Jamie Redknapp interview
What do you most look forward to when filming these shows?
Just seeing the boys, it's as simple as that. You know, seeing James, Fred and Romesh and obviously Jack on this series too. Having a few beers and a laugh and just talking about all the things that have happened over the fourteen series and road trips that we've done. I just enjoy it, that's my favourite bit about it to be honest, I enjoy the pre-show more than the show sometimes!
The show welcomes some guest hosts this year, who are you most looking forward to welcoming on the show?
Jack. We've missed him so it will be great to welcome him back. To have both Romesh and Jack on the same show will be great fun.
Who would be your dream guest on ALOTO?
Tiger Woods would be amazing. Ronaldo, Jurgen Klopp. I think they would be great guests. Klopp is made for this show!
Can you tell us a bit about some of the VTs you've filmed this year? We know you've already trained with the marines, wing-walked and had a go at baseball, can you tell us about those?
The marines were great. I'm a massive fan of the armed forces and these marines were just incredible. Such nice guys but I never felt more of a wimp to be honest - they don't feel any cold! When we filmed it was freezing and when I looked at them... nothing. By the end it had toughened us all up, we were like, 'well we can't moan about this because you'll look like an idiot'. They were really good, and it was great fun. Baseball was good but we were up against it with Freddie involved, but we did have a laugh. Wing-walking was horrendous... I don't know why I got roped into that, I thought I was going along just to try and help Tony Bellew, next thing I know I'm stood on a plane!
Your dad is down to come on the show once again, how much fun is it doing something like this with him?
It's not easy, it's your dad... I'm not like Romesh and Jack, I don't use my parents to get leverage and to get shows! I'm only joking, it's great to have him on and he's become a national treasure this last year!
Why do you think that viewers like this series so much?
The feedback I always get is people just want to be with us, they want to be in the studio or on the road trip. I think they see that we all have a laugh with each other and none of us are too precious not to take a bit of stick or give a bit. I think both men and women like it, couples watch it together and enjoy seeing the sport stars in a different light.
We understand Romesh was injured during one of the tasks, were there any other particularly memorable moments in the studio or during the VTs?
Production have tapped into the fact that Romesh and I don't like heights - Freddie isn't scared of anything. We've done a lot of stuff that involves getting up on top of the studio... Clare Balding came on to present and she was fun! Tony's our favourite, we all love Tony Bellew to be honest. He's great guy and perfect for this show because he puts it all out there, he doesn't hide anything, he knows where he's at in his life. I enjoyed having the youngsters on too because it's not easy for them, I know what I would have been like at twenty-one or twenty two. You're going into an arena where everyone knows each other, we're all mates but Harry Winks was lovely, I like Harry a lot, he came across really well.
ALOTO won a BAFTA this year, what did you do to celebrate?
None of us believed it would happen! Fred and Romesh couldn't make it but when we actually won, I really wished that Rom and Fred and I were together. I'd been doing the last game of the season with Man City winning the league, so we missed it. I'm so happy for everyone behind the scenes though, it's a great show and I was delighted that the guys who put together the show were rewarded.