Happy Father’s Day celebrations with Jack

Jack Whitehall is a man in demand.

Earlier this year he appeared in the BBC’s adaptation of Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett’s Good Omens, a co-production with Amazon Prime. He played a character called Newton Pulsifer, but for his next two projects for the Beeb, he will appear very much as himself.

He can shortly be seen fronting Jack Whitehall’s Sporting Nation, a collaboration between himself and six comedy writers that takes a look at some of Britain’s greatest sporting moments. Light-hearted and packed with nostalgia, it reveals what our love of sport says about us as a nation.

But first comes his ode to his old man Michael. We’re assuming Jack will still be sporting the hair cut his girlfriend Roxy Horner gave him at the end of last month which he described as “horrifying” thanks to the appearance of a few bald patches.

The show airs just a couple of days before this year’s Father’s Day which, for many, won’t be the celebration it usually is due to the continuing lockdown restrictions.

If the weather’s good, some of us may sit socially distant in a back garden somewhere with our dads but, sadly, there’ll be no hugs or kisses.

Kate Phillips, controller of BBC Entertainment, agrees: “Many of us won’t be able to observe Father’s Day in the usual way this year, so we’re delighted that Jack and Michael will be letting us into their very entertaining celebrations.”

“I couldn’t think of a better way to spend Father’s Day than with Jack and Michael,” adds Richard Ackerman of production company Jackpot. We’re sure his own dad would be thrilled to hear him say that…

Jack and Michael have collaborated many times in the past, often locking horns over their very different approaches to life. No doubt there’ll be some bickering in this show, but it’s suggested we’re going to see a different side to their relationship too.

Jack plans to settle himself on the pavement outside the home former celebrity agent Michael shares with his wife Hilary (who’s also Jack’s mum).

He hopes his father will join him there (it’s going to be a very short and dull programme if Michael refuses) for half an hour of reminiscing over old photos, awkward home video footage and classic family stories.

The pair also raid their contacts book to catch up with some fellow famous faces, during which they find out how they’re celebrating this strangest of Father’s Days and take part in a unique version of MasterChef.

Finally the pair get set to surprise key workers who can’t be with their loved ones.

“I’m really looking forward to making these shows about two of the things I treasure most in life, my father and sport,” says Jack. “I’m missing them both greatly under lockdown.”

This probably isn’t the last time we’ll see him and Michael together this year. A fourth series of their Netflix show Travels With My Father was filmed in Australia at the start of 2020 and if rumours are true, could be hitting the streaming service in September.

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