The Trip (2010 TV series)
| The Trip | |
|---|---|
 Poster for US theatrical run |
|
| Genre | Sitcom |
| Directed by | Michael Winterbottom |
| Starring | Steve Coogan Rob Brydon |
| Country of origin | United Kingdom |
| Original language(s) | English |
| No. of series | 1 |
| No. of episodes | 6 |
| Production | |
| Producer(s) | Andrew Eaton Melissa Parmenter |
| Running time | 30 mins |
| Production company(s) | Revolution Films Baby Cow Arbie |
| Distributor | BBC Worldwide |
| Broadcast | |
| Original channel | BBC Two BBC HD |
| Picture format | 1080i HDTV 576p SDTV |
| Audio format | Dolby Digital Stereo |
| Original airing |
1 November 2010 - present |
| Chronology | |
| Preceded by | A Cock and Bull Story |
| Related shows | The Trip |
| External links | |
| Website | |
The Trip is a BAFTA award-winning television sitcom series first broadcast on BBC Two and BBC HD in the United Kingdom. The series stars Steve Coogan and Rob Brydon as fictionalised versions of themselves undertaking a restaurant tour of northern England.
The partly improvised six episode series was first broadcast on Monday nights at 10:00pm on BBC Two starting on 1 November 2010. The series was edited into a feature film which premiered at the Toronto International Film festival in September 2010 and was released in the US by IFC Films in 2011.
Contents |
Origins [edit]
Coogan and Brydon's roles as fictionalised versions of themselves are a continuation of their performances in the Michael Winterbottom-directed A Cock and Bull Story.[1] In an interview with The Guardian, Steve Coogan said:
| “ | [Winterbottom wanted] something more substantial based on what we felt when we did them, and all I could say was, 'Why do you want to do this? Why the hell do you want to do this? What is the interest?' And then he starts weaving in words like 'Coleridge', and slightly expanding on Rob's worldview. I don't think Rob actually has a worldview, but you know . . . his opinion on things.[1] | ” |
Premise and plot [edit]
In an effort to impress his gourmand American girlfriend, Mischa, Steve Coogan has accepted a commission from The Observer newspaper to go on a restaurant tour of the north of England. However, when Mischa (who was meant to accompany him on the trip) insists that they take a break from their relationship and returns to America, Steve is forced to invite colleague and friend-of-sorts Rob Brydon.
Throughout the series the two constantly bicker and attempt to undermine and outdo each other, especially in the presence of any attractive women they encounter. Steve has a number of one-night stands but is increasingly revealed to be in a rut both professionally and personally: at one point – as Steve gets stuck attempting to cross a river using a series of stepping stones – Rob shouts out to him, "You're stuck in a metaphor!"
The competitive atmosphere between the two is occasionally broken by passages of amicable and spontaneous comic improvisation, with each riffing off the other's ideas.
Reception [edit]
The series has received largely favourable reviews. Andrea Mullaney of The Scotsman said that "on paper, The Trip sounds bloody awful: a cosy, luvvie giant in-joke for Steve Coogan and Rob Brydon", but goes on to describe it as "completely brilliant" and "hilarious".[2] Brian Viner of The Independent said: "There's been precious little else on the box these last few years that has got my wife and me shedding big fat tears of laughter, but The Trip never fails to oblige. I love it for its originality and its daring."[3] John Crace of The Guardian described the show as "one of the funniest things on TV".[4]
Awards [edit]
The Trip was nominated for the 2011 BAFTA Television Award for Best Situation Comedy, and Steve Coogan won the award for Best Male Comedy Performance.[5] The Trip won the best new programme award at the 2012 Broadcast awards in London.[6]
Episodes [edit]
| Number | Title | Airdate | Viewers |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "The Inn at Whitewell" | 1 November 2010 | 2.300 million (10.3%)[7] |
| 2 | "L'Enclume" | 8 November 2010 | 1.539 million (7.5%)[8] |
| 3 | "Holbeck Ghyll" | 15 November 2010 | 1.35 million (6.5%)[9] |
| 4 | "Hipping Hall" | 22 November 2010 | 1.199 million (5.6%)[10] |
| 5 | "The Yorke Arms" | 29 November 2010 | 1.234 million (5.6%) [11] |
| 6 | "The Angel at Hetton" | 6 December 2010 | 1.077 million (5%) [12] |
International broadcast [edit]
In Australia, the programme was first screened Wednesday nights at 10:00pm on ABC1 starting on 14 December 2011, six months after the feature film was released.[13]
Series 2 [edit]
A second series, set in Italy, is planned.[14]
References [edit]
- ^ a b "Rob Brydon and Steve Coogan: 'We're not the big buddies people think we are'". The Guardian. 2010-10-26. Retrieved 2010-12-07.
- ^ "TV review: Accused/The Trip". The Scotsman. 2010-12-01. Retrieved 2010-12-08.
- ^ "Last Night's TV - Ian Hislop's Age of the Do-Gooders, BBC2; Art of Germany, BBC4; The Trip, BBC2". The Independent. 2010-11-30. Retrieved 2010-12-08.
- ^ "TV review: Dispatches: City of Fear; Accused; The Trip". The Guardian. 2010-11-23. Retrieved 2010-12-08.
- ^ "Television Awards Nominees and Winners in 2011". BAFTA. 26 April 2011. Retrieved 25 October 2011.
- ^ "Fred West drama Appropriate Adult wins TV award". BBC. 3 February 2012. Retrieved 3 February 2012.
- ^ "TV ratings: Nearly 6m for ITV's The Little House". The Guardian. 2010-11-02. Retrieved 2010-11-11.
- ^ "TV ratings: Jack Duckworth farewell watched by nearly 11 million". The Guardian. 2010-11-09. Retrieved 2010-11-11.
- ^ "The British Comedy Guide". Retrieved 2010-11-23.
- ^ "TV ratings: Miranda walks tall for BBC2". The Guardian. 2010-11-23. Retrieved 2010-11-23.
- ^ "TV Ratings: BBC1's Fifa probe scores 2.85 million". The Guardian. 2010-11-30. Retrieved 2010-12-12.
- ^ "TV Ratings: Coronation Street explodes with 13m viewers". The Guardian. 2010-12-07. Retrieved 2010-12-12.
- ^ "ABC1 Programming Airdate: The Trip (episode one)". ABC Television Publicity. Retrieved 2011-12-15.
- ^ http://splitsider.com/2011/07/steve-coogan-and-rob-brydon-to-head-to-italy-for-a-sequel-to-the-trip/
External links [edit]
- The Trip at BBC Programmes
- The Trip at the British Comedy Guide
- The Trip at the Internet Movie Database
- BAFTA Interview with Steve Coogan, Rob Brydon and Andrew Eaton recorded at Latitude Festival 2011
