Sunrise presenter Sam Mac has credited Bluey’s fictional father Bandit with helping him become a better parent, revealing that the cartoon character has become an unlikely guide as he raises three young children.
Writing for Father’s Day, Mac addressed Bandit directly, explaining that he shares the Heeler patriarch’s family set-up: two daughters and a newborn son.
Mac said his daughters, aged two and three, had placed the family firmly in its “Bluey era”, giving him a close-up view of the way Bandit handles the demands of fatherhood.
He praised the character’s willingness to join in with his daughters’ games, even when he is tired or busy. For Mac, the appeal lies less in the games themselves than in Bandit’s readiness to get down to his children’s level and give them his full attention.
The television presenter also highlighted Bandit’s ability to make a fool of himself for the sake of his children. He recalled the Dance Mode episode, in which the character performs in public before declaring: “Ladies and gentlemen, I’m doing this for my kid.”
Mac said the example had stayed with him, arguing that a few awkward looks from strangers were a small price to pay if a child was happy.
He also said Bluey had influenced the way he responds after losing his temper. Bandit, he noted, acknowledges his mistakes and apologises to his daughters — behaviour Mac described as a sign of strength rather than weakness.
“There’s something very powerful about an adult saying sorry to a two or three-year-old,” Mac wrote, saying an apology could validate a child and make them feel respected.
Another lesson came from Bandit’s advice that “obstacles do not block the path, they are the path”. Mac said the line had helped him see frustration as part of the learning process, particularly when tackling difficult tasks alongside his children.
Bandit is voiced by Australian musician Dave McCormack and was created by animator Joe Brumm. The character has become widely recognised for his hands-on, playful approach to parenting rather than the traditional hapless-dad stereotype.
A BBC Studios survey reported in 2024 found Bandit was the television father most admired by children among those polled, while many fathers said they had applied advice from television parents to real-life situations.
Mac, who dressed as Bluey for the Big Freeze fundraiser supporting research into motor neurone disease, ended his tribute by thanking Bandit for showing fathers what they could aspire to be.
“You rock! Happy Father’s Day Bandit!” he wrote.
