Travel Man

Travel Man is a British television travel documentary series. It features presenter Richard Ayoade, travelling to a popular city each episode with a celebrity guest.[1] It was produced around the same time Ayoade was presenting Gadget Man.

Travel Man
GenreSpecial interest
Travel
Presented byRichard Ayoade (2015-2019)
Joe Lycett (2020-present)
Theme music composerPaul Mottram
Opening themeTrailblazer
Country of originUnited Kingdom
Original language(s)English
No. of series10
No. of episodes43 (list of episodes)
Production
Running time30 minutes, except for Christmas specials, which are 1h
(inc. adverts)
Production company(s)North One Television
DistributorAll3Media
Release
Original networkChannel 4
Picture format576i (SDTV)
1080i (HDTV)
Original release30 March 2015 (2015-03-30) 
present
Chronology
Related showsGadget Man
External links
Website
Production website

The show is characterized by fast pacing, with bracing editing and dry humour, intercut with Ayoade's fourth-wall-breaking voiceover. Unlike Top Gear which evolved from a consumer advice show on cars into pure entertainment, Travel Man entertains and remains useful to viewers planning a trip. Onscreen pop-ups highlight various activities or places to visit and their cost, with the overall price of staying 48 hours in that week's city mentioned at the end of each episode. Ayoade's presentation style and banter with that week's guest often emphasises his social inadequacies.

Travel Man has been twice nominated in the best Features category at the BAFTAs and won Best Factual Programme three years running at the RTS Midlands awards.[2][3] In Australia, the series is broadcast on SBS Viceland, and in New Zealand on TVNZ Duke.[4]

In July 2019, Channel 4 announced that Ayoade would be leaving the show after the tenth series and would be replaced as host by comedian Joe Lycett.[5]

Episodes

Series overview

Series Episodes Originally aired
Series premiere Series finale
1 4 30 March 2015 (2015-03-30) 20 April 2015 (2015-04-20)
2 4 5 January 2016 (2016-01-05) 26 January 2016 (2016-01-26)
3 4 25 March 2016 (2016-03-25) 15 April 2016 (2016-04-15)
4 4 23 September 2016 (2016-09-23) 14 October 2016 (2016-10-14)
5 4 6 March 2017 (2017-03-06) 3 April 2017 (2017-04-03)
6 4 20 October 2017 (2017-10-20) 10 November 2017 (2017-11-10)
7 4 2 April 2018 (2018-04-02) 23 April 2018 (2018-04-23)
8 4 10 September 2018 (2018-09-10) 1 October 2018 (2018-10-01)
9 4 15 April 2019 (2019-04-15) 6 May 2019 (2019-05-06)
10 4 21 October 2019 (2019-10-21) 11 November 2019 (2019-11-11)

Series 1

No.
overall
No. in
series
TitleGuestOriginal air date Viewers
(millions)
11"48 Hours in Barcelona"Kathy Burke30 March 2015 (2015-03-30)1.7
Richard and actor Kathy Burke do Barcelona in 48 hours, including some far-out cuisine, Cava tasting, a guided tricycle tour, and surrealist artist Miró.
22"48 Hours in Istanbul"Adam Hills6 April 2015 (2015-04-06)1.36
Richard and comedian Adam Hills embark on a whirlwind visit in Istanbul, including a boat trip, a massage, a very close shave, and some haggling at the Grand Bazaar.
33"48 Hours in Iceland"Jessica Hynes13 April 2015 (2015-04-13)1.67
Richard takes actor Jessica Hynes on a whirlwind weekend away to the stunning scenery of Iceland, for waterfalls, glaciers, geysers, whales, rotten shark, and elf school.
44"48 Hours in Marrakesh"Stephen Mangan20 April 2015 (2015-04-20)1.33
Richard and actor Stephen Mangan eat steamed sheep's head and go hot air ballooning and camel riding on a quickie weekend trip in Morocco.

