Interview: A Bluey Christmas with Dave McCormack
Dave Mccormack, the voice of Bluey’s Dad Bandit, chats to us about what a Heeler Christmas looks like… for real life!
In episodes like Verandah Santa and Christmas Swim we see what a typical Christmas for Bandit Heeler looks like. There’s a lot of games (they often always involve tennis balls), festive headwear (whether that’s a Verandah Santa Hat or Christmas Cracker Crown) and a gravy filled feast fit for the big blue guy himself.
How much that does differ from the typical Christmas for the voice of Bandit, David McCormack?
“It’s my mum’s favourite time of the year, I think she loves the decorations… the hustle and bustle. The lights.” Like Bandit jumping for a classic catch – Dave’s dived into detailing his Mum’s passion for the season before the interviews even really begun…
“She likes Christmas to start now…” (We’re chatting at the start of October, at Sydney’s Duck Cake Café pop-up) “… and then go all the way to mid-February!”
That’s long.
“It’s too long!” he says. “I don’t think it should start until December the first, and usually I try to wrap it up almost immediately after Christmas Day.”
He’s merry, but militant about how long Christmas should last for – and although he’s keen that the season wraps up promptly… there are limits.
Last year he took his teenage daughters for a photo with Santa Claus on Christmas Eve, “much to their duress” he adds. “But when we walked into Woolworths straight after… there were hot cross buns already in the bakery! On Christmas Eve! That’s insanity… the world’s gone mental!”
A Santa photo is one of the core Christmas traditions for the McCormack clan. “We’ve always done them, but the girls are getting little too old, so they’re finding it all cringey, but I like it.”
For Aussies, this is just Christmas. But fans and families around the world, especially in the UK and US, are only just learning about the sunshine of an Aussie Christmas thanks to Bluey. “I’d be fascinated to know what a cold Christmas is like” he confesses. “It’s always so hot!”
Although Bandit’s Christmas is bookmarked by a WORLD’s BEST CHEF apron and home cooked roast – Dave takes a slightly different path. “I like to go out for Christmas Lunch. A pub or a restaurant, mainly so no one has to clean up.”
This year, the McCormack’s Christmas will be spent up in the air. Not unlike the Heelers, they’ll be spending it in Brisbane. “On Christmas Day… ten o’clock on Christmas Morning… for a Christmas Lunch at noon… what could go wrong?!”
Dave’s head is in his hands now. I point out that flying on Christmas Day is pretty Santa-coded, but it’s no use. “It’s terrifying… so much can go wrong!”
Pass the Parcel, Jinx, Charades; there are plenty of games in Bluey’s repertoire that could have been taken directly from Dave’s own childhood – “My brother and I thought we invented Keepy Uppy” – but Verandah Santa isn’t one of them. “I’m pretty sure that’s one of Joe’s creations” he says.
Production on Verandah Santa wrapped almost 8 years ago. Almost a hundred episodes later; does Dave remember anything about it? “Not a thing” he says. “No chance.”
It’s been almost just as long since he’s seen either Christmas episode. I’ve suggested that, like for so many Australians and families around the world, it could form a new Christmas tradition. “We probably should… actually yeah, we will!”
“I felt like I could really relate to Christmas Swim” he says, where the ‘Aussie-ness’ of the Heeler’s Christmas traditions is front and centre; full of sunshine, shrimp and Christmas crowns.
Rediscover Bluey’s Christmas
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Don’t forget to keep an eye on Bluey’s Christmas Countdown Calendar for more festive surprises, unlocking a new gift everyday until Christmas!
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How to play Verandah Santa
How does Santa get into the house when there’s no chimney? Maybe he comes in from the verandah! Here’s how to play Verandah Santa for real life …
For real life