Father's Unique Gender Reveal at The O2
Barry Rutley, a 46-year-old father from Bexley, London, has turned his workplace into a personal celebration by lighting The O2 pink for his baby's gender reveal. As the senior operations manager at Up at The O2, Barry has spent nearly a decade climbing the venue's roof, but this moment stands out as one of his most cherished experiences.
A Decade of Rooftop Adventures
Barry's role involves overseeing the Up at The O2 climbs, where participants embark on a 90-minute walk across the roof, 52 meters high, offering panoramic views of London. Over the years, he has met numerous celebrities, including Billie Eilish, Kevin Hart, Craig David, and Ed Balls, often sharing intimate conversations away from the public eye.
"We'd got the results on the day and I was dying to know," Barry told PA Real Life about the gender reveal. "I gave the results to one of my team and said, 'Right, look at it but don't tell me what it is. I'm going to go and stand over there with the radio and, when I say push the button, change the lights'."
He initially expected a boy, which would have meant blue lights, but The O2's usual blue hue made pink the perfect surprise. "This pink glow just lit up the sky and I found out I was about to be the father to a little girl and I lost my mind," he recalled.
From Acting Dreams to Rooftop Realities
Barry's journey to The O2 began with aspirations of becoming an actor. Moving from the south coast to London in his 20s, he soon shifted to theatre management, working in the West End for years. "I love theatre, I love stage, I love all the magical lights, but I worked every Christmas, I worked every evening, I worked every weekend," he explained.
Nine years ago, an opportunity with AEG, the owner and operator of The O2, changed his career path. Starting as a guest experience manager, he now manages all operations for the attraction. "The favourite aspect of the job is you still get to have some creativity," Barry said. "You still work within that environment where there's entertainment, there's buzz, there's tourism, so everything I've always loved."
Celebrity Encounters and Rooftop Proposals
Barry's job has led to memorable interactions, such as with Billie Eilish, who joined a climb with radio presenter Greg James. "Billie opened up freely and talked about things you wouldn't normally hear," he shared. "We joked, we chatted, and I made it to her Instagram and her TikTok, which is always a winner."
He also met Jennifer, Usher's wife, during the singer's residency at The O2, which inspired the gender reveal idea. Barry noted that this was likely the first and only time The O2 has been lit pink for such an event. "It meant so much that the venue had allowed me to do something so unique and so powerful for me," he expressed.
Rooftop proposals are another highlight, with Barry recalling one particularly nerve-wracking moment. "The man was literally sweating, drenched in sweat, on such a cold day," he described. "He's brought out the ring, and then he's shaking so much he's dropped the ring through the grate... luckily, we were able to retrieve it with some string and a magnet."
Creating Lasting Memories
Barry's daughter, Aurora, now six months old, has a photo of the pink-lit O2 in her bedroom. "She'll be able to say, 'My daddy turned The O2 pink for me when I was born', and it's an amazing feeling," he said. The climbs continue in all weather, with seasonal activations like snow globes, silent discos, and speed dating adding to the experience.
Looking ahead, Barry dreams of climbing with Kylie Minogue or Ed Sheeran and anticipates exciting events for The O2's 20th anniversary. "With The O2 walk, there's freedom, you can be yourself," he concluded. "It's nice when people feel that this is an escapism for them, and that's what we want it to be for everyone."