Series 2

No.
overall
No. in
series
TitleGuestOriginal air date Viewers
(millions)
51"48 Hours in Vienna"Chris O'Dowd5 January 2016 (2016-01-05)2.15
Richard goes to Vienna with comedian Chris O'Dowd to sample the sausages, cakes, wines, and spirits. The pair also take a hot-rod tour, visit a fairground, the Freud museum, and the city sewers.
62"48 Hours in Paris"Mel Giedroyc12 January 2016 (2016-01-12)1.9
Richard Ayoade and Mel Giedroyc do a Paris le weekend, with snails, absinthe, a Cordon Bleu cookery course, bespoke perfume, and an art tour.
73"48 Hours in Copenhagen"Noel Fielding19 January 2016 (2016-01-19)1.86
Comedian Noel Fielding joins Richard for 48 fast and funny hours in the Danish capital, with cycling, sightseeing, art, sandwiches, beer, and rollercoasters.
84"48 Hours in Moscow"Greg Davies26 January 2016 (2016-01-26)1.76
Richard and Greg Davies attempt to extract the essence of Moscow in two days, as they clash with army tanks, head into space, and visit one of the strangest circuses in the world.

Series 3

No.
overall
No. in
series
TitleGuestOriginal air date Viewers
(millions)
91"48 Hours in Seville"Rob Delaney25 March 2016 (2016-03-25)1.54
Richard Ayoade heads to southern Spain with comedian Rob Delaney from Catastrophe, where they eat tapas, learn to dance flamenco, and go a bit Wild West.
102"48 Hours in Venice"Jo Brand1 April 2016 (2016-04-01)1.53
Richard and Jo Brand do a fast, funny and ruthlessly efficient trip to Venice, learning to row a gondola, sampling Venetian tapas, and staying at the famous Hotel Danieli.
113"48 Hours in Dubai"Johnny Vegas8 April 2016 (2016-04-08)1.83
Richard stretches the description mini break to the limit as he heads to the United Arab Emirates for a luxury bonanza with comedian Johnny Vegas.
124"48 Hours in Berlin"Roisin Conaty15 April 2016 (2016-04-15)1.47
Richard heads for super-cool Berlin with comedian Roisin Conaty, taking in the city's famed nightlife, Checkpoint Charlie, fancy food, and a replica Cold War apartment.

Series 4

No.
overall
No. in
series
TitleGuestOriginal air date Viewers
(millions)
131"48 Hours in New York"Katherine Ryan23 September 2016 (2016-09-23)1.75
Richard and comedian Katherine Ryan take a fast and funny trip to New York. Their overflowing schedule includes skyscrapers, rollerblades, museums, ferries, showtunes and cronuts.
142"48 Hours in Helsinki"Paul Rudd30 September 2016 (2016-09-30)1.58
Hollywood actor Paul Rudd joins Richard to discover Finland's seaside capital, with a time-efficient exploration by kayak, a good steaming in the city's saunas, and salty sweets.
153"48 Hours in Lisbon"Adam Buxton7 October 2016 (2016-10-07)1.75
Actor and comedian Adam Buxton joins Richard for a high-speed tour of Portugal's capital, with trams, rickshaw, funicular and fado, and a visit to a doll hospital.
164"48 Hours in Naples"Jack Dee14 October 2016 (2016-10-14)1.85
Richard and Jack Dee take a trip to Naples featuring humour, history, culture, pizza, Vespas and chaotic traffic, a trip to Capri, and a guide to the meaning of dreams.

2016 Christmas Special

No.
overall
No. in
series
TitleGuestOriginal air date Viewers
(millions)
170"48 Hours in Florence Christmas Special"Rebel Wilson25 December 2016 (2016-12-25)2.10
Hollywood actor Rebel Wilson joins Richard for a fun-packed whizz round Florence in a mini-break mixing art, action, gelato, a drive in a classic Alfa Romeo, and some tripe.

