I'm Michael. Che and I'm Colin Jose, and
we've got a little secret. Actually, it's a pretty big
secret. Well, now you got to give the
people something. I'm not saying a word.
Oh, then people will know to tune in.
Come on, tell them a little. Like our hosting of comedy
events streaming only on Peacock, exactly how it's called
New York After Dark and it's a comedy show that only features
drop in comic. Boom, you nail.
Into Michael Che's phone. Nervous.
Whoa, whoa, whoa. Hey, hey, hey.
New York After Dark. It's some kind of comedy thing,
and it's streaming now only on Peacock.
You love it. Zippers, welcome to this episode
of the TV's Me Podcast with me, Shane Todd.
It's January. Some people of the January
Blues, some people just are on Blues.
You know, whatever you're doing, hope you're enjoying yourselves.
Hope it's a good start to the year.
We are firing out these episodes at the start of 2022.
Carl Frampton last week, another guest episode this week, which I
think you're very much going to enjoy.
Before we get into this episode, before I tell you who this
episode's with, don't you tell them who the episode's with
first. They can see it in the title.
That's fair. We're sponsored by none other
than Thompson's Tea. These these are the these are
the guys behind Punjana, you know, and you know, a lot of
people go well, you know, pyjamas great.
Not well, it's Northern Ireland's number one selling
tea. So yeah, it is number top.
These guys are top of the pops. I don't know who officiates the
the sort of charts for tea selling here, but all you need
to know is Thompson's or top of the Pops.
These look a lot of tea makers and their families over
Christmas. You know, these guys really took
it easy. They put the feet up, they at
drank and they were merry. If you had gone to the Thompson
family over Christmas and said, hey, you guys, you guys fancy
coming out for a few drinks, having a bit of Turkey, they
would, they would have, they would have told you to F off.
They would have said no, we're too busy making tea.
These guys didn't stop for Christmas.
The only presents they gave each other in the Thompson household
was tea, their own tea. These guys, let me tell you,
these guys are barmy for tea and you can taste it.
They make ponjana, which people go, hey, is that exotic?
Well, if you call Belfast exotic, it's made in Belfast,
It's drank in Belfast and other places like Moira, like Ponty's
pass. Is that real?
Don't know, Points pass, Points pass, Ponty's pass, Monty's
pass, all those play everywhere. They're drinking it.
And you, if you don't already, you need to start Our guest last
week called Frampton. Send me a wee video during the
week. Just weirdly, this is true.
Just showing how strong the reseal tab is on these tea bags.
That's fact. He sent me that video took me by
surprise. But he's right.
So just keep drinking Punjana. Shut it to Thompson T family
guys have a Christmas relax. But they can't.
You know they won't. They're just too busy with her.
They say the greatest gift you can give is a gift of panjana.
We're also sponsored by Manscaped.
It's a new year. It could be a new you.
If you're someone who keeps saying shipshape down there,
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the literal thing. manscape.com, you just go tea with me for 20%
off and free shipping. This episode of TV Podcast
episode one for 144144 is with a guy that I've been a big fan of
for a while, Daniel McKee. Now, this guy you will know from
the show Married at First Sight. If you don't know him from that
show, you're going to enjoy this episode just as much because he
is an infectiously happy, spiritual, enjoyable guy.
He might want to use that for his LinkedIn.
I don't know. But yeah, look, I this is not
Married at First Sight's not a programme.
I watch every episode of my wife watches it.
I see a little bit of it here and there, you know, but but I,
when I saw Daniel on the show, I thought, never mind the fact
this guy's from here. I said I gotta get him on the
podcast because he seems like someone you'll want to have a
chat with, you'll want to be around.
And that's what we're going to do for the next hour or so.
So enjoy this episode of the team's me podcast with my guest
Daniel from my to first site. Daniel, are you a tea fan?
Oh yes. How like how strongly?
Not how strongly you like your tea will get into that, but how
strongly would you be in the tea it?
Depends on the bag, doesn't it? Yeah, I'm a big fan of the
green. Tea over.
Regular tea over a breakfast tea, yeah.
Now that's not very common in Northern Ireland, is it?
I'd say it is. Most of my most of my mates
would drink a green tea. You think so?
Is that like a? Is that like an Antrim Coast
thing or? I don't know.
I think it's. AI think closer to Belfast.
I think green teas, I think it's definitely acceptable.
Like I like a green tea do you, but there's some places where
you can't, you can't let people know that you know the I think a
lot of places in Northern Ireland, I think Northern
Ireland's modern, I think it's accepting, but there's some
places that aren't ready for green tea just yet, but.
Don't get me wrong, I love a builder's tea.
Yeah. Well, does that make you
appreciate the builders team more, do you think?
Exactly about variation, you know, keep things fresh.
Green tea in the evening, maybe a breakfast tea in the morning.
How many teas would you have a day?
What varies depending on the mood, but I would say a good a
good four cup of teas. Bad mood more tea or bad mood
less tea? There's a tea for every mood,
isn't there? So it's hard to say.
What's the tea for like? Really pissed off.
Really pissed off and say a strong breakfast tea, get that
caffeine black, get it more, you know, more punch.
Yeah. You know what I think's a real
nice chilled and all grey? Oh, and all grey, yeah, A bit
smoky for me though. I don't know, I don't know.
I don't like Oh grace tastes like bath.
I wasn't agree there. You said it though.
You go to America, they give you you ask for a tea, they give you
Earl Grey milk and you got to pretend like it's OK.
And you can't eat dairy. Sure, you'd get exactly what
would. Happen.
I get almond milk. What would happen?
I would just die. Just die.
I've never I've never tried dairy like since I've I've got
the the dairy allergy, but I'm pretty I don't overreact, but
I'm pretty sure it would just be instant death.
Wouldn't end well. No, but I'm, I'm willing to, you
know, keep playing the odds. You know, I like, I like my tea
so much. When you say almond milk, you
sometimes worry people will put normal milk in it.
