foghorn Leghorn? He just shouts.
PADDY: Freddie Falloff? The Lanky Lancastrian. So many to choose from really!
■ Total Wipeout: Freddie and Paddy Takeover continues tonight on BBC 1 at 7pm