Posted on Thursday, 22 July 2021

Jack Whitehall: Travels with My Father

Enjoying Thailand's hedonistic Full Moon Party with your old dad might not seem like a good idea at first, but as Jack Whitehall proves, such endeavours make for some hilarious TV moments.

While comedy weaves its way throughout this easy-watch travelogue, it gives a real taste of the culture, traditions and food of the places the duo visit.

South East Asia, America and Eastern Europe are explored in this pop-and-son Netflix series.

 

Around the World in Eighty Days

No TV travel list is complete without Michael Palin's Around the World in Eighty Days (1989).

As the name suggests, Palin trots the globe like Phileas Fogg in this legendary BBC series.

Around the World was followed by Pole to Pole with Michael Palin (1992) and Full Circle with Michael Palin (1997).

They may look a little dated now, but they show how much many countries have transformed over recent decades. Available on BBC iPlayer.

 

Travel Man: 48 Hours In...

UK comedian Richard Ayoade is joined by a fellow TV personality in each Travel Man episode to explore a city in 48 hours.

The resulting series is an often hilarious exploration of Barcelona (with Kathy Burke); Venice (with Jo brand); Dubai (with Johnny Vegas); and Hamburg (with Bob Mortimer), among many others.

The series seldom leaves the confines of Europe, but the fun-packed 30-minute episodes are great tasters for those planning city breaks or shorter continental trips. Channel 4/Amazon Prime.

Sacred Wonders

This BBC series focuses on religious ceremonies and places of worship around the globe.

Hosted by comedian Sue Perkins, the architecture and history of Angkor Wat in Cambodia, the Golden Temple in India and the Mescaleros coming of age ceremonies are among the highlights.

As poignant as it is entertaining.

 

The Kindness Diaries

Leon Legothetis attempts to travel the world purely on the kindness of others - gaining food, shelter and fuel from those he meets. 

Legothetis rewards his unsuspecting benefactors with life-changing gifts - kind of like a globe-trotting Secret Millionaire.

A truly uplifting series that finds kindness in unlikely places. From Discovery+.

 

Keith Floyd

Keith Floyd inflamed passions for both exotic food and exotic travel in his various international cooking adventures.

Floyd would set up outdoor gas stoves and cook up local dishes on camera, often adding a splash of wine in the process. Indeed, drink would be an issue throughout his career - but his love of great food and spectacular locales made him a household name.

You can find his old shows on YouTube, while clips are still played on the BBC's Saturday Kitchen to this day.

Street Food

Street Food from Netflix focuses on the delicious street food of South and Southeast Asia, with an emphasis on the people behind the food stalls.

From learning how one Vietnamese woman learned to cook snails from her father, to discovering a family chaat business in Delhi, Street Food offers some fascinating insights on the lives of everyday people overseas.

 

Dark Tourist

New Zealand journalist David Farrier ventures to countries and locations with particularly dark histories.

From a Mexican death-worshipping cult to the most “nuked” place of Earth in Kazakhstan, Farrier's adventures are entertaining but, as the title suggests, quite dark.

While the series has been accused of sensationalising some countries' sad histories, and making some modern-day cultural rites seem more sinister than they are, it makes for compulsive - if voyeuristic - viewing.

 

Anthony Bordain: Parts Unknown

Another chef makes his way to exotic locations while sampling the local cuisine.

But Anthony Bourdain's CNN series is probably the cream of the crop, offering a true sense of unscripted adventure.

"I detest competent, workmanlike storytelling", says Bourdain - and it's easy to see this exemplified in his shows.

After watching Parts Unknown, you may see the purpose of travel in a whole new light.

Gordon, Gino and Fred's Road Trip

Yet another foodie travel show - but this one focuses on the often-hilarious interplay between regimental Ramsay and effervescent Gino, with Fred refereeing.

The show's three-man formula results in Top Gear Special-like shows for travel/food lovers - but it's not everyone's cup of tea. Marmite, anyone?

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