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Although the Euro-hopping reality competition the travel contest might not have been the seasonal hit the BBC had anticipated, it provided presenter Brydon a lovely glow-up. The convoluted coach trip aimed to project a jet-setting vibe, so the show's host was outfitted with premium suits: boldly coloured three-piece suits, smooth neckwear and nautical jackets. All of a sudden, he acquired the debonair look to match his classic 007 impersonation.

A Thematic Wardrobe and Country Music

The newest trilogy of episodes, Rob Brydon's Honky Tonk Road Trip, also features themed outfit thematic wardrobe. The affable comedian transforms into western rancher in a parade of flannel shirts, rugged jackets and sometimes a Stetson hat. This complements the concept where he driving a massive American truck on a 2,000-mile circuit through southern states for a crash course about the musical genre.

Brydon has been tasked with marking the centenary of the genre – or at least the century mark of the Nashville radio show that evolved into the iconic venue, foundation and star-maker of country music for generations – through the classic celebrity travelogue approach involving driving around, gabbing to locals and immersing himself with traditions. This anniversary has coincided with country becoming, he claims, “the most rapidly expanding genre in the UK” – thanks to global superstars and recent countrified albums from multiple artists, Post Malone and others – provides additional perspective to explore.

Road Trip Experience and Personal Doubts

We know Brydon is up for long drives and conversations thanks to the various incarnations of The Trip with Steve Coogan. Initially he seems unsure about his credentials as a presenter. Watching him confide to an in-car lens certainly brings back recollections of Keith, the melancholy driver from Brydon's TV breakthrough, Marion & Geoff. En route to Nashville, he calls his sitcom collaborator Jones to boost his confidence. She recalls his authentic music credentials: a past charity single of Islands in the Stream was a UK No 1. (“The original artists reached No 7!” she notes.)

Conversational Talents With Local Engagement

While the overwhelming experience during an evening in the city is a little too much for the host – a line-dancing attempt alongside a performer now musician Twinnie sees him tap out during the opening Shania Twain song – the 60-year-old is far less steady during conversations. His respectful interview style seem to gel with southern manners, efficiently extracting anecdotes about legends and reflections on the spirit of the genre from silvery-haired veterans like the Grand Ole Opry fixture a renowned figure and nonagenarian celebrity clothier a fashion icon. His gentle manner is effective with younger guns, like the bearded chart-topping singer and the instrumental virtuoso a talented musician.

Although several the stories seem familiar, the opening episode does contain at least one unexpected moment. Why exactly is Gary Barlow doing hanging out in a cozy east Nashville studio? Reportedly, he's visited the state to refine his compositions since the 1990s, and cites Glen Campbell as an influence for his band's enduring hit a classic song. Here, at last, we meet a guest Brydon can needle, joke with and wind up without fear about creating a diplomatic incident. (Barlow, bless him, is very game.)

Cultural Context With Spontaneous Interactions

Given a hundred years of the genre to explain and honor, it's reasonable that this southern-fried tour across two states (including visits in Virginia, Alabama and Mississippi to come) aims to concentrate on music and without needing to address contemporary issues. Yet it inevitably includes a little. While guesting on the glossy morning show on the local broadcaster WSM – proud founder of the famous show – the host humorously asks whether the nations are still friends, which throws his slick hosts off their stride. We do not get the likely presumably icy aftermath.

A Natural Fit for the Format

Despite his apparent self-doubt, Brydon is clearly well-suited for this type of lighthearted series: friendly, interested, modest and always ready to dress the part, although he has difficulty locating a fancy cowboy shirt in his size. Might his partner worry that his wingman is capable of solo hosting without him? Definitely.