British Comedy Guide

Hugh Dennis & David Baddiel reunite for Channel 4 cycling travelogue

ExclusiveThursday 10th October 2024, 11:57am by Jay Richardson

The World's Most Dangerous Roads. Image shows left to right: David Baddiel, Hugh Dennis

Hugh Dennis and David Baddiel are reuniting for a Channel 4 cycling travelogue.

The duo, who first worked together as part of The Mary Whitehouse Experience on radio and television, have just pedalled across France together, with committed cyclist Dennis on his racer and the rather less committed Baddiel on an E-Bike.

Currently untitled, the series will air next year.

Posting on social media about the trip last week, Baddiel wrote: "See if you can spot Steve Punt and Rob Newman".

And speaking on Lorraine on ITV this morning, where he was also reunited with Three Lions composer Ian Broudie, Baddiel told Lorraine Kelly: "I love [Hugh] and he asked me to cycle across France for this show for Channel 4.

"I said 'well, you're a proper cyclist, he's cycled in the Alps, he's done half of the Tour de France. I do not do that, look at me. So I said I'd do it on my E-Bike.

"He's on a big racer with all the gear, I'm basically looking like this on my E-Bike and we're cycling across France. I just came back yesterday."

The series is being produced by Strawberry Blonde, who previously made The Great British Dig for Channel 4, fronted by Dennis.

Appearing on Lorraine to promote his latest book for children, Small Fry, Baddiel added that he'd been left relatively unscathed from making the travel show, which he called "a real laugh".

"Mainly, my bottom is alright" he said. "I didn't know this, because basically I've only ever cycled into town from my house, which is not a long way, the thing that hurts is not your legs but your bum."

The Mary Whitehouse Experience. Image shows from L to R: Hugh Dennis, David Baddiel, Steve Punt, Rob Newman. Copyright: BBC
The Mary Whitehouse Experience. Image shows from L to R: Hugh Dennis, David Baddiel, Steve Punt, Rob Newman. Copyright: BBC

The Mary Whitehouse Experience launched the careers of comedy duos Punt & Dennis and Newman & Baddiel, with the original Radio 1 incarnation first airing in 1989 and featuring Jo Brand, Mark Thomas, Jack Dee, Nick Hancock and Mark Hurst.

Subsequently transferring to BBC Two, the sketch show ran for two series between 1990 and 1992, before the two duos split. Outnumbered star Dennis and Baddiel later reunited for a 2012 episode of World's Most Dangerous Roads on BBC Two (pictured top) in which they drove across Ethiopia.

Neil & Martin's Bon Voyage. Image shows left to right: Neil Morrissey, Martin Clunes
Neil & Martin's Bon Voyage. Image shows left to right: Neil Morrissey, Martin Clunes

Earlier this week it was announced that another iconic comedy duo, Martin Clunes and Neil Morrissey, would also be appearing in a French travelogue together, with the Men Behaving Badly duo reuniting for Neil & Martin's Bon Voyage on Gold, with Morrissey introducing the country that he considers his second home to his erstwhile co-star.

Channel 4 previously made the interview show Along For The Ride With David O'Doherty in 2021, in which the Irish stand-up spoke to comedians Joe Wilkinson, Mel Giedroyc and Richard Ayoade, as well as artist Grayson Perry, as they cycled.

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