But you know, that's, that's a risk.
That's a risk we take. I let me just say, first of all,
I'm a big fan of yours. You are a big fan.
I'm glad someone is. I think a lot of but knew you
got it, you're very. So for people who don't know or
do know, Married at First Sight is a big show.
And in my writing saying they do it in different parts of the
world, as in because I watch the Australian one.
Oh yeah. But that's not Married at First
Sight Australia, is it? That's just Married at First
Sight. They happen to have it in
Australia. Exactly.
Yeah, yeah, I think there's a married at first Sight USA as
well. And then they have the Mart at
First Sight UK and yeah, it's it's depending.
So you have a honeymoon period, I think.
So that's where you're maybe referencing, you know, there's a
yes. And then, but most of it's
actually filmed was in Brighton actually right for the majority
of this show. Because I watched the Australian
one and it was it was why like my wife watches 90 Day Fiance.
I'm married at first sight and married at first sight.
The Australia 1. So much drama.
All the drama. Why?
Like it was wild, but the series that you were on that's just
finished, the sort of UK series seemed a lot more.
Yes, there was drama, but it's seen and I didn't see every
episode of it, but it definitely seemed a lot more like authentic
or I don't know, the relationships were a bit.
I think it was less about the drama and more about the actual
like love and still love. Yeah, well, I agree.
So I've seen some of the Australian one.
I actually watched it with my mum and that was a big reason
why I applied for the show, because they were like, if you
think you could be married at first sight.
And I was like, not doing anything else, It's locked down.
And yeah, I remember thinking, oh, there was a lot of drama
because truth be told, I also watched the UK 1 and I actually
thought it was going to be the same format.
So as I was going through the process, the one of the casting
team informed me and said, just so you know, you know, it's not
the format that perhaps, you know, from the UK, it will be
the Australian one. So it will be a bit more
dramatised because actually it is more dramatised compared to
the previous one in the UK. So we're going to have to
prepare for that. But it seemed like because here
here's when I first saw you. So with with sort of more
reality shows and things like that, what happens?
The pattern is my wife watches the programme from the outset.
I sort of happened to see a little bit of an episode claim,
I'll probably not get into this and then I get into it.
So I don't. So at the start, there's a lot
that I miss and then I'm into it.
But I just she's she's watching TV.
I'm not really like paying attention.
I'm doing whatever and then I just see a guy from home on TV
and you were here's what caught my eye.
Here's instantly how I went. I like this guy the.
Blues. You're wearing a blow.
You're wearing a white blouse one.
I don't know how to describe the outfit.
I don't know where the I don't know if where you would get this
outfit right, but. You are mine.
Don't worry, I got my own. I commissioned my.
Believe it. I believe it.
You're wearing, yeah, like a white blouse, short type outfit.
And I think this fairway describe it, you were just
really dancing around the the, the, the cliffs of Antrim.
Yeah, I'll agree there. You were on you were on the
Cliff sort of that. And I remember you say you were
like, this is just what I do. And I remember watching it and
going, I think sometimes she was like this.
They set a lot of stuff up and they go pretend you go to this
gym or pretend you do boxing, you know, like get to know the
person. But I instantly watch that when
he does do this. I was like, I I guarantee if the
cameras weren't there, you would be doing this.
I don't you were just, you were flowing, you were moving.
And I was like, I don't know who this guy is, but I need to watch
a show and I need to get him on the podcast.
Brilliant. I would.
There's nothing I would love, Mike.
My ambition is that one day me and you are just on the cliffs
in the gear, just like feeling, feeling the movement.
But I exactly. But I instantly was like that
straight away I was like, me and my wife were both like, we
really like your husband too. But we were like, we like this
guy because you are like yourself.
I could tell in that moment there was no like awkwardness
about you. You were just like here.
This is this is just, this is a bit of me just dancing around
the cliffs. I'm glad we're here.
I love that. Next week, me and you.
Is there a particular Cliff you recommend?
Where's the feed? The Causeway goes itself.
Stunning, especially on a windy day.
Like there's days where you have to hold on for dear life.
So windy if you're up there. But where do you get the outfit?
For what? For the dance.
Yeah. You're not dancing blows.
Just, you know, sorry to disappoint.
It was like a like a white flowing, I think there was
shorts involved. There was like a long sleeve
top. And I mean it looks like some
you get in like a, you know, like a gift shop of a tourist
attraction centre. Yeah, yeah, that's what I was
thinking. But but instantly I was like,
I'm invested in this. And then like, like with some
people might not that are watching that might not have
seen the show, but then when you met your husband in it, it it.
I think I was so invested in that because I was like, I was
like these this perfect. I think I said to my wife, I was
like, this is perfect. And by the way, he like, I'm
just saying it like I I'm a wife.
But if I was on that show and I was single back in the day and
Matt had been who was there, I, I'd be fine with that. 10 out of
10. Beautiful guy.
I'm punching. He's a good lad.
He is a beauty. No, no, no, but like, look, I
think you're I think you've both done well out of this.
But but he's he's good. I would have been delighted.
There's so much I want to ask you about the process of a show
like that and like going into a show and loads more, but I'm not
sure if people don't know you. Is this a fairway to describe
it? You go to the altar and you then
that's the first time you meet the person that you're going to
have a have a marriage with the trial to see if you want to stay
together. Exactly so well, how it worked
for me. I applied in November.
Can't you remember what year it was?
But. Last all the years playing all
the years. Yeah, it was.
November anyway of some year and I applied and then there was
like 3 months of you have to do interviews you have to do phone
interviews then you do Skype interviews, then you do it in
person and then you have to speak to psychologists and the
whole idea is for you to to really understand your own love
language and to find out who you are as a person.
So the more honest you can be the more likely though ideally
find you a match. So once you go through all that
then you wait for a couple of weeks and and then I just got
the phone call and says well we have a match for you but you
can't tell anyone who says you weren't even allowed to tell
your friends and family. They want you to keep it a
secret right until the cameras were there and then had to go
into quarantine for two weeks, which was lovely.
