Mission to unsettle Dad

Worried his old man was stuck in his ways, Barney Walsh decided to take matters into his own hands and take his dad, The Chase host Bradley Walsh, on an adventurous road trip across America.

BRADLEY WALSH and his son

Barney are hitting screens — and the road — as a fatherson duo in new comedy travel show

Breaking Dad.

Barney Walsh said that, for years, he’d been trying to get his dad, the host of popular game show The

Chase, to travel.

‘‘Dad’s set in his ways. If he’s not working he’ll be on the couch watching the same old blackandwhite films with a beer,’’ Barney says.

‘‘I thought it would be really funny to push Dad out of his comfort zone.’’

He spoke with a friend who commissions shows for the British network ITV about dragging his dad on a road trip across the US, and Breaking Dad was born.

Barney says he never expected the show to get so popular — when it first screened on ITV it averaged five million viewers per episode.

‘‘It’s really overwhelming and really exciting. It’s not just an opportunity for us to entertain and make people laugh but to encourage parents and kids to bond with each other. I’ve had so many messages from people who’ve said the show has inspired them to reconnect with their family.

‘‘Someone sent me a message saying they hadn’t spoken to their dad in years and that the show inspired them to get back in touch.’’

The father and son duo have always been best mates and comedy seems to run in the family. Barney says making the show has been ‘‘a barrel of laughs’’.

‘‘He’s a really funny guy,’’ Barney says of his father. ‘‘We’ve gotten to understand each other’s opinions in different situations. It’s helped us learn and grow and see how much in common we do have.

‘‘Dad’s stuck in his ways but when you coax him into taking these opportunities he does enjoy it.’’

It’s definitely a different side of Bradley Walsh than the one we’re used to seeing on

The Chase.

‘‘That’s his professional side — you get to see another side of him on this show. It’s completely different on Breaking Dad — it’s this freeflowing form of TV, which is great,’’ Barney says.

He says the fatherson travel show has had a ‘‘massive’’ impact on him.

‘‘Seeing how it’s caused people to bond with their families is incredible.

‘‘I’m really grateful to be a part of something lifechanging. You’ve got to love and spend time with your family ’cause they won’t be around forever.’’

Two seasons in, Barney says they’d love to make more in the series.

‘‘Maybe we’ll go back to America for season 3 but I’d love to take Dad somewhere that’s out of his comfort zone culturally — I think Japan would be great.’’

The 22yearold actor says he’s been busy working and training a new 13weekold puppy amid the lockdown in the UK.

‘‘I’ve been trying to keep busy during lockdown — it’s a crazy time. I’ve got some exciting things to look forward to.’’

Barney hopes Kiwis will tune in to the show. The first episode aired on April 20 on TVNZ 1 and is now available on TVNZ On Demand.

‘‘It’s loads of fun and there’s loads of tense moments and I hope people really enjoy it.’’ —

Breaking Dad screens on Mondays, at 7.30pm, on TVNZ 1.