Take That star Gary Barlow might have made a name for himself in music, but he says there’s something else he feels just as ‘passionate’ about.
The singer, 55, has presented a number of food and travel programmes in recent years, and has travelled across New Zealand alongside comedian Jason Manford for his latest ‘epic adventure.’
In Gary Barlow’s Food And Wine Tour: New Zealand, they will sample food and wine while meeting producers, chefs, winemakers and communities, discovering how food and drink connect people, stories and the natural world. Sounds like a dream job to us!
In an interview with the Press Association, Gary explained why he is so passionate about travelling across the world for these new experiences.
He said: ‘First and foremost, these shows for me are about the wine, and the food is obviously a pairing with that.
‘Anything that’s homegrown is what attracts me. I guess my attraction to wine is the same reason I’m into music. Wine is like a passion.
‘Whenever you go to these vineyards, they’re not there for the money. They can’t be, because it’s very difficult to make money.
‘They’re there because they love it. It’s a passion. It’s the way that music has been for me – that’s what’s always drawn me to wine.’
He added: ‘When I’m doing any of these trips to watch and listen to people who are passionate about what they do, I just love that. I want to be constantly surrounded by it.’
For the six-part series, Gary has teamed up with Waterloo Road star Jason – who described the experience as ‘one of the biggest privileges of my life.’
Gary told PA he chose Jason as his travel companion because he wanted someone he already knew and liked.
He said the decision was made when the comedian told him he knew ‘nothing about wine’, adding: ‘Perfect, because then he can learn while the audience are watching. That’s the best thing.
‘It just worked brilliantly. When we weren’t being filmed, we were having breakfast or dinner together. It was just a really lovely trip.
‘We’ve probably known each other for about 15 years. We knew each other, but we didn’t know each other that well – but we just had a ball.’
Gary said the two-week experience filming together was ‘really sweet’ and ‘very special.’
They visited locations such as Auckland, Waiheke Island, Queenstown, Central Otago, Marlborough Sounds and Hawke’s Bay to discover new foods, landscapes and experiences.
They also immersed themselves in New Zealand culture and experienced Māori traditions, taking on new challenges such as zip-lining through a native forest and tandem cycling together through vineyards.
The series comes after Gary Barlow’s Wine Tour: South Africa in 2024, and Gary Barlow’s Food And Wine Tour: Australia – which aired last year.
Gary Barlow’s Food And Wine Tour: New Zealand will air on Sunday, August 30 on ITV.
