Shane Crawford nabbed Ninja Warrior role with six hours notice
Footy Show favourite Shane Crawford was given just six hours notice to step in and host the latest Ninja Warrior season, after a COVID-19 scare rocked the production. Here’s how the drama unfolded.
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Former Footy Show favourite Shane Crawford was given just six hours notice to step in and host one of TV’s biggest prime time offerings, Ninja Warrior Australia, after a COVID-19 scare rocked the production.
Crawford was contacted by Channel 9 around 1pm on the day the big budget extravaganza was due to start filming in March and told to get to the Melbourne Showgrounds asap.
Eager to comply, Crawford first honoured a lunch date with his mum, before racing to the set and stepping straight into show mode.
His late call up came after co-host Rebecca Maddern had to undergo a COVID-19 test and sit out several days of filming while waiting for her results.
“I was thrown right into the deep end and I loved it,” Crawford said.
“It is the most fun I have had since the early Footy Show days.
“I hosted with Ben Fordham for the first couple of nights and I thought I was done, then they said Freddie Flintoff was going home to London to his family because of the COVID-19 situation and would I finish his role as the sideline commentator.”
Crawford said the show, which launches tonight on 9, deeply appealed to him.
“I loved seeing people trying to get the best out of themselves and pushing themselves,” he said.
“I’d love to see a kids version of Ninja Warrior, obviously on a modified course.”
Speaking of kids, Crawford said he was struggling with lockdown and homeschooling with his four sons.
“Home schooling is not for me. The kids are pretty much running the house at the moment,” he said.