Put me in a really fancy hotel so I was treating myself.
That was a highlight, the whole experience.
Sorry, did you keep it as a secret or were like you telling
a few relatives? I didn't tell.
I had to tell a few friends and my mom and dad were like, what's
going on here? I say, well, it's the situation,
act a little bit excited, but they still didn't know I was
getting married. They knew I was going to take
part in a show. They didn't really know what to
show or what it was. And then rightly so the first
time I meet Matthews at the altar and I strut down the
aisle, I think they picked me to walk down because I got the long
hair, got the blouse, you know what I mean?
So I said, all right, I'll do I don't mind.
And then that's you just look ice with this person and I think
you you really invest your time in it.
Yes, it's a show when you go for fun, but to be chosen and then
to go through the process and then to say you've been
selected, we have a match. You you are nervous.
You know what I mean? It's very overwhelming.
Not that I've been married before, yeah, but it really felt
like it was the real deal. But, and I think the reason I
felt like I for viewers too was I think because we, we are so
used to reality shows, you, I think you can see people's
intention for going on shows quite easily nowadays.
I think you, you're on there for money, you're there for fame or
whatever. But I think the reason it's
worked out so well between you guys is and straight away you
can tell you're both there for the right reason.
Like you're both there to actually to actually find
someone. And yeah, it's such a like
marriage to me that that's what seems so crazy about the show,
that you're going to do this big thing marriage, but you don't
know who this person. And I suppose like you say,
there are, you know, the psychologist talking to you,
they're trying to find out about you as a person.
But, but do you think are they trying to put you with someone
that they actually think you'll have a relationship with or is
there also an element of it's TV, so they're going to put you
with someone that will give you good TV?
I think there has to be a balance for it to be
entertaining. I'd say totally.
I think maybe me and Matt have talked about this as being the
first gay couple in the UK series.
Maybe they had a bit of an advantage because it was maybe
in their interest to make it work and to show that side of
things. I think Channel 4 are very good
with that. Yeah.
So in many ways, we did have trust that Channel 4 would would
do that. But I say a funny story.
I kept getting phone calls near the end, kept asking me what age
would you go to? Like how old would your?
What age? What age are you?
I'm, I'm 28 and Matthew's turning 40 in, in March, but
they kept asking me and ringing me.
So I was expecting a, a geriatric at the end, 'cause you
just never know, 'cause like you say, are they doing things just
for TV? He's always had that doubt in
your mind. What are they going to do?
So it had to be open. And I remember telling my mum
and dad I was like, well, just so you know, if someone comes up
in their 60s, you know, I didn't choose them.
But I will give it a go and I'm sure they'll be lovely or
whatever. But you just don't know what
you're putting yourself in for. Yeah.
But I think with me and Matt, they they were really good in
that sense. But I think some couples maybe
they all had elements of working but also elements that didn't.
So it was that that kind of mixed.
And how how much of it does it feel like a process like because
we're when we're watching the show, we come between you guys
and this other couple and this other couple and you just do
meet for these dinner parties. But did it feel like a big
shared experience or did it feel like just you were in almost
your own bubble of you and you and Matt?
I think I was very much in a bubble with Matt and myself.
Yes, you meet the other people at dinner parties and and even
off camera, you know, we all see each other.
But in terms of of our experience, I just grew really
connected quite quick with Matt and I think we kept ourselves to
ourselves so away from the drama.
We weren't really involved in that, which is probably boring.
If everyone was like that, you know, it would be dull TV.
I love a bit of whine through and I like to watch it and per
SE, not necessarily do it, but I think it was.
It was a shared experience between Matt and I and we did
make friends, but when I look back, I think that's what really
allowed us to grow stronger within the show.
Yeah, it just it was just very genuine from the outset.
And I think I think even the fact that like you say, like
first gay couple to to be on it was never really I don't think,
I don't think many people were watching that going well, let's
see how this works out between a gay couple.
You know, it was just, it was just two, two people.
But I want to ask you about, yeah, going on the show, I
suppose. And what was what was going on
the show like compared to your expectations of what was the
reality versus the expectation? Interesting.
I suppose. I don't want to say I knew it
would have been a challenge and I like to go into things not
having much of an expectation. So I didn't go in with it being
necessarily high. I really went in knowing, but it
was ATV show actually, and a lot of those things are are quite
edited. And when I was actually
impressed and how organic they allowed me and Matthew to to
push through with our relationship.
We weren't coaxed or encouraged to say certain things.
They really did leave us to our devices and and that was
refreshing because I maybe thought things would be a wee
bit encouraged or poked and pulled, but actually they were
really accommodating for us. Were you thinking like maybe as
the gay couple like you say, you know, they, they do try and make
people argue or get a bit of attention or drama.
You know, maybe people were thinking like, you know,
they're, you know, between two guys.
You know you can, especially because you've never met like
there would be some sort of fireworks, but not like in a
good way like like tension or. Yeah, well, there could have
been drama. I don't know.
Like there was, but there was. Zero if we were a bit dull,
maybe back we were because we just got on and we even said to
each other off camera, you know, if this doesn't work out, the
best thing that'll happen is we do find friends.
And that sounds a bit cringey. Yeah, but we did say I don't
want an enemy, you know, if it doesn't work, let's embrace it
and try it and, you know, believe it there.
But it just it really just fell into place and, and as the weeks
go on. Did did you have any worries or
fears about about being a gay couple on TV and about does does
being from here in any way play into that?
Well, I'm naturally quite confident in that side of me.
I suppose. Naturally that takes a while to
get to that place. Growing up in Northern Ireland,
especially in North Coast, I guess yes, does have its, its
areas of concern there. You know, a lot of people are a
lot of closet cases on the Causeway coast and Northern
Ireland in general all over. You know what I mean?
And it's quite, it can be quite conservative, can't it?
