
The Great Outdoors
- TV sitcom
- BBC Four
- 2010
- 3 episodes (1 series)
Three-part comedy series following the hikes, heartaches, friendships and rivalries of a group of ramblers. Stars Mark Heap and Ruth Jones. Stars Mark Heap, Ruth Jones, Steve Edge, Katherine Parkinson, Stephen Wight and more.
Episode menu
Series 1, Episode 1
Further details

Bob begins a titanic battle of wills with the newest member, Christine, for the heart and soul of his treasured walking group. She is freshly arrived from Barnstaple, exiled for a rambling crime she won't speak about. Christine's got a GPS and a lot of state-of-the-art hiking socks; technophobic Bob quickly marks her out as a nemesis in breathable fabrics.
Meanwhile, Bob's teenage daughter Hazel is mortified at the arrival of geeky Victor from her school. Then there is married couple Joe and Sophie. She comes on these walks to relax, but they do tend to get a bit stressful, and now Sophie's looking for another release in her life - which might be Victor.
As the lives of the walkers intertwine, they must face perhaps the greatest horror lurking in the British countryside - the previously cosy village pub which has "gone gastro". How will the group be able to afford lunch at £20 for a main meal, and will the tensions blow Bob's precious group apart for ever?
Broadcast details
- Date
- Wednesday 28th July 2010
- Time
- 9pm
- Channel
- BBC Four
- Length
- 30 minutes
Cast & crew
Mark Heap | Bob |
Ruth Jones | Christine |
Steve Edge | Tom |
Katherine Parkinson | Sophie |
Stephen Wight | Joe |
Joe Tracini | Victor |
Gwyneth Keyworth | Hazel |
Phillip Browne | Ticket Inspector |
Mike Walling | Shop Keeper |
Dan Mersh | Barman |
Scott Hazell (as Scott Hazel) | Rhino |
Kevin Cecil | Writer |
Andy Riley | Writer |
Catherine Morshead | Director |
Alex Walsh-Taylor | Producer |
David Peet | Executive Producer |
Paul Schlesinger | Executive Producer |
Lucien Clayton | Editor |
Patrick Bill | Production Designer |
Mark Thomas | Composer |
Video
Kick Up The Backside!
The rambling group are slowed down by a couple of members. Bob and Christine discuss the must-have essentials for a ramble.
Featuring: Steve Edge (Tom), Mark Heap (Bob) & Ruth Jones (Christine).