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While the Euro-hopping reality competition the travel contest might not have been the seasonal hit the broadcaster had anticipated, it did give host Rob Brydon a stylish transformation. The complex bus journey aimed to give off a globetrotting atmosphere, so its master of ceremonies was outfitted in deluxe tailoring: vibrant three-piece suits, silky cravats and nautical jackets. All of a sudden, he acquired the sophisticated appearance to match his classic 007 impersonation.

A Thematic Wardrobe with Musical Roots

The newest trilogy of episodes, Brydon's Country Music Expedition, includes some Mr Benn-style thematic wardrobe. The genial Welshman transforms into Yellowstone cowpoke in a parade plaid tops, rugged jackets and sometimes a Stetson hat. It's all part of a premise where he piloting an imposing American truck across thousands of miles of the southern US for a crash course about the musical genre.

His mission involves with marking the centenary of country music – or at least the 100th anniversary of the Nashville radio show which became the iconic venue, foundation and star-maker in the industry over decades – via the time-honoured celebrity travelogue approach involving road tripping, chatting with residents and engaging deeply with traditions. That the centenary has coincided with the genre's rise as, according to him, “the most rapidly expanding music style in Britain” – due to Taylor Swift and recent countrified albums from Beyoncé, famous singers and various performers – provides additional perspective for examination.

Road Trip Experience With Insecurities

We know he enjoys a road trip and conversations thanks to the various incarnations of The Trip alongside his comedy partner. But at first he appears uncertain about his credentials to be our guide. Watching him speak with an in-car lens certainly brings back recollections of Keith, the melancholy driver from his early career, Marion & Geoff. En route to Nashville, he calls his Gavin & Stacey co-star Ruth Jones to boost his confidence. She recalls his some genuine music credentials: their 2009 Comic Relief cover of Islands in the Stream topped the charts. (“Dolly and Kenny only made it to seventh place!” she points out.)

Conversational Talents With Local Engagement

If the “full sensory overload” during an evening in Nashville proves challenging for the host – trying to dance alongside a performer now musician results in him giving up during the opening a popular tune – the veteran comedian is much more wobbly legged during conversations. His polite lines of questioning seem to gel with southern manners, gathering Johnny Cash stories and general musings on the spirit of the genre from silvery-haired veterans like the institution's mainstay Bill Anderson and nonagenarian celebrity clothier Manuel Cuevas. His gentle manner is effective with newer artists, like the scraggly-bearded chart-topping singer and the bluegrass banjo maestro a talented musician.

Although several the anecdotes seem familiar, the first installment does contain at least one unexpected moment. What on earth is the pop star spending time in a homely east Nashville studio? Apparently he has been coming the state to refine his compositions since the 1990s, and points to a country icon as an influence for his band's bulletproof ballad a classic song. Finally, we meet a guest Brydon can needle, mock and playfully provoke without fear of causing any offense. (Barlow, bless him, is very game.)

Cultural Context and Unscripted Moments

Given a hundred years of country to explain and honor, it is understandable this regional journey through Tennessee and Kentucky (with pit stops to other areas to come) aims to concentrate on the art and not necessarily address the current political moment. Yet it inevitably but seep in a little. While guesting on the polished program of the Nashville radio station the established creator of the Grand Ole Opry – Brydon jokingly wonders whether the nations are still friends, which throws his slick hosts off their stride. We do not get the likely presumably icy aftermath.

Ideal Presenter in This Role

But for all his apparent self-doubt, he is obviously a good fit for this sort of lighthearted series: amiable, engaged, self-effacing and prepared for costume changes, although he struggles to find an elaborate western top that comes in a medium. Should Coogan be concerned that his wingman can do the whole travelogue thing without him? Definitely.