It all started one wintery morning on Thursday 14 July, when a challenge was issued to our Breakfast show duo, Ally & Brendan, to beat a world record.

Watch the full live video below

Could they beat the world record for Most Christmas Crackers Opened by a Duo in One Minute – with the current record sitting at 63 crackers?

What ensued was eight days of intense training, strategy meetings, trials, and nerves. They sought motivation from anyone that would offer it, meditated on scripture and selected the perfect outfits.

Setting the World Recording Breaking Stage
Setting the World Recording Breaking Stage
Hope Breakfast duo Ally & Brendan prepping for the big record-breaking moment
Hope Breakfast duo Ally & Brendan prepping for the big record-breaking moment
Pep-up time just minutes before the cracking attempt
Pep-up time just minutes before the cracking attempt
Bringing in the big commenting guns - their boss!
Bringing in the big commenting guns – their boss!

Today… during the seventh hour… Ally & Brendan achieved their eight-day old dream – to break a world record. And break they did!

With sweat running down their faces, the cheers of the spectators and official witnesses, they cracked 80 Christmas crackers in one minute – thanks to our friends at The Christmas Shop! The celebrations continued into the morning with well-wishes coming in from listeners, supporters and Ally’s mum (who was in the room for the momentous occasion!).

Hope Breakfast producer Celeste was the first to record a cracker-related pun: “Congratulations Ally and Brendan on a CRACKING effort!”

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Cracker carnage
Cracker carnage

Ally & Brendan can’t believe their own strength

“What a day! This team is incredible. I may not look like Thor but all that gym work got me to cracker record levels!” Brendan said.

Ally said she was on such a high that she felt like she “could run a marathon and swim with sharks. I’m so, so happy. Best day of my life. I’m sure my husband and two sons would agree!”

Well wishes flowed in from the team and listeners

“CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR WORLD RECORD HOLDERS I don’t understand what I just watched, amazing!” Hope Drive’s Georgia Free said.

While production team member Derrick said their effort was the reason he was “jumping back on Facebook after 10 years” – and probably off again real soon.

“Anyone brave enough to wear those shirts can break this record   Go team Hope  ,” Facebooker Michelle said.

Listener Kyle was very measured with his response: “Good morning Ally, good morning Brendan, you legends, you Aussie heroes, what an effort!”.

And, one of our two official witnesses – required to go for a world-record breaking attempt – listener Jackie, messaged the team after leaving the Hope studios: “thanks so much for the amazing experience today and meeting you guys is a dream come true! Just as I was leaving now there is a full bright rainbow directly over the building. God reminding us he fulfils his promises… ‘with Me all things are possible’!”.

Listener Jackie's photo of a rainbow after leaving Hope 103.2 studios on Breakfast's world recording breaking morning - most Christmas crackers cracked by a duo in 1 minute
Source: listener Jackie shared her photo of a rainbow over Hope 103.2 studios

Feature image: Ally & Brendan celebrate with their official witnesses

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