Have you ever wanted to see an Irish mammy fire machine guns, hold cobras or riding an ostrich?
Baz Ashmawy really loves his mother Nancy and that’s why he is trying to kill her.
The star of How Low Can You Go? and Baz’s Culture Clash is back with his new show premièring on Sky One tonight and he couldn’t be happier to share the limelight, rollercoasters, tarantulas and sharks with his 71-year old mam Nancy.
Nancy takes centre stage in 50 Ways to Kill Your Mammy as she proves that age is no barrier when it comes to doing some of the world’s craziest activities like bungee-jumping, zip-lining and flying a Harvard Bomber jet. In between all the globe-trotting madness there are some very poignant and sweet moments that hammer home just how odd and unique the Irish mother-son dynamic really is.
JOE caught up with Baz and the fearless Nancy to get their views on…
… the inspiration for the show
Baz: At the time when we came up the idea for the show, I had a few different things on the go but I remember being in the kitchen with my ma and overhearing this story on the radio about a nun who wanted to go skydiving.
I was amazed when mam said that this was something that she really wanted to try and the idea just moved on from there. The image of my 70-year old mam doing a skydive really made me laugh and I knew that she would go through with it if given the chance. The sky-diving story got me thinking… what else could I put her through?
My ma is just the typical normal Irish mammy but I really wanted to give her the chance to experience all these amazing things. Amongst all the hilarious and mad stuff going on this is what the show is really about to me.
… what it’s like when a 70-year old skydives
Baz: I’ve done loads of skydives before but this was genuinely the most scared that I ever was doing one. The height was insane, but the fact that my mam was calmer than me just made me even more even terrified! Her attitude when she jumped out of the plane was so funny, it was like she did this loads of times before because she just jumped out without a moment’s doubt in her mind.
Here I was left alone in the plane gasping for oxygen while my ma is flying through the air. When I hit the ground I had this crazy mix of adrenalin, panic and worry, but when I met my ma she just said that was grand in such a nonchalant way.
… whether Nancy took much convincing
Nancy: Not for one moment because it’s always something that I wanted to do and not many other people would get the chance to do all these amazing things and experience all these different countries. If I didn’t do them then I would always regret it.
… the appeal of the show
Baz: Yes, the show is about all these crazy stunts and seeing just how hilarious it is for a 70 year old Irish mammy do things like sky diving, shooting a machine gun or handling a cobra, but there’s more to it. The title is a bit sensational but the show is really about the the idea that no matter your age or circumstance, you can always have an adventure and live your life to the fullest.
Yes, it’s funny, but there are some nice moments between me and my mam which I think most people will acknowledge and maybe see a bit of their own ma in. She constantly impressed me but she is also mad; I mean, in one clip she needs no convincing to jump out of a plane, but in the next she refuses to tattoo me!
… their dynamic
Baz: We were already very close to begin with, in fact I think she knows absolutely everything about me and I’m the same, so we knew that we would have a laugh and enjoy each other’s company. What people will see is just how fearless, strong and brave she is, but I already knew that. All Irish people will say the same, but my mam is a wonderful person and I’m happy to help her see some of these places and do these fantastic things that she may have never been able to do.
We are very similar people and I think I get my sense of adventure from her, especially since she worked in Libya before, and I knew that she would be open to trying all these mad things. To be honest, my mam is probably a bit wiser, tougher and smarter than I’d be, but she just impresses me so much.
… any disagreements?
Baz: The only disagreements are the exact same ones that everyone has with their mams and it’s always in the car. You know exactly how Irish mammies drive and Nancy can drive me crazy sometimes, but it’s only for a split second.
Even as a grown man there will always be moments when she gives out to me, mostly because I use a small bit of bad language. Even when we’re in these amazing places doing these crazy things there is always that little nice moment when she just gives me this dirty look after I say the ‘F Word’ or something that brings me back to when I was a kid.
Nancy: Agh! I always hated you using bad language and I’ll still hit you if I can!
… which is worse; the wooden spoon or the Taser?
Baz: Haha!, I completely forgot about the wooden spoon and I really shouldn’t have because I got it a fair few times growing up! My ma could give it a fair crack!
Nancy: Ha! Well, you probably deserved it I’m sure.
Baz: Probably so ma! I’d have to say that the tazer is worse but probably not by far. It’s such a a weird conversation because I think I’m the only lad that had to convince their mam to fire a taser gun at their back!
… their favourite personal moments
Nancy: I loved being part of the bounty hunter raid when they gave me the full uniform and made me take part in the capture of this man. I sort of hid behind the main officers because I didn’t want any bullets or trouble coming at me!
The skydiving was great fun also but, to be honest, I loved every minute of it because it was a once in a lifetime opportunity.
Baz: I think you took more fun from seeing me falling off that ostrich. I swear to you, I’ve never seen her laugh so much in my life, then again I was in absolute hysterics seeing mammy’s face when she was handling that cobra!
… the reaction to the show so far
Nancy: The response from my friends and other people who have heard what I did has been terrific, and I hope that it shows other people that if I can go and do some of these wonderful things than anyone else can.
I would probably do another skydive but it would be for charity or something. One thing is for certain, I don’t think I’ll be running out of stories for my book club!
Baz: I really loved doing this show with my my ma and, if the show takes off then you never know, I may find even more mad things to put her through.
The first episode of 50 Ways to Kill Your Mammy airs on Sky One tonight at 9pm so make sure you check out Baz and his magnificent ma in action.
Images via Sky.
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