Channel Nine’s new show This Time Next Year was a big hit when it premiered last night. Karl Stefanovic’s new show topped the ratings with 1.282m people tuning in.
The show sees Stefanovic interview people in front of a studio audience and they share their dream of something they’d like to achieve within the next 12 months. One couple spoke about their desire to lose wait, while another shared their heartbreaking journey through IVF and wish to finally have a child.
At the end of the interview the guests walk out a door and Stefanovic walks to the other side of the stage, where the couples reappear – the earlier interview having been filmed one year earlier.
The couple going through IVF revealed they’d had twins, while the overweight couple has lost over 100kgs between them.
One story was particularly poignant. NSW farmer Brad Purdy went on to the show and came out, declaring to the studio audience that he was gay, and his goal was to find a a partner within the next year.
Brad’s living with a secret that he wants out there, and we’re proud to be a part of his journey. #9ThisTime
Posted by This Time Next Year Australia on Monday, July 31, 2017
The cameras then followed him back to his home in Baradine in New South Wales when he revealed to his family that he’d been keeping a secret from them his whole life.
Sitting down to lunch with his uncle, four sisters and brother, the farmer revealed that his family should stop trying to set him on dates with women.
“Oh, well … the only sad thing is that you haven’t been able to tell us,” was one of his sister’s reactions, and his Uncle Mick embraced him and reassured Brad that it was no big deal.
“In this day and age, there’s no difference. You’re only on this earth for a short amount of time, so you’ve got to be the person you want to be for the time that you’re here,” Uncle Mick said.
Across the table though Brad’s brother Jeffrey was silent and tears were welling up. Brad later admitted that he wasn’t sure how his brother was taking the news.
Jeffrey wasn’t angry though, just in shock at the news.
“I had no idea, like. I sort of felt a bit to blame, because he thought I’d ‘go off’ or whatever,” he revealed. “I love him to death, and nothing will change with me. Love him, and always will.”
When Brad returned to through the studio doors 12 months after his initial meeting with Karl, he was alone. He shared that he’d started dating someone from a little while but it hadn’t worked out and he was still looking for love.
Catch the show on Channel Nine on Monday nights at 8:45pm or catch up on last night’s episode at NineNow.
OIP Staff
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