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The Independent
25-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Independent
‘You have an 80% chance of getting there': Ewan McGregor and Charley Boorman on the joy of riding old motorcycles
When the riding gets hard, we usually have the best time,' says , talking fondly about his latest big motorcycle journey with good friend Charley Boorman, forming the fourth series in their Long Way bike travel programmes, Long Way Home. 'That's when you start to laugh a lot. The harder it is, the more bizarrely funny it becomes,' adds Boorman. Returning to our screens this month, the familiar format sees the motorbike enthusiasts get back in the saddle for the 2025 instalment, which starts at McGregor 's house in Scotland and ends at Boorman's house in England. 'Obviously it's just the long way…round,' jokes McGregor, which sees them cover 17 countries. A trip that Boorman calls 'just a short detour'. 'We were on the trickiest terrain in Bolivia, it was probably our most challenging bit of riding,' explains McGregor, which is when the duo seem to have their best ideas, communicating via the mics in their helmets. 'While we're shaking through these rocks and trying to get through this sand and dirt, we started talking about Scandinavia and that would be an amazing part of the world to explore,' he adds. It seems to be a recurring theme. 'We start daydreaming about another trip because it makes it easier to stop the one you're on,' says McGregor, acknowledging there's part of them that 'never wants to stop being on the road. It's such an escape and an adventure'. In the latest series, which started on 9 May and its 10 episodes are drip-fed weekly, they cross 17 countries and rack up almost 10,000 miles. It sees them travel the Netherlands, the Baltic coast, Scandinavia, the Arctic circle, central Europe and back to the UK. Some of the highlights include the famous Lysevegen road with 17 hairpin bends that needs to be seen from above to be properly appreciated, visiting Charley's German family from his mother's side, meeting Vikings, crossing Norwegian fjords and experiencing the Arctic Circle's lack of sunset. Though, what's most impressive is that they're even able to continue the series, considering Boorman's two horrific bike accidents. It's only been since the start 2024 that he says he's 'felt normal and been able to walk again' after many operations and trauma that comes with such crashes and long recovery. In 2016, a crash badly broke both his legs, and he almost lost one. Thankfully, he didn't, but he did lose an inch from one leg. It resulted in 20 surgeries and almost two years to recover. Then, in 2018, after a far worse crash in South Africa, his only memory is waking up in hospital 24 hours later. He suffered a snapped forearm, a broken pelvis, he broke the entire left side of his ribs, a collapsed lung and a serious head injury, all of which took his operations total to 35. For many, that would be the end of their motorbiking career, yet it was the thought of getting back on a bike that kept Boorman going. Despite not being able to walk, he knew he'd be able to ride. For him, it helps improve his mental health too. With long periods of time on the road to think with few distractions, he says it allows him to really live in the present. It's their almost addiction to riding that keeps them returning to the saddle and to the series. Though it has plenty of positives for them both, this time, they've limited the journey to 10 weeks, setting off in June with a week in the middle where they're joined by the families in Helsinki. It's a stark contrast to the 4.5-month-long trips they used to do, when both had young children. 'The older you get, the less you want to be away,' says McGregor, unable to think how they managed to be away for so long for Long Way Round. 'I can't imagine that now,' he adds. As well as shortening the trip length, their bike choice changes with every trip. With a nod to nostalgia, they both opt for classic bikes. Ewan rides a 1974 Moto Guzzi Eldorado, a former US police patrol bike which still has the police siren which he likes to use perhaps a little too often. And Boorman finds a 1974 BMW R75/5 which when delivered to his home, is a little more rusty than he first thought, resulting in weeks of repair work done in just a few days to get it road-ready. The bike choice was also a chance for more freedom compared to Long Way Up, where they rather over ambitiously (considering how early it was for the technology) chose to ride electric bikes. It meant they were confined by unreliable charging, a lack of faster chargers and 'all sorts of fantastic difficulties,' says Boorman, including being unable to fix problems as easily themselves, though he says it 'made it interesting'. Following on from that journey, Long Way Home is more of a back-to-basics trip, more in line with the earlier series. They knew the roads would be far better than what they've been used to, such as the weeks of gravel roads in Northern Kenya or the crater-like potholes in Kazakhstan. So riding on smooth roads in Europe meant 'we had to make it harder for ourselves,' McGregor says, laughing. Admitting old bikes come with their problems too, Boorman says: 'You only have an 80 per cent chance of getting to where you want to'. But with breakdowns and small accidents, 'come the best parts of the trip,' thanks to the people you meet, which is one of the true joys of travelling. It's the unpredictability that you can't plan for that makes for the best experiences – and stories. Though they made it home without too many dings in the bikes (or themselves), the word 'home' in the title could be read as a nod to a finale of their travel programmes. Yet it sounds like there might be plenty more fuel in the proverbial tank for whichever road they choose next. 'I wouldn't say it's the end of the line,' says McGregor, with a slightly knowing smirk.