But for me, I kind of take pride in who I am and push through.
So in many ways I was empowered to go on and say here, this is
who I am and I love being gay. I'm proud of it.
And I didn't really have any nervousness.
I haven't even had any trolls. Well, watch this space, but
incoming. But everyone's been so warm and
so welcoming to both me and Matthew.
And even the responses we have from moms and dads of kids who
are gay and things just saying, you know, this is really nice to
see. And we're proud and keep doing
that. So I think that made it special.
Growing up in the North Coast and port bound Trey around that
area, like was it was it, was it difficult like growing up being
gay or did you have a largely positive experience because you
you would naturally assume that it wasn't put.
Yeah, I would naturally assume it wasn't positive, not because
of the North Coast specifically, but just I suppose anywhere in
Northern Ireland or the UK, you know, 28.
You think back to 15 years ago or so, like I remember having a
very immature attitude towards all that sort of thing whenever
I was at school and with no malice, but you were, you would
have been pretty ignorant about that, that sort of thing.
What was it like growing up? I was like, I suppose I was a
guess. I was a closet case.
I was about 17. I always knew I was gay and I
told certain friends. But I got the courage to pluck
up and, you know, come out as it were when I was 17 and.
How did you do it? Was it was it anything wild or
was it just like a text? No, I said to, I was like I said
to my well, this is an interesting story actually.
So I had a guy I was seeing come over to the house and I said, Oh
well, mum, I'm gay. And just like I know.
But it was like disappointed I. Was a lad, you know what I mean
What and say my dad was like OK, what's for tea?
So that was. You wanted way more than.
Yeah, I know because it's such a big thing.
You know, you build it up, you build it up and then I'm going
to say this. And it was a bit of an antique
climax, but that's that's so nice.
I'm so grateful for that, my friends.
Everything was encouraging because before that I was, I was
playing the lad and, you know, I had some girlfriends who had
those old beards. I look back and laugh, but.
What was like what was one thing you did to try and seem like
more like macho or or appear straight?
Like was it like, did you feel like if I dress this way or?
Not necessarily, no. I'd never changed my dress
since, but maybe I would sit with it, you know, sit with the
legs wouldn't cross my legs. And I wanted to, but now I hear
more for it. Is there something you want to
tell me? Oh, I'd want it way more
dramatic. I don't want it way more
dramatic. Your mom and dad seemed like the
nicest people, like when they were on the show, like because
that that's something I was thinking like when I first see
you guys at the altar, I'm like, oh, there's going to be family
drama here. He's from home, you know.
Q Like, you know, a father who who like refuses to be part of
the show or anything like that. But your mom and dad just like.
Completely lovely. Oh no, they were proper, proper
up for it. Really friendly, really welcome.
And they love Matthew. He's he's in Northern Ireland at
the moment, so he's been spending Christmas in New
Year's. Had they got any reservations
about you going on the show just in general and and being exposed
to a big TV audience or would they just?
No, not at all actually, because I suppose they know me.
I can be quite spontaneous and like to do things.
You're free spirit. Free spirit.
Yeah, We'll go with that. We'll go with that.
But but it's really hard to be like it's not something you can
try and be. Yeah, there are like someone is
just a free spirit and does what they feel or you aren't.
And it's very sometimes people just don't know how to take it
because a lot of people would be jealous of that.
Like, you know, just just doing what you feel and being you are
like, it's difficult. I guess so, but I suppose it's
working on that, isn't it? Pushing through your
insecurities, pushing through the ego or pushing through what
people think of you. And actually, I find such
freedom in that you have to maybe learn not to care what
people think. Well, we all do, don't we?
Whether we say that, and it's easy for me to say, but we all
to a certain degree care what people think.
But it's then how you impact that on your own life, isn't it?
Yeah, I think to to apply it to what I do to, to stand up.
Like I would have, I would have tried to be like pretty cool,
OK, like especially when I started stand up and like not
until that long ago. So if I was doing like, you
know, a photo shoot or I was doing an interview, I would have
tried to come across as like pretty cool.
And look when the when the camera was out, I was going for
like, you know, like more of a smaller and type pose.
I like the eyes were squinting the bed and it just what it just
was not me. And it was enough.
And then I've realised, like, the older I get, like I'm just a
silly guy. I don't take myself seriously at
all. So why am I trying to look
serious, you know, serious. Yeah, Yeah.
And that's definitely helped my comedy, like leaning into the
fact more, like I'm a bit weird, I'm silly.
And and that's probably more who I am instead of this like, you
know, smooth guy. Like I'm not a smooth guy.
Yeah. You know, So I think now with
photo shoots, I'm more happy now.
Someone will definitely undermine me here and send a
photo from a recent photo shoot in where I'm like, you know, in
like a smoky subway or whatever, you know?
I see that with a serious. Expression, but but I think
yeah, being I think people love it when someone is themselves.
But like you say, the show wasn't as edited as much as you
thought it was. It was more organic.
Where you My thought with a show like that would be you walk
into, you walk down the aisle and you have this reaction of
seeing your husband for the first time and they go cut,
we're going to do that again. Just pretend you've pretend you
haven't done that. Yeah.
Was there way less of that? That did happen actually, but
just for different angles. So but I think they use the
original right. I think they just get that in
the can, you know, to choose. But there was there was a couple
of things that but no, nothing had to be redone per SE, just in
terms it was a big shot. But in terms of conversations,
it wouldn't say, oh, Dan, can you say it like this or do it
like, OK, not from our story anyway.
You have to remember, you know, there's there's eight different
couples. They've got their own producers
and teams of people. So from I can only speak for me
and Matthew say that they let us get on and things.
Yeah, but yeah, I mean, what were you?
What would have been the biggest fear for you when you met the
person you were sort of paired with?
Like what trait in the person or like what?
What if you when you were walking down the aisle?
