Viewers of Noel Edmunds’ new ITV documentary have compared it to a ‘mockumentary’ after the first episode premiered on Friday night.
Kiwi Adventure follows the former Deal Or No Deal star, 76, at his 800-acre New Zealand estate River Haven after making the move with his third wife Liz Davies in 2019.
The new documentary sees Noel displaying his humble abode as he is filmed lying under crystal lamps and showing off his garden, which strangely features a Guardian statue.
The unique touches to his estate and his antics on the show left some viewers comparing it to a ‘mockumentary’ as they drew parallels with The Office’s David Brent.
Viewers took to X, formerly known as Twitter, to share their opinions, writing: ‘Is this something out alan partridge’,
‘Noel Edmonds Kiwi Adventure is like an Alan Partridge documentary as a Bass Eye spin-off.
Viewers compared Noel Edmunds, 76, to Alan Partridge and David Brent after the first episode of his new ITV documentary aired
The first opening of Kiwi Adventure – which follows the former Deal Or No Deal presenter at his New Zealand home – hit our television screens on Friday June 20
Noel made the move to the southern hemisphere in 2019 with his third wife Liz Davies, splashing out on the sprawling 800-acre estate River Haven
‘I could watch this EVERY week, not just series!’,
‘Noel Edmonds’ Kiwi Adventure confirms that Edmonds is essentially David Brent and Alan Partridge melded into the one body, with a dash of Colin Hunt from The Fast Show’,
‘This is the most bizarre TV show of the year so far’,
‘Watching Noel Edmonds’ Kiwi Adventure on ITV. It’s actually very moving. It’s one of the best programmes I’ve ever seen.’
The series opener saw Noel reveal he is actually losing money with his New Zealand-based business due to the country’s unpredictable weather.
His plush Kiwi estate consists of 12 properties including a pub called The Bugger, which punters don’t visit during a downpour, according to Noel.
He said: ‘When you come to New Zealand, you change your view about your relationship between the weather and the economy.
‘We’re haemorrhaging money at the moment because you have to take staff on in anticipation of the guests coming.
‘We’re going to have to have a spectacular November and December to balance the books.
X-users couldn’t take the first episode Kiwi Adventure seriously, with many questioning whether the show is more mockumentary than it is documentary
Noel also admitted in the hour-long insight into his life that he cares what people think about him and wants to make his business in New Zealand work.
‘I’m so committed to New Zealand that I have invested tens of millions of dollars of my hard-earned money in this country,’ he shared.
‘I think I would have to admit, I do actually care what people think of me. And criticism does hurt.
‘I do worry about it because I’m hugely sensitive and we do want to be accepted, sure.’
The release of Kiwi Adventure comes after Noel and ITV received criticism from fans for ‘copying’ Jeremy Clarkson’s Clarkson’s Farm.
Noel had rivalled Clarkson’s Farm after signing a £1million deal with ITV for the series.
Hitting back at comparisons in an interview with The Sun, Noel said: ‘When we were filming our show, some people who knew about Clarkson’s Farm said to me, “Oh, is it like Clarkson’s Farm?”
‘And I said, “No, it couldn’t be more different.” First of all, I’m not like Jeremy in many ways, though I wish I were.
Noel opened up about fearing criticism in the first episode, saying ‘I do worry about it because I’m hugely sensitive
The new show has been compared to Jeremy Clarkson’s Amazon Prime documentary Clarkson’s Farm
‘He’s brilliant. He can articulate an argument beautifully and deliver a sharp, humorous line like no one else.
‘The key difference between our Kiwi Adventure, and Clarkson’s Farm is that ours is more of a lifestyle narrative.
Noel first moved to New Zealand in 2019 with former make-up artist Liz, launching a network of radio stations near Auckland before moving to Ngatimoti three years later.
As well as the winery, the TV star also has a shop, restaurant, pub, and café on a £15m estate.
In 2023, sparked a furious row with residents who accused him of ‘colonising’ their idyllic village.
The Deal Or No Deal star has also added winemaking to his repertoire at River Haven.
Noel settled in the Ngatimoti area and snapped up 12 properties worth almost £15m on 270 hectares of land.
Noel first moved to New Zealand in 2019 with former make-up artist Liz Davies, launching a network of radio stations near Auckland before moving to Ngatimoti three years later
The town is already well-known in New Zealand for its annual festival, which generally takes place in October and is attended by thousands of people
The town is already well-known in New Zealand for its annual festival, which generally takes place in October and is attended by thousands of people.
In 2023, he sparked a furious row with residents who accused him of ‘colonising’ their idyllic village.
One said: ‘I feel like he’s a coloniser. He’s come in like he’s the lord of the manor.’
The television star has not helped matters by posing for photos on the estate holding a mug with the slogan ‘His Lordship’.
The resident added: ‘He’s got this attitude… about how he’s improved the place and made it amazing – it was already amazing.’
