Ready, Set … Game On, Mum!

Ready Gamer Mum, an original game show developed by South Pacific Pictures, premieres 7.30 tonight on TVNZ 2 and TVNZ+.

The new format is based on an idea by Tom Hutchison and is being marketed internationally by All3 Media.

It pits some of the best young gamers of their generation against each other in a winner-takes-all competition.

The catch? The only person who can touch the controller is their Mum.

Reads the media release:

Hosted by Mai Morning Crew radio personality Tegan Yorwarth, Ready Gamer Mum is centred around familial relationships.

The competition flips the parent-child dynamic on its head, as the children become the teachers, and the Mums must level up.

But it’s not all about the controller, the teams must step away from the consoles to compete in Side Quests commentated by comedians Brynley Stent and Tony Lyall – real-life challenges inspired by that episode’s game – in order to pick up game-changing time advantages.

On tonight’s first episode, the teams are faced with Tony Hawk Pro Skater 3+4, as the gamer kids must train their Mums how to kick, flip, and ollie their way to the top of the table.

Ten Kiwi gamers and their Mums have been selected from across Aotearoa to compete to win a cash prize of up to $50,000:

• Pam (55) and Ben Barnes (27) – a stepmother and stepson team from Christchurch. Pam has been in Ben’s life since he was two years old.
• Sam McCubbin (55) and Oliver Klap (21) – originally from Somerset, England, Sam moved to Christchurch where Ollie was born.
• Breeze (43) and Ayla Cherry (19) – from Canterbury, Breeze met her husband and Ayla’s dad in a Counter-Strike team.
• Rebekah (56) and Bevan Harford (36) – from Wellington, Rebekah is a mum of six and grandmother of five. Her son Bevan is a dad of two.
• TinTin Goodwin (36) and Justis Gotty (21)- the youngest Mum on the show, TinTin is a vibrant mum of three from Stratford. Her son Justis is the “king gamer” in the family.
• Naylor Siaki (65) and Leaton Taualapini (26) – from Whangarei, Naylor grew up in Niue and moved to NZ when she was 16 years old. Her son Leaton learned to play games before he could read.
• Lisa Graham (52) and Mathew Ruland (24) – Lisa is a devoted mother of five and lives with son Mathew in Wellington. She has a reputation for unplugging the internet to get the kids off their games.
• Sandra (73) and Zarni Saw (36) – originally from Myanmar, Sandra is a retired interpreter and mother of two. Son Zarni has been a gamer since age five.
• Janelle Wilson (50) and Liam Craw (24) – having recently survived cancer Janelle has embraced clean living. Son Liam is passionate about sports and studied in America.
• McDonald’s wildcard team Rachel (59) and Romy (18) – the McDonald’s wildcard team are here to shake up the game! Rachel and Romy live on a dairy farm in Whitianga, where Romy and his four siblings are homeschooled.

Served up by McDonald’s and made with the support of proud programme partners, Noel Leeming, Spark Game Arena, rova and Berocca.