I love Fred, he did have a big flaw - re: wives, but he was also diamond. Interesting guy and a great story teller.
My late grandad (maternal one, never knew the other) was a steel worker not steeplejack and 37 years older than Fred but he looked and dressed really like Fred minus the boiler suit (if Fred ever took it off?) and had the same Lancashire accent and turns of phrase, although my Grandad's was a bit thicker Lancashire (did Fred tone it down and talk posh for the cameras?). I love Fred and the content of those programs, but when I hear Fred's way of speaking it's like listening to my late grandad so for me it has that as an extra
If I'd questioned climbing a ladder without lifeline, sure my grandad would have said summut like "eeeh, don't be such a mardy"
Edit: I did climb a ladder with some steeplejacks once years ago (they made me go last as I was unproven), to about 80m level on a 98 metre chimney, no lifeline or clipping anything. Did it without making a fuss or bother but definitely for me lots of "brown adrenaline" filling the trousers, wouldn't want to do that for a regular day-job, getting sweaty palms thinking about it