Series 5

No.
overall
No. in
series
TitleGuestOriginal air date Viewers
(millions)
181"48 Hours in Saint Petersburg"Rob Beckett6 March 2017 (2017-03-06)1.73
Comedian Rob Beckett joins Richard Ayoade in Russia's cultural capital, for a post-Soviet itinerary including an armoured tank, caviar, vodka, and a herring in a fur coat.
192"48 Hours in Budapest"Aisling Bea20 March 2017 (2017-03-20)2.02
Richard and comedian Aisling Bea make a whirlwind tour of Hungary's fairytale capital, with selfies, goulash, cake, pubs, liquor, and a game of chess at the thermal baths.
203"48 Hours in Tenerife"Lena Dunham27 March 2017 (2017-03-27)2.34
Richard and Lena Dunham fast forward through Tenerife, with a visit to a volcano, some stargazing, a sculpture tour, layered coffee, a spot of golf, and a whale hunt.
214"48 Hours in Miami"Rhod Gilbert3 April 2017 (2017-04-03)1.88
Richard and Rhod Gilbert's high-speed visit to Florida's famous hot spot takes in art, art deco, alligators, speedboats, an airboat tour of the everglades - and dominoes.

Series 6

No.
overall
No. in
series
TitleGuestOriginal air date Viewers
(millions)
221"48 Hours in Rome"Matt Lucas20 October 2017 (2017-10-20)2.20
Richard Ayoade is joined by Matt Lucas, for a frenetic 48 hours in the eternal city, Rome. Together, they cram in culture, cuisine, history, hats and as many sights as possible.
232"48 Hours in Valencia"Sara Pascoe27 October 2017 (2017-10-27)2.12
Richard and Sara Pascoe visit the birthplace of paella, for cocktails, zorbing, a four-wheel bike ride and a hunt for the holy grail.
243"48 Hours in Amsterdam"Joe Lycett3 November 2017 (2017-11-03)2.55
Richard and comedian Joe Lycett head to the mini break mecca of Amsterdam, for some culture, cardio, canals, cuisine, drawing, Dutch gin, and the museum of street organs.
254"48 Hours in Stockholm"Sally Phillips10 November 2017 (2017-11-10)2.27
Richard and actor Sally Phillips have a fulsome time with fika, meatballs, scaling high rooftops, singing ABBA, and staying up late playing on their phones.

2017 Christmas Special

This is an hour-long special.[6][7]

No.
overall
No. in
series
TitleGuestOriginal air date Viewers
(millions)
260"48 Hours in Hong Kong Christmas Special"Jon Hamm26 December 2017 (2017-12-26)2.07[8]
In an hour-long Christmas extravaganza, Richard and Mad Men actor Jon Hamm tour Hong Kong, taking in a tai chi drop-in session, a ride in a chopper, and some fusion dim sum.

Series 7

No.
overall
No. in
series
TitleGuestOriginal air date Viewers
(millions)
271"48 Hours in Brussels"Lee Mack2 April 2018 (2018-04-02)2.14
Richard brings inspiration to all mini-breakers as he heads to Belgium with comedian Lee Mack, for culture, comics, puppets, waffles, mussels and pralines.
282"48 Hours in Oslo"Fay Ripley9 April 2018 (2018-04-09)1.95
Richard heads to Norway with actor Fay Ripley for two days of sledging, screaming, skiing, sculpture, and scoff.
293"48 Hours in Madeira"Robert Webb16 April 2018 (2018-04-16)2.31
Richard heads to the Portuguese island with actor/writer Robert Webb, for two days of wine, cake, fish, bananas, cable cars, and embroidery lessons.
304"48 Hours on the Cote d'Azur"Shazia Mirza23 April 2018 (2018-04-23)2.10
Shazia Mirza joins Richard Ayoade for a two day detour in the south of France, including blue art, fancy yachts, a glam helicopter ride, and a trip to the casino.

Series 8

No.
overall
No. in
series
TitleGuestOriginal air date Viewers
(millions)
311"48 Hours in Zurich"Frank Skinner10 September 2018 (2018-09-10)1.94
Richard Ayoade returns, delivering the definitive guide to a minibreak in Switzerland's largest city. Joining him for fondue, hot chocolate, Dada, and footie is Frank Skinner.
322"48 Hours in Ibiza"Jessica Knappett17 September 2018 (2018-09-17)1.82
Richard and comic actor Jessica Knappett tour the White Isle of the Med - taking in some alfresco art, deluxe cocktails, an exclusive supper club, and a hippy gong bath.
333"48 Hours in Ljubljana"Eddie Izzard24 September 2018 (2018-09-24)1.77
Richard and Eddie Izzard take in lovely Ljubljana; local tapas and orange wine; and make a trip to the stunningly beautiful Lake Bled.
344"48 Hours in Milan"Morgana Robinson1 October 2018 (2018-10-01)1.94
Richard and comedian Morgana Robinson tour a sweltering Milan, taking in paintings, a musical pasta-making lesson, and a drink in the smallest bar in the world.

