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While the Euro-hopping reality competition the travel contest wasn't quite the summer smash the broadcaster were hoping for, it did give host Rob Brydon a lovely glow-up. The convoluted coach trip clearly wanted to project a jet-setting vibe, so the show's host was outfitted in deluxe tailoring: vibrant three-piece suits, smooth neckwear and yacht-ready blazers. All of a sudden, he acquired the sophisticated appearance to match his classic 007 impersonation.

A Thematic Wardrobe with Musical Roots

His latest three-part series, Rob Brydon's Honky Tonk Road Trip, includes themed outfit costume changes. The affable comedian goes full Yellowstone cowpoke sporting of flannel shirts, rugged jackets and the occasional cowboy hat. It's all part of a premise that sees him driving a massive American truck on a 2,000-mile circuit of the southern US to learn quickly about the musical genre.

Brydon has been tasked with marking the centenary of the genre – or at least the century mark of the Nashville radio show which became the iconic venue, cornerstone and kingmaker of country music for generations – through the classic celebrity travelogue tradition of driving around, gabbing to locals and immersing himself in the culture. That the centenary aligns with the genre's rise as, according to him, “the fastest-growing music style in Britain” – due to global superstars and recent countrified albums from multiple artists, famous singers and various performers – provides additional perspective for examination.

Travel History With Insecurities

It's established he enjoys a road trip and a chinwag because of multiple seasons of The Trip with Steve Coogan. Initially he appears uncertain about his credentials as a presenter. Watching him confide to a dashboard-mounted camera certainly brings back recollections of Keith, the melancholy driver from Brydon's TV breakthrough, a beloved series. En route to Music City, he calls his Gavin & Stacey collaborator Jones to boost his confidence. She reminds him that he has authentic country bona fides: a past charity single of a classic duet topped the charts. (“Dolly and Kenny only made it to No 7!” she notes.)

Conversational Talents and Cultural Immersion

If the “full sensory overload” of a night out in Nashville is a little too much for Brydon – trying to dance alongside a performer turned country singer Twinnie sees him tap out during the opening a popular tune – the veteran comedian is much more steady in the interview segments. His polite interview style blends well with southern manners, gathering anecdotes about legends and reflections on the spirit of country music from experienced elders like the Grand Ole Opry fixture a renowned figure and nonagenarian celebrity clothier a fashion icon. His gentle manner is effective with newer artists, like the bearded hitmaker Luke Combs and the bluegrass banjo maestro a talented musician.

While some of the stories seem familiar, the opening episode does contain at least one genuine curveball. Why exactly is the pop star doing hanging out in a cozy east Nashville studio? Reportedly, he's visited to Tennessee to refine his songwriting since the 1990s, and cites a country icon as an influence for his band's enduring hit a classic song. Finally, is an interviewee Brydon can needle, mock and playfully provoke without fear about creating a diplomatic incident. (Barlow, bless him, participates willingly.)

Cultural Context With Spontaneous Interactions

With an entire century of country to contextualise and honor, it is understandable this regional journey across two states (including visits to other areas to come) aims to concentrate on the art and without needing to address the current political moment. Yet it inevitably includes a little. During an appearance on the glossy morning show on the local broadcaster WSM – proud founder of the Grand Ole Opry – Brydon jokingly wonders if the US and Canada are still friends, which throws his slick hosts off their stride. The audience doesn't see to see presumably icy aftermath.

Ideal Presenter for the Format

Despite his visible insecurity, Brydon is clearly a good fit for this type of lighthearted series: amiable, interested, self-effacing and always ready for costume changes, even if he struggles locating a fancy cowboy shirt in his size. Should Coogan be concerned that the co-star can do the whole travelogue thing alone? Absolutely.