What would have been a red flag? I suppose someone who's there,
as you say, for maybe the wrong reason, someone who's there to
cause drama, to cause outrage and probably do anything that
they would do to make sure they yeah, they were in that light
and they were intense. You know, I really did go in
with true intentions and, and actually someone who's quite
calm as well, I really feel I got what I asked for with
Matthew. So someone opposite to Matthew
would have been bad for him, would have been heavy because
it's quite can be quite lonely in that.
Just say you did have a bad experience which some of the
other couples did. It can be quite scary and done
thing because you are there alone with people and there is
pressure. So someone who was on my
wavelength but which I thought was.
Good. That guy, The what?
Which there will always like say with air couples, there's also
only one or two that's tough for you.
And for me, it was the guy whose name I don't know, but he had
real like body image confidence problems, and he was coupled
with the woman with blonde hair and oh, look.
And Morag, Yes. Yeah, look.
And she was like, do a sexy dance for me.
And he was clearly uncomfortable.
And that was on TV. I I find that I, I, I don't take
any joy in watching that kind of, I found that quick.
I found that a totally different experience to watching you guys
where I was like that felt like reality TV that I was watching.
I felt like it was there to make me uncomfortable, right?
Whereas with you guys, it's like, it's more of like a love,
like a genuine love story. I'd say so I suppose again, all
the couples I'd like to think go in looking for that love and
they had a harder experience, didn't they?
And I think that particular scene, she wanted a bit more
Viva than from Luke or wanted to to be able to have a good night
of some lusty love. I mean, he was trying to
encourage it. When someone says do a sexy
dance, it's difficult to do sexy.
I'll be like. Oh.
You had for the clips. I think I'd be there.
I think you can pull it off. You think you need this altitude
and you can do. I think there's a fine line
between sex either. But yeah, I just, I, I, I it's
almost like 8 different shows within a show.
And my wife wanted me to ask you.
I don't really know what she means by this.
When you meet for the dinner parties, there's often, you
know, there's a little bit of you're there for like fireworks
really this person to be confronted about this, that
person to tell you about their experience with that.
Umm, But my wife's question is, see the way there's a little bit
of food out there? There is, you know, there's a
little. Very.
Little food, she's wanting to know.
Do you get a dinner separately to that either before or after?
Or is it just here's a small amount of food that has to do
you for the night? Yeah, we get a dinner.
You get 4, right. And then, no, you got a dinner
before and then you got some nice food.
Very small, but more for sure would say.
But you do eat it. And then at the end of the
dinner parties, there was always a lot of pizza for the for the
cast and for the crew. So you kind of got 3 dinners.
There's a lot of eating, yeah. A lot of boozing as well.
Yeah. Drinking and eating.
Yeah, prolonged. Do they, do they like cut down
on the booze a bit? That seems to be a thing where
reality shows that used to be play these guys with as much
booze as possible, and now it feels like they can't do that as
much. I think there was a wee bit of
push and pull with this one because it was the first time
they've done this format within the UK, so there wasn't as many
restrictions I'd say on the alcohol.
So it was very much, you know, free there for the taken and it
was within your own interest. And if anyone wants to get too
drunk, then they would be encouraged to have some water.
Someone come over and be like, there's a, there's a little
water. But actually everyone was was
fairly OK. Everyone could hold their drink.
Maybe that was part of the part of the casting.
Did you have a moment, any moments on the show that you
look back on that you find uncomfortable?
Like moments involving yourself? Like was there anything that?
Moments involving myself. Or some of.
The dinner parties I would say were quite hard because it was
high intensity. So you're waiting all day to go
on and, and there is drama, you know, and I really don't like
being part of it, you know, I don't want to yeah, feel like
it. I can take it on and it can be
quite draining. So actually sometimes when it
was quite heated at dinner parties, I felt quite tired and
and a bit a bit down being there in some ways because it was so
heavy and it was supposed to be a good experience.
But then that's just life and relationships and and it just
highlights that there's not always plain ceiling.
So we had a couple of dinner parties, me and Matthew both
like so heavy tonight because we were having such a good time and
to see other people not there was a sadness there too.
So yeah, it was mixed sometimes. It wasn't always plain ceiling.
It was quite emotional in journey for everyone.
Let me ask you about since since you've, you know, finished the
show, obviously you know, your social media grows and people
get to know you. Any followers that made any like
new followers that made you go Oh flip anyone in particular
that? Machine, Todd.
Well, I mean, that's like that's going to be, that's going to be
the main one obviously. But any like you know.
Do you know, I'll be honest, I don't even know how to philtre
through, you know what I mean? So that kind of went up, but
then I don't know how to. Look, you could you could you?
Bieber could be following you right now and you have no idea.
Is that the height of of you've made it?
Is that right? If it's?
Bieber or in homes or something? Like homes, Mary Berry might be
a treat, but no, I don't actually know he's I I have not
looked. I've not looked.
What was the first? What was the first time you got
recognised after the show? What was what was that like?
Well, it was actually straight on.
Me and Matthew did the Great North Run in in Newcastle and we
thought, oh, no one will really notice it or something.
But we were getting loads of people and at that stage we
weren't really allowed to be out and about because we would have
given the ending away. So there's a lot of people
coming up saying, oh, you're still together and things like.
No, no, no, no, no. But then it gets to a point
where you have to live your life.
You know what I mean? They encourage you to stay in
and not keep a low profile, but you can't sit in your.
But there was no doubt that you guys weren't going to be
together, you know what I mean? Like anyone who watched the show
Cup for a couple of episodes, there was there was never any
doubt. No.
Well, I'm glad of that. And it's just going from
strength to strength. Well, some couples made it to
the end. Everyone who stayed made to the
end, but a lot of them fail after the show didn't quite
workout. Real life came back, you know,
They decided that it wasn't for them.
After a show like that, do you say we're all going to keep in
touch? And then it becomes difficult?
Surely it becomes like quite. Difficult 100% where you maybe
know yourself. Yeah, we've got a WhatsApp group
and and people, you know, naturally have other projects
and and move on and things. Have some people left or are
people just not not talking as much?
