2010 brought a bright light in what is a mostly dim TV schedule. The Trip made it's comic debut. Julia and I fell in love with the programme from the outset. Steve Coogan and Rob Brydon mostly improvised their way through a simple idea. To visit restaurants in the North of England. They are thrown together when Steve's girlfriend backs out from his task of reviewing the restaurants for the Observer magazine. Steve chooses Rob as you get the feeling he has no other friends to invite. They play themselves and in doing so act with hilarious flaws and competition. The duo's impression off is one of my favourite pieces of comic TV. (I do not say that lightly as it has to compete with Gavin and Stacey!)

 

 

Michael Winterbottom directed the 6 part series and he mixed comedy, scenery and reviews with aplomb. He directs his films with a documentary edge, some are weak but equally others are extremely entertaining. 24 hour party people is a recommended film from his large and distinctive repertoire

 

 

Another stand out scene is when the pair visit Bolton Abbey. They stand in the graveyard and improvise their way through funeral eulogies with Rob giving a top quality performance. This is the magic of the show. Base the performance on your perceived persona and have no shame with it. 

 

 

When I heard that it was returning I felt it was inevitable. As long as the formula is kept it will be just as good. The series will be set in Italy. Different scenery but the same improvisation is just the ticket. In the new series it is Rob asking Steve to go on the trip but I feel the results will be just as funny, the countryside splendid. There is an interview with Rob Brydon in Tatler where he discusses the old and new series. How some people thought the first series was a reality show. It is something to be proud of that an audience are taken in by what is just two 'friends' in discussion.

 

I can not wait for BBC to show the results. Julia bought me the first series on DVD. It is the sort of programme you return to every year as it is gentle but packs a witty bite....in fact that sounds like one of their food review discussions!

 

I will leave you with this clip that never made onto the original series. I have a feeling it is both the language (be warned!) and maybe the length. Either way it is a gem, it is not even in the DVD extras, again probably due to the language. It would not be out of place in Monty Python's Meaning of life, I am guessing a series that influenced Michael Winterbottom?

 

I am afraid the BBC has banned my video for Copyright reasons