2018 Christmas Special

No.
overall
No. in
series
TitleGuestOriginal air date Viewers
(millions)
350"96 Hours in Jordan Christmas Special"David Baddiel27 December 2018 (2018-12-27)1.95
Comedian David Baddiel joins Richard Ayoade for a seasonal minibreak, visiting world-class wonders, jaw-dropping deserts and over-salted seas, as they follow in the footsteps of prophets and legends.

Series 9

No.
overall
No. in
series
TitleGuestOriginal air date Viewers
(millions)
361"48 Hours in Athens"Dawn French15 April 2019 (2019-04-15)1.98
Comedy goddess Dawn French joins Richard in Athens for some ancient history, doughnuts, molecular food, ouzo, and a radical pedicure involving a toothless fish.
372"48 Hours in Porto"Nish Kumar22 April 2019 (2019-04-22)1.86
Nish Kumar joins Richard for a potter round Porto. Their stuffed mini-break includes scooters, a tipple or two, a fat sandwich, pastries, confession, and some amazing views of Portugal's second city.
383"48 Hours in Tallinn"Alice Levine29 April 2019 (2019-04-29)1.74
Richard and Alice Levine - DJ, broadcaster & podcaster - do Estonia's capital in 48 hours - including the most see-able sights, some nosh at its top restaurant, and a stroke of Sean Connery's face.
394"48 Hours in Hamburg"Bob Mortimer6 May 2019 (2019-05-06)2.01
Richard Ayoade and Bob Mortimer go for a spin round cosmopolitan Hamburg. There's a Beatles tour in the red-light district, some local hash - corned beef - and hip cocktails.

Series 10

No.
overall
No. in
series
TitleGuestOriginal air date Viewers
(millions)
401"48 Hours in Dubrovnik"Stephen Merchant21 October 2019 (2019-10-21)N/A
Richard Ayoade does Dubrovnik with comedian Stephen Merchant, including a Game of Thrones tour, a buggy safari, and a ferry to the cursed island of Lokrum.
412"48 Hours in Bergen"Lou Sanders28 October 2019 (2019-10-28)N/A
Richard and Lou Sanders do a two-day blast round Bergen, including a gastronomic adventure, Norway's fastest zipline, some odd architecture, and a live-action museum.
423"48 Hours in Krakow"Joe Wilkinson4 November 2019 (2019-11-04)N/A
Richard and Joe Wilkinson whizz round the historic Polish city, stopping for some baking, local dumplings, art nouveau, vodka, salt mines, showcase socialist realism, and a bit of soldering.
434"48 Hours in Madrid"Ellie Taylor11 November 2019 (2019-11-11)N/A
Comedian Ellie Taylor joins Richard for a two-day meander around Madrid, following an itinerary rich in art, history, histrionics, some vermouth, and plenty of ham.

Home video

Travel Man Series 1 and 2 was released on DVD in October 2018.

References

  1. "Travel Man: 48 Hours in..." IMDb.
  2. "News". North One Television.
  3. "Television in 2016 | BAFTA Awards". awards.bafta.org. Retrieved 25 August 2017.
  4. Knox, David (9 March 2016). "Airdate: Travel Man – TV Tonight". Tvtonight.com.au. Retrieved 3 September 2016.
  5. "Hugo Boss becomes Channel 4's Travel Man" (Press release). 5 July 2019. Retrieved 29 October 2019.
  6. "Hong Kong". ITV. Retrieved 26 August 2018.
  7. "Series 6". Travel Man 48 Hours In... Retrieved 26 August 2018.
  8. "Channel 4 (SD+HD) w/e 31 Dec 2017". Broadcasters' Audience Research Board. Retrieved 14 March 2018.
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