I think well, everyone talks, everyone's friendly per SE.
I don't think anyone's left the group, but everyone, everyone
got on well then the day and a lot of people realised, you
know, as even people who didn't get on well, they realised that
it was a show. When is?
There any Deadwood in the group? Is there anyone You're like,
come on. For me, no.
It's like when you know, but you know what I mean, when you
organise, you know when you go on a stag and some guy who can't
go and then you know, you're, you know, it's the day before
and he's still in the group and I mean you're not coming.
Why are you doing in the group? Form Alan Bad.
It's always Alan. It's always an Alan RFL, I don't
know what. About like photos and things
like that, Like are people coming up to you and how have
you, how you find and not like is it, is it weird or does it
feel like? Just been, no, I guess I'm just
grateful people are nice. You know, I like everyone that's
so friendly and they say nice things and say, oh, really nice.
These are still together and keep being strong.
And but yeah, I've not had any cycles come.
Up what's a barometer of success you would really like that like
is there like a local thing where like if you were given.
The Christmas lights or something?
Well. Christmas lights is a good one
and you know, shut at the Hollywood Time Council for 2015
Switzerland, which I which I asked to do, but I did the
Christmas lights here. Did you?
Yeah, but I asked. I asked to do it.
They didn't turn you down. Didn't.
They no, I was doing a stand up show called Hollywood the
Hollywood about gagging in America and then come back here
and as part of the show I was talking about switching the
Christmas lights on. And then I wanted the show to
finish with me saying I am doing that this year.
So I had to e-mail the council and say, guys, just throw my hat
in the ring here. And I did it.
And it was me and the mayor S of North Down and she's wearing the
bling. We're on the podium.
There's Literate Daniels, literally dozens of people lying
in the streets. It's wild.
And we do the countdown and as we're on like 5, the mayor says,
I'll hit the button. You stand back.
I was like, that's not why I'm here.
I said I'll hit the button. And she said no.
It's tradition that every year the mayor hits the button.
And she was, no disrespect, a little bit older.
She's getting on like, a little bit.
And your reflexes wouldn't be that sharp.
So as soon as it got 21, I swear to God.
She. Mike, who films this podcast and
not here today, has video evidence of this.
When it gets to two, she puts her hand out and I just slip in
there like frog's, like, you know, like a frog's tongue, like
fast before. And I hit the button.
And that's one of the greatest achievements in my life.
And she spoke to you. Sentence No.
No, no, I'm banned from the banned from the town.
But but is there. Would you like to like, you
know, would you like to get like the keys of Barry's for a day?
Barry's amusements. Not anymore.
It's closed. There's no race coming back as
it come back. I've heard.
Let's do, let's create a petition.
It needs to come back. Didn't.
It what's what's the like North Coast thing where like if you
get to do that like that's would you like to have like something
in Morales named after you or. What again, Sunday.
Yeah. What can I was going to say?
Chocolate fudge? Would that be questionable?
Not on chocolate fudge sundae, but do you know what those kind
of things I would say I don't really not enjoy them too, but
it wouldn't be a peak of, of success.
I think for me. I would just love to be
comfortable like I love. I've got a meditation retreats
business while they retreats. Yeah, that was to go well and
something I could do for a full time job.
That's that's my dream. I want to ask you about that
because that's something I'd seen on your on your Instagram
page. And when you say like a
meditation retreat, I don't know what that is.
I'm not like, see, I tried meditating once because I read
this really good for you. How?
Did it go? Well, I just was asleep.
I just fell asleep because they're like, oh, you deeper it
in through the nose or through the mouth and you in this one I
was doing you lie back with your hands on your chest and I loved
it. But then was like the last 20
minutes and then all of a sudden I was like, oh, whoa.
So that was just so I don't think I actually did the
meditation so. I like it.
No, but I it was relaxing. I know the benefit of all that.
It's a plot. Like I'll do Pilates once and
go, this is brilliant. I'm going to do this every week
and then I just don't do it. Do you think everyone needs to
take time to like meditate and relax and all that?
Sort of because I'm quite a like go, go, go.
But maybe that'll catch up for me at some point, I don't know.
Yeah, I say it's so important. I suppose we all know people and
if you were to have, if you have clues to a friend, everyone's
got issues, haven't they? Like, whereas anxieties,
worries, stresses. I think it's so important for
people to take even 5 minutes, you know what I mean?
5 to 10 minutes their day to just focus on their breathing.
And it's building up that, but that's platform and it's, I
think it's like going to the gym isn't it's like a rewiring, you
know, you train your body. I mean, you can rewire your
brain to be a bit more succinct and bit more focused and
mindful. And actually there's a there's
another way of life for people if they do get out of that
constant flux of their mind, you know, take things in, see things
differently, slowing the self down all by.
Well, there's many different kinds of meditation.
I love conscious movement meditations.
That's. That's what you do that I saw.
Using music, honing in on moving the body and breathing and once
you get past your ego and not caring about looking a bit.
Sad that's difficult for me to get past.
Well, we're going. It's so big that I can't, I try
and go around it and then it gets bigger.
No, I, I, I definitely like the idea of that and I would do it.
I would like to do that. I'll come and do that honestly,
like because I'm very much like, not that.
I'm not that I'm sceptical in general, but but I go, I don't
know if I I need to do that or I feel about it, but I would
definitely go into it with an open mind.
We can't lose enough to lose. But I'm like around where you do
it, that's probably a big. That's quite a great part of it
too. Because yeah, the scenery itself
just makes everything a bit more epic, doesn't it?
Being in the news, in the the elements, you know, if it's
windy or even it's rainy, just like dancing in the rain, you
know, But you honing in, it's not just dancing.
It really is focusing on your breathing, feeling the movement,
utilising the senses and kind of just getting lost in that.
And then there's a real sense of bliss like I find from that.
People do this over a weekend. Over a weekend, Yeah.
