Don't Look Down - Interview with GK Barry
Category: Press Pack ArticleWhy did you sign up for Don’t Look Down?
Funnily enough, I actually didn’t want to do it because I’m afraid of heights. I’ve got emetophobia as well, a fear of sick. If I’m scared and I feel sick, I’m out, I’m fully out. My manager said, “Do you know what, if you’re going to do anything and conquer anything, this [show] is what’s going to do it for you.” Ultimately, yes it was a show to help conquer my fears, but it was also for a special and important cause which means a lot to me.
So, you have a fear of heights. How bad is it?
I won’t go two steps up a ladder. I’m scared of flying. I like to be in control, and I like to have my feet on the ground. If humans were meant to be up high, we’d be able to fly. We can’t, so we should not be off the ground. That is my logic!
Do you have any pre-existing skills that might help you on the high wire?
I need to get this clear: I don’t do exercise, I don’t have balance, I can’t dance. My skill is just being funny – that’s all I’ve got. So, in answer to the question, I have zero pre-existing skills!
Has having a sense of humour come in handy?
100%. When I’m up there, I must crack jokes to make myself feel better. Do you know what’s funny? Taking the mick out of everyone else makes me feel a lot better too!
Who’s been your main target?
Chris [Hughes]. On the first day Chris and I had to bungee jump. We were paired up with each other, and we were hysterically sobbing, crying, saying our last words to each other… all as if we were not in a harness and wouldn’t come back up. We were both petrified.
Every challenge, we’ve been the two that have been the most pathetic. Everyone else just gets on with it, whereas we’d take 40 minutes. The challenge part is five minutes, and the rest is us just crying. The other people here fear heights too, but me and Chris were absolutely terrified. So, to see Chris also terrified made me feel better, and I just took the mick!
Talk me through some of the challenges…
There was one highwire with two wires, it was wobbly, and me and David [Ginola] had to hold hands and walk across. Obviously, you fall, it’s impossible. Then we did the bungee jump. It was off the tallest bridge in Austria, and it was just river beneath, you could hear it, rushing water – it was vile.
But you must have felt incredible afterwards?
After the bungee jump, they were trying to interview Chris and I, and I said, “No, I feel like I’m going to die.” It felt horrible afterwards. But now I feel amazing that I did it. The more you get to know yourself and how to deal with things, it feels amazing. I know that I can take everything I learnt in the challenges into normal life, like how to overcome stress.
You mentioned having a phobia of sick. Have you been sick at all during this process?
No, but I got motion sick during the challenge with David and I freaked out. I said, “David, I’ve got to drop because I’m going to be sick.” I felt really disappointed in myself that I dropped… but I’m now able to control it with breathing and stuff. I realised I’m not sick, I’m just really anxious. That’s helped me massively.
What’s it been like hanging out with your team leader, Paddy McGuinness?
Paddy’s amazing. I could not ask for anyone better to have hosted this show. He’s vulnerable, you can tell he’s scared but he’s open with it, and he’ll crack jokes. He just makes everyone feel better.
Do you feel confident you’ll be able to complete the final challenge across a famous London landmark?
If you’d have asked me this on the first day – me and Chris were the only two people here that said, “You lot are idiots to think we’re doing this.” I was one of the last people to get it, too; I said, “You lot are stupid to have gone this extreme here.” But now, 100% I think we can all do it. I don’t think there’s one person who won’t be able to complete it.
What did your friends and family think about you doing it?
They all thought I was absolutely mad because they knew how scared I was. They thought, second day in, I’d be getting a plane home – and I did consider that, I’ll be honest. When everyone was getting the walk on the beginner’s wire, I was the only one not getting it. I was getting upset because I just couldn’t do it, and I was like, “I’m just not made for it, I’m not going to do it.” Then the next day, I went in with a positive mindset and smashed it out the park.
Did you do any preparations for the show before starting training?
I got life insurance, and I wrote my will. That’s not a joke, I wrote my will before I came here – dramatic [laughs].
Who did you leave everything to?
My mum.
In what ways has your life been impacted by cancer?
My first experience of cancer was a neighbour we were really close to in my village - they got lung cancer and died within months. My dad’s parents both passed away from cancer when he was younger. My boyfriend’s grandad’s going through it. And I’ve got a friend who has come through treatment and is in recovery now. It’s just an awful disease which impacts so many.
What do you hope viewers will take away from the series?
I know I’m bringing a different set of viewers to this programme. We’ve got such a range of people which is great because we all offer something different. I’m bringing a younger audience which is powerful as hopefully when they watch they will become informed and involved with the cause which is amazing.
What’s next for you?
I do love what I’m doing and love the audience I’ve built and what we’ve created; I have a lot of fun. That said, I would love to be a television presenter. I want to be Stacey Dooley with a dirtier mouth and a flatter arse [laughs].