Jack van Gelder (72) would find it ‘something’ if On land, at sea and in the air returns to the tube. He would also be open to presenting the program again, which had an anniversary broadcast last Saturday. “I had such a good time.”
On land, at sea and in the air was shown weekly on TV between 1973 and 2010. Jack van Gelder presented the program, in which participants in self-built vehicles had to complete a certain course as quickly as possible, from 1984 to 1996 and also provided commentary for the show. “But when I joined NOS, I was no longer allowed to present. After 1996 I provided the commentary twice.”
Last Saturday, the iconic program returned once with The best of 50 years On land, at sea and in the air. Van Gelder watched with great pleasure. “Basically I liked everything. That’s the big thing about it On land, at sea and in the air. That everything is nice. The commitment of the people, that it collapses: all in all it is a carefree, cozy atmosphere. That radiates from the program.”
Van Gelder has fond memories of his time with the program. ,,I will never forget that we had recordings in Leeuwarden and that there was a young, American singer. She said: ‘Jacky, turn around‘ and then taped a piece of paper to my back where she signed her signature. That was Whitney Houston.” But he also met celebrities such as Eurovision legend Johnny Logan. “Yes, if there ever comes a book of mine, there will be a large chapter about it On land, at sea and in the air in”, chuckles Van Gelder.
Comeback on the tube
Shouldn’t the program just make a comeback on the tube, people wondered on social media, among other things. If it’s up to Jack van Gelder, yes. “I had such a good time. I think it would be great if it returns,” he tells this site. “I think it would be fantastic to present it again.”
The presenter thinks it would be a good move to On land, at sea and in the air to broadcast again. Because the strength of the program lies mainly in its light tone, says Van Gelder. My evenings now consist of I know everything about it with Ruben Nicholas. Then I watch it with my wife B&B full of love and then we put The Orange Summer on.”
Van Gelder is ‘done with all that bullshit and hassle’ on television. “We want to have fun together. How can we break that? With only On land, at sea and in the air It won’t work, but it’s a good start.”
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