Friday to Sunday, so you come. And do they have any any booze?
Don't have any booze, Very treats.
Not this one, but each one can be slightly different.
It could be like a wine, wine and dance weekend.
But. I think hit the cliffs,
conscious movement, breathing we're.
Into something that's a whole new level.
You know, I'm fond of the cider myself.
But but yeah, I mean, it's, it's it's something that yeah, I
probably should do more. I mean, even like, I don't know,
I, I, I rush, I'm a rusher, I'm always rushing.
I don't have like a crazy piece of life or anything, but I
always feel like I'm rushing. To do to do things the next.
Thing I've got a kid as well so there's always like something to
be done or you're rushing back to see him or anything like
that. But do you recommend I take 5
minutes a day and just breathe? Totally, but you can even be
mindful without having to sit and close your eyes.
And can I be on my phone no during that 5 minutes?
Do you know if you're being mindful, if you're actually
focusing on what you're doing, I say I wouldn't call that
meditation, but you can be more mindful in your day.
I guess that's what I try and strive to be.
And so, you know, the way we're always scrolling, but I say
we're not really looking our way.
We're just kind of. Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Our minds are somewhere else, so I guess it's just having
conscious awareness of the present moment, which a lot of
people I don't even like. It's a work in progress for
everyone, isn't it? I just happen to try and do
little bits every day. Well, we'll put a, we'll put a
link to that in, in the description of the, of the
episode. And let me, let me ask you, what
else, what else would you like to do like after the show?
So imagine a show like that, you know, can open, can open doors,
can start conversations, you know, you get an agent and all
of a sudden you can connect with people easier.
But is there? Is there more like TV stuff
you'd like to do, or has it sparked an interest in anything
else? I suppose like you say, it opens
the door and probably doors that maybe and I don't know at the
moment. So things coming in and yeah,
once you have an agent, things do change.
So there is talks about perhaps you know, maybe a potential
other show of sorts. I think it's been all I said the
down before this because Dan doesn't, you know, Dan isn't an
avid watcher of Married at First Sight.
And but I was explaining to him and I said these guys need to
have a spin off, a spin off. You might.
I don't know what it is, but I'd like to see it.
Some kind of dancing slash. Take that tribute band Slash.
Cider, cider dance, Cider dance Cliffs, Christmas lights.
Yeah, usually you just go around, do as many of those as
possible. But but yeah, I think, I don't
know, maybe it's exploring here and like different parts of our
like nature. There's plenty of it, plenty of
the nature. I don't know, but I just, I just
think you're great on television and you guys together or you
separately? Yeah, So like that's very kind
I. Just don't know what you would
like to what you would like to do.
I suppose it's variable, you know, anything that would come.
Yeah. It would be great to be able to
showcase Northern Ireland as a beautiful place for people to
come visit, maybe highlight, you know, meditation and, and I
guess gay relationships and, and who knows if me and Matthew
would get properly married in the in the future because news
flash, you don't actually get married on the show.
That's the, you've got to tell me about that as well.
So I thought that you did and then I realised there's
probably, that's probably silly to think that.
So it's almost like a trial. Is it like a it's like a trial?
Does that Prem a promise ceremony per SE?
So you go through all the the motions, but it's not actually a
legally binding wedding, even though we do agree to to wear
our rings. Oh, you were.
You wear your rings. Of course.
So do you consider yourself married?
Like would you say a marriage? Guess it's more like a promise
ring at the moment because there's no legalities around it.
But you know, we both went in wanting this and it has
happened. So I would I feel like I'm.
How long have you guys been together like in the in?
Has it been nine months? What?
April, April, May, June, July. About nine months.
But do you feel like because you started with a marriage of of
sorts that do you feel like that's it's nine months, but
it's it's way? Does it feel like it's way more
because you've? It feels like years.
Yeah, this is what it feels like.
No, it feels great, I suppose because it's so concentrated at
the beginning. You go through all those
experiences. So they did say it's like being
with someone for a year. You know, in that short space of
time within the show from what you do, meeting family, moving
in together, going out for dinners, having big chats about
the future. So it does feel like it moved
very quick. Oh, you guys did seem to move
very quick. Yeah, but in the right way.
You know, you go on that show, you don't go in.
No, but I mean like, you know, you seem very quick, you know
the when they interview, you know, the day after the, the day
after the the way, you know, a lot of a lot of people are like,
oh, we slept in different rooms or different hotel rooms, you
know. Well, he's feeling who, you know
what I mean? You just have to, if you're into
it and you're having a preach about it, you know what I mean?
No gameplay I like. There's no time.
It's too short. I like that you didn't come out
and overtly say like what you got up to, but it was like, so
like you're just like, yeah, you know, like we, you're like,
yeah, you know, we spent, you know, a good evening together.
And and I know, again, that's part of the free spirit thing.
We were like, why I'm going to lie about it or why?
Exactly. It's about love.
Well, hopefully you know. Yeah, yeah, yeah.
But you would like to get married for real.
Yeah, definitely. I'd love to have kids and settle
down and things. That was a big, big part of me
and Matthew, you know, and our journey, something we both want,
just finding the right person. What would you do differently
with your official wedding compared to the way it was Like
obviously not the TV cameras and that sort of or maybe you would,
maybe you'd maybe make sure, but won't.
Get married. Yeah, I suppose.
I loved it, being outdoors. I'd love to be by the sea,
ideally. Muslim temples.
A lovely place. Yeah.
Do people get married there? I think so.
Very small. Very small because it's not a
massive. I think it's a little old
library. Do you know what I mean?
Yeah, yeah, yeah. There.
I think it's stunning. That'd be a nice place to get
married. So I suppose outdoors in the
nature and just celebrating, you know, good music, plenty of
booze. If you could book one band or
music artist, no one's off limits for your when, who would
it be? Who would it be?
Do you know what I love? This band called Edward Sharpe
and the Magnetic Zeros. Do you know them?
Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros No.
They're they've got some killer songs.
What's the vibe? Is it like music you can flow
to? Yeah, yeah, it's proper.
Like feel good. I don't even know what you call
it. It sounds like you could get
them to see. I thought you're going to say
like The Rolling Stones. I was like, that'll be
difficult. But Edward.
You haven't heard of them? They do.
It's my dad's band. Would you would you like to have
kids soon or that's a that's a long term?
Thing well, I guess Matthews, he's punching for it, isn't he?
So I suppose agent, agent, he's getting a bit older.
So realistically within I say three years and we'd adopt, we'd
want to adopt if we were to have kids.
So that takes a bit of a process and going through different
interviews and meetings and things.
So that would be a bit of a slow Rd.
So we had definitely done the adoption route.
I mean, exciting. I get excited talking about it
so. Yeah.
Oh yeah. Like have you always want to be
a dad? Yeah.
I like, I've always wanted to be a dad, like from like a weirdly
young age and I don't want to be a dad.
I thought it like at 11 I wasn't like I need a.
Teen Dad, That's a show in itself, yeah.
But like, yeah, being a dad is just like the bear, the best,
the best thing ever. And I I've all like when I was a
kid, I was like, I'd love to be a dad someday.
But it's it's it's better than you think it is.
Yeah. You like you if you're in there,
do you think it's going to be good?
But it's like it's just different every day.
Like another one in you, you think?
Yeah, I would like to. Yeah, I would like to.
I think there's definitely like a magic number, OK, You know
what I mean? We're like, I think that'll be
good. And you know, I'm, I'm 33.
I still like I'm relatively young, you know, fast, fast
runner, fast. I can climb things.
Well, I can run after, you know, my son, but but I think, yeah,
no rush. I would, I would, I would like
to have more kids, but it's just I can't recommend if you're
going to recommendation, I can't recommend it enough.
It's it's weird. It's weird.
Like plus I go through like sometimes I can be very not
emotional about it. Like I'm just walking bite
cracking all day, like looking after myself blobbing.
But but I'm definitely going through like a period.
I think it's Christmas, you know, you see, like my son's 1
1/2 and he still doesn't understand Christmas.
But it's just been like the most amazing thing because you, you
sort of lose that. Well, some people just love
Christmas. I kind of lost that.
Not a Scrooge, but like very indifferent to Christmas.
And now I like it's the thing they get excited for.
You do that ELF and the Shelf thing.
No, again, he's probably like, he's probably too young for
that. And I, I, I don't like trends.
I like to come to the party later.
Everyone's doing the Elf on the Shelf.
I'll wait until it's not cool anymore and then I'll start
doing it. But it seems like a lot of main
thing. It seems like a lot of effort.
It does, yeah. Yeah.
It's like an every night thing, isn't it?
Yeah, and then you've got to post that on social media.
What are your mates doing? Make them more elaborate.
Did you hear about that? That Grinch?
The Grinch like party service thing?
No. Was that did?
You hear about this, You heard that, right?
This is the hack deck, right? There's this like business, like
local business and they offer this Christmas service where the
Grinch, you know, someone dressed as the Grinch will come
to your house and come in and your kids are there.
And he'll, you know, through a better, through a bit of what
would you say? Like, I don't know.
He'll mess the place up a bit, you know, a bit terrifying push
over your Christmas tree and he'll he'll mess up a few bits
and pieces and they leave and the kids are like, Ah, the
Grinches come there. Like, but then it's terrible.
This family like posted this thing up or like can't believe
this. And it was there's a photo of
their house and their kitchen and house was just fucking
wrecked and they broke this like unofficial.
There was like there's like, there's like a great, like not
the the Grinch. There was like a side company
who were like doing it too. I was just one fella and he just
came in and like legitimate, like legitimately fucking
wrecked the house like his end. Like they're criminal damage.
It's so bad, but there's like a photo on the Mars, like our
chairs. They're not going to recommend
the service, unlike the carpets wrecked all sorts of things.
You probably put that up on screen.
It was done who did it, but believe it.
But yeah, Christmas is Christmas is pretty cool and I want to go,
I want to go on a retreat. I want to go on a retreat.
You'd be very welcome. How different?
How do you think I want to feel different after it?
I suppose you're putting yourself out and doing something
different, a bit fun. I'd like to think, how long is
it? It's from a Friday to Sunday.
And it's not just movement meditation.
So we have the silence sitting. We go for a cold dip in.
Silence. No, hold on.
Here's the thing, I like the chat.
So how long is the silence sitting?
Well, it varies. Probably once we finish some
stretches, be about 30 minutes. Does it count when I'm talking
about myself? We'll put you in a separate
room, yes. A dip in the sea, I'm OK with
that. OK, good.
Where do you be? Do you think you.
Yeah, Oh yeah, yeah, I can do that for it.
Yeah good. The 1st 5 minutes is hell but.
Once you're in. What then?
You feel like almost like a warm
feeling even when the. Water is a warm hug.
It's exhale exhilarating. I love it.
Can I go play football on Saturday?
Sure, as long as you're back for the evening meditation.
Nice. My book in.
Yeah, OK, done. That sounds good.
And Daniel, I really appreciate coming on the podcast.
Thanks very much for coming down to Hollywood.
Your first time in Hollywood first.
Yeah. Would you, will you come back?
Oh, with pleasure. Do you like Trabeix?
Love a trabe. Oh I love a 13 or a Malteser
Malteser bun or the mint arrow buns.
Mint arrow buns, good little bit old school.
Don't know if you'll find them in Hollywood is.
That right? We're more.
Imagine you'd have kind of like a Berry and white chocolate's
gone. It kind of I've been that's
exactly. And we're talking a baby Chino.
Quid a baby chin and everything's overpriced, but
that's OK because everyone's doing well here.
Is a win win? Yeah, Daniel, thanks very much.
I appreciate you going on the podcast and.
Cheers. Thank you very much.