Neven’s microfright
Top chef ‘almost wet himself’ in glider ride
CELEBRITY chef Neven Maguire was so terrified during a microlight flight for his new TV series he nearly “wet himself”.
The 42-year-old went up in the two-man powered hang glider for his Italian Food Trail and said he was never more scared in his life.
The dad of two added: “It’s called a microlight trike and it’s something I have never done before.
“Sometimes the producer gets crazy ideas and says to me, ‘Neven, wouldn’t you like to do such and such?’ and I can’t think of a good reason to say no. “So that is how I find myself in this precarious position, high above the countryside above Parma in the heartland of central Italy. “I think the expression on Neven Maguire my face tells you all you need to know about how I was feeling as we prepared to land.”
Once back on terra firma, he said: “Wow. That has to be one of the scariest things I have ever done in my life.
“This is some pilot here. We saw beautiful vineyards, we saw where they make the prosciutto. My heart was beating so fast I swear to God I thought I was going to wet myself but it was an absolutely magical experience.
“Would I do it again? I’m not sure but I loved it. No, I would do it again, it was brilliant.”
The Cavan chef took to the air as part of his new series which follows him as he finds out how they make everything from Parma ham to Prosecco.
Neven’s Italian Food Trails is on RTE One on Thursday at 7pm.