Jack Whitehall has embarked on a new Netflix series, 'Fatherhood with My Father,' capturing his journey towards parenthood before and after the birth of his daughter Elsie. The series chronicles Jack's experiences as he seeks parenting advice from his own parents, Hilary and Michael, confessing his fears about what lies ahead. His partner Roxy Horner, who enters the final stage of her pregnancy, also features prominently in the documentary.
The series was filmed both prior to and after the birth of his daughter Elsie, who is now one. He teamed up with his dad Michael as he set out to explore the new world of parenthood, following on from the Travels With My Father series that they previously made together. However, reviews are coming in, and the show has received a clutch of two-star reviews.
Complaints levelled at the programme include that it leans too heavily on the generation gap jokes the pair built into their travel show. Plus some reviewers felt that the topic of parenting wasn't really front and centre as the Whitehalls do everything from meeting a humanoid AI to find out what tech might look like in the baby's future to visiting a survivalist community in Kansas.
In a review with the heading "Jack Whitehall’s new show with his dad is yet more predictable generation-gap banter", The Independent dished up just two out of a possible five stars. The review said that despite the parenting theme, the show "is essentially an excuse for Whitehall pere et fils to trade hit-and-miss generation-gap banter as they take part in a series of increasingly bizarre activities".
It suggested that instead of trying to set up genuine discussions about what it means to parent, the activities appear to have been selected to "elicit bewilderment" from 80-something Michael, which critic Katie Rosseinsky said was a pattern that "soon wears thin".
"Both he and his son feel trapped in their TV personas by clunky scripted gags," she wrote. "It’s a shame, because both of them are genuinely funny when they’re allowed to riff off one another organically, like when Jack quips that Michael probably enjoyed the way that old school baby monitors used to accidentally pick up their neighbours’ conversations, because 'he could have roleplayed being in the Stasi', or when Michael goes off on a strange tangent about the monks who taught at his school".
"The real issue with the format is that while not particularly insightful, these repetitive globetrotting antics are diminishing returns and not really that amusing either," said writer Tim Glanfield. While he also noted that there were some funny moments, he said "too much of the show is left to Jack being young, cool and naive and his dad being old, fussy and out of touch".
The reviewer over at iNews was unimpressed, saying that Whitehall's "shtick has worn unwatchably thin". "There's a new premise as Jack becomes a dad, but the pair's faux bickering is the same as ever," wrote Nick Duerdin.
The writer also noted how the joke is "thinner ever time" when the pair lean on the comedy sparked by the fact that Michael is of a different generation to his 36-year-old son, a theme that started in Travels With My Father.
However, the show has gone down better with viewers, with one fan on Instagram calling it "brilliant". "I’m watching and already crying with laughter," said another.
Someone else posted on X: "Jack Whitehall and his dad are the two most hilarious people I’ve ever watched. I’m cackling what the hell??" "Why only 4 episodes?" asked another viewer.
Roxy, 33, hails from Essex and began her modelling career with British Vogue at 17. She has since modelled for major brands like Victoria's Secret, Max Factor, and Pandora.
Their romance began in Australia, where they suffered an awkward first date when Jack unknowingly took vegan Roxy to a restaurant adorned with taxidermy ducks. Recounting the event on the Life's a Beach podcast, Jack described it humorously as "something out of a sitcom".
In May 2023, Roxy excitedly revealed their expectancy of their first child on Instagram, and come September, they welcomed Elsie.
Jack posted on social media, sharing his elation: "Utterly overwhelming and joyous in ways I couldn't have even imagined."
"In awe of my partner @roxyhorner who has been amazing throughout this journey and is going to be the greatest mum ever."
"So excited to have started a family of my own. Having vowed I've never be that guy I am now 100% going to be the parent that shows everyone endless pictures of their kid."
"I also wore sketchers to hospital, I think I must accept I am a full-blown dad now."
The couple have faced numerous challenges together, including Roxy's diagnosis with type 1 diabetes in 2021.
She revealed to Marie Claire UK: "I had been speaking to the doctors about how unwell I had been feeling. I remember a specific phone call I made to my doctor before I ended up in hospital."
"I was in bed for days crying just feeling awful and not knowing why, I just felt like I was going to die."
With her family living in Australia, Jack provided unwavering support throughout her diagnosis.
In June this year, Jack shared on Instagram his struggle with filming away from his family, posting photos of Roxy and baby Elsie.
He wrote: "Had such a special visit from them including Elsie's first trip to set. She had a few notes on my performance - bit hammy!? Can't wait to be back with them."
Jack Whitehall: Fatherhood with My Father is on Netflix now
