Reality TV experience - "surreal"
Former Whanganui man Jack Judd-Nuttall talks to presenter Holly Willoughby in the British reality TV show Meet the Parents.
Photo: Supplied
At one point during Jack Judd-Nuttall's brief reality TV career 28,000 people were searching for his name on Twitter and Facebook.
The former Whanganui man said being a reality TV star was a surreal experience, but one of the best of his life. He hasn't been tempted to repeat it yet - despite offers.
In New Zealand he first appeared on TV2 last week, in the dating show Meet the Parents. In it young singles get to choose between potential partners by asking their parents questions.
Answers to those questions can be embarrassing for the potential partners. As a potential suitor Mr Judd-Nuttall couldn't see the reactions of the women - but the audience could.
Young Jack was brought up in Whanganui, played sport and went to Whanganui High School. At university in Palmerston North he got a degree in sport and exercise, then returned to Whanganui to teach physical and outdoor education at Whanganui High School for about five months.
After that he winged away to London, where he worked first as a primary school head of physical education and then as a classroom teacher.
He got involved with reality TV by chance. A housemate saw a Facebook post asking for outgoing single people to appear in a show. She tagged Mr Judd-Nuttall.
"Within the day I had a call from one of the ITV recruiters and the interviews and videos etc went from there," he said.
He thought being on a dating show might be risky for a teacher, but decided to try it "for a laugh".
He didn't realise how big the show was going to be. It was aired on national prime time TV and hosted by celebrity Holly Willoughby.
He was treated like a celebrity himdelf for a couple of days. He had to lock down all social media and then leave it to someone else to monitor until the show appeared.
There was a big viewing party in London before that, "with what seemed half of Wanganui watching with us," he said.
He wasn't paid for his appearance by ITV, but said he receieved loads of free clothes, hotels and transport. The experience was mainly sold to him "as a gateway to more TV".
The woman he eventually chose to date did cash in by selling stories to newspapers and radio - including information that "wasn't supposed to be released".
Mr Judd-Nuttall found himself on screen again in Gogglebox, a show about people watching other shows, in his case Meet the Parents.
He's had a couple of offers to do more television work, but nothing has tempted him so far.
By Laurel Stowell
Wanganui Chroncile 30/5/17