KEY POINTS:
So when did you go to Argentina?
It was all filmed in the back half of last year and it was an amazing process. There are 16 nations doing the same show, out of the same venue. It's a real sort of boot camp-style efficiency. As you can
imagine, there's only so many daylight hours and you've got to get everyone through.
Were other countries filming while you were there?
Absolutely. You've got to really nail it because once the run's finished it might be Belgium's turn and you can't go through and say "Oh we need to shoot that again". You won't get another chance.
Did you get a chance to try the course yourself?
No, I didn't but Kelly [Landry, co-host] did. She didn't go the whole way through but she did the big balls ... It's hilarious. She didn't do the suckerpunch wall but she did a couple of things that she wanted to have a crack at.
I guess you can't afford to have a black eye on that tight a schedule...
No, exactly right.
And which was your favourite obstacle?
The big balls. The thing that is amazing is they're a lot higher than people think. With the Wipeout set up, you're talking about average, everyday people. They're not really fit athletes, like rugby players of cricketers. They're people who work in hardware stores and things. When they turn up to do it, they're all puff and bravado at the start but halfway through the course, as a rule, they're absolutely shattered. It's all about strength and courage and agility and speed. And that's not something normal people have in abundance.
You took 160 contestants over. Did you have to make them buddy up and hold hands so you didn't lose any of them?
No, no, not really. People are naturally competitive when they get in that environment. They all thought they were going to win.
Were there any serious injuries?
Not really serious but people do get banged around. If you look at the sweeper, people who get knocked out early are generally okay but as it gets faster and higher, and people jump higher to get over it, suddenly they get their legs taken out and it is a serious hit. Even with us watching it, we were like "Holy dooley, that's serious!" They get up and pull themselves out the water, and you feel like going "Mate! Are you alright?"
But they all are.
I guess there must be an awful lot of forms involved and signing your life away...
I'm not too sure of the legal side of it but when we opened it up, we were just inundated with people wanting to have a crack at it. As soon as people heard I was doing it, in the street, the amount of people that come up and they don't give a damn about you being a cricket commentator or host of The Footy Show, they're just like "When can I have a go at Wipeout? I put my name down and I didn't get drawn out ..." The reaction from people wanting to have a go is quite incredible.
You've obviously seen the American show hosts. Would you say you and [co-host Josh Lawson] are more or less annoying?
Ha. I don't know if annoying is the word. I'd like to say it's going to be funnier. The thing about people in our part of the world is we don't take ourselves too seriously. We're happy to be laughed at and look stupid. I think there's a lot more of that in our show.
And having seen both versions, who is better at wiping out? Australians or Americans?
Look, I couldn't say to be honest. I think our people are better because they're funnier. They send themselves up more. But when they get on the course, I don't think it matters if you're American, French or from the Antarctic. You just get wiped out.
Wipeout Australia premieres this Sunday on TV3 at 7pm.