Children’s entertainer and play therapist Pip Milford-Hughes is one of seven contestants on TV Three reality game show Blow Up, brightening living rooms for the past several weeks.
Pippity-Pop, as the Kaitangata-born Concord resident is better known, said she could not discuss her progress through the show, but said taking part had been an "amazing" experience.
An eventual winner will take away $25,000 if they are judged to have surpassed their fellow "twisters" in making themed, large-scale balloon sculptures across the season run.
"We finished filming at the end of last year, which was an amazing experience. As you know, some reality shows can be a bit spicy, emphasising the friction and negative elements, but the team behind this were so friendly and positive, and have delivered on their promise to portray the true nature of balloon art, which is joyful, fun and family-friendly."
She said her own career in so-called "balloonology" began in 1977 when, aged 8, she went to see the "balloon man" at the South Otago A & P Show.
"I was absolutely fascinated, and spent all my show money on his designs, which I then carefully untied to see how they were made.
"Eventually I’d mastered three designs, and had to head to the library to learn more. The advent of the internet obviously helped and, today, I probably have more than 1000 designs I can do from memory."
"The show has really put those skills to the test, where we’re making giant sculptures out of three-foot [1m] balloons under time pressure. But I’ve loved every minute of it."
All balloons from the show — made from sustainable latex — were composted, she said.
Outside the show, some of her more unusual designs had included a full-scale ride-on lawnmower for a retiring Dunedin groundskeeper, and a giant brain photo frame for a neurological conference.
However, there was just as much satisfaction in making a humble balloon dog for a wide-eyed child.
"I work at Dunedin Hospital as a play therapist, and there’s still nothing like seeing a child’s eyes light up as their chosen animal comes to life. It lets the imagination take flight."
Blow Up screens on Mondays and Tuesdays.