BBC News
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
'A long way home but I can't get enough of Scotland'
From Star Wars to Trainspotting – Ewan McGregor is no stranger to iconic his antics on the small screen have also stood the test of 20 years since the Perthshire actor first got on his bike with his best pal Charley the memorable trip to New York (via several continents) in Long Way Round the pair have covered dozens of countries in the Long Way Up and the Long Way on Apple TV+, the two men are taking the Long Way Home. And this time it's personal. "We're going from my house to Charley's house in England," McGregor told BBC Scotland would appear to be a simple journey, but it also takes in 15 European countries. And, according to Boorman, McGregor gets a misty look in most of them, then declares: "This looks like a bit of Scotland."The reason the series works is the lifelong friendship between the pair, playing out on can't believe he gets to keep having adventures with his friend."Seeing him in front of me or in the mirror, it's a real delight knowing that we are going off doing something we have a real passion and love for. "Doing that with your best mate is a nice feeling." McGregor adds: "This trip was amazing. I watched the first two episodes and I was thinking I'd like to go and do it again. It was a wonderful experience. "In all the other trips we have had huge distances of riding for days and days, where the landscape never changed. "But this, we had different countries coming at us every couple of days, we met people and saw specifically regional sports."In Holland we watched a pole vault-y thing over the canals, then we saw snowmobiles over water. "It was nice and the whole idea of going to our house in Scotland to Charley's house in England was a funny idea - but it made sense."One of the highlights was McGregor's send-off from his home in his father and uncle are all former members of Morrison's Academy Pipe Band which came to play the bikers off."It meant a lot to me, meant a lot to my dad to get the band out," said McGregor. In the programme, he said: "Massive band, isn't it? It was, like, nine of us in the band I was in."I used to be a side drummer in this band."My dad, before me, and my uncle. I come from a long line of drummers."Wait until they crack off, it gets the hairs on the back of your neck."McGregor is emotional about returning home. "It's home and it will always have that unique feeling for me."And now that he has a new house there, he wants to do more in Scotland."I will never feel like I have seen enough of Scotland. I love being there so much."There's whole swathes of it I've never been to. "I have done some islands but not by any means all of them - Orkney and Shetland, I've never been to. "There are loads of places I still want to explore."
Scotsman
21-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Scotsman
Long Way Chat Ticket Presale and Prices: Here's how to see Ewan McGregor live on stage talking epic motorbike journeys
One of Scotland's biggest ever movie stars will be appearing at a one-off live event talking about his travels with his best friend. Sign up to our Arts and Culture newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Best known for a string of roles in blockbuster films, Scottish actor Ewan McGregor has a sideline in organising epic motorcycle adventures. David Alexanian, Charley Boorman, Ewan McGregor and Russ Malkin are putting on a special one-off live show. | Contributed It was back in 2004 when he filmed Long Way Round for Sky One, setting off on a journey from London to New York with pal Charley Boorman - travelling through Europe, Asia, and Alaska. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Long Way Down followed in 2007 on BBC Two, which saw the duo ride from John o' Groats in Scotland, through 18 countries, to Cape Town in South Africa. It took another 13 years for the next adventure to be organised and filmed for AppleTV - Long Way Up documented a journey from Ushuaia in Argentina, through South and Central America, to Los Angeles in the United States. And this year the fourth in the series arrived, with Long Way Home a circular journey through 17 European countries, starting from Ewan McGregor's home in Scotland and Charley Boorman's house in England. To mark the most recent series - and 20 years of motorcycle adventures - the pair will be appearing at a special live event, entitled Long Way Chat. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Tickets are likely to be fairly popular - so here's everything you need to know to bag a couple. When is Long Way Chat taking place? The one-off event will be taking place on Saturday, August 30. Where is Long Way Chat taking place? The Long Way Chat will take place at Nottingham's Motopoint Arena. It's a five hour drive from the Central Belt of Scotland - or around six hours by train - so it's a fair trek from Scottish fans. At least it's on a Saturday though, so you can make a weekend of it. When do tickets for Long Way Chat go on sale? Tickets go on public sale at 10am on Friday, May 23, here. Is there a presale for Long Way Chat? Sign up here to be sent a presale code to access ticket for Long Way Chat early, from 10am on Thursday, May 22. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad How much are tickets for Long Way Chat? The cheapeast tickets are priced at £47.59, with other price bandings at £58.89, £76.40, and £110.30. What will happen at Long Way Chat? Here's what the advance publicity for the show promises: 'Experience the thrill of adventure with Long Way Chat, an exclusive live event inspired by Ewan McGregor and Charley Boorman's iconic motorcycle journeys: Long Way Round, Long Way Down, Long Way Up and their most recent series Long Way Home (all streaming on Apple TV+). This immersive show brings fans face-to-face with the stories behind the cameras, offering a dynamic blend of storytelling, film footage, and behind-the-scenes insights from the road. 'Hosted in an intimate setting, Ewan and Charley, along with their long-time collaborators, David Alexanian and Russ Malkin, take the stage to relive the highs and lows of their global expeditions—battling harsh climates, embracing local cultures, and forging unforgettable bonds. The event includes some unseen footage and personal anecdotes that highlight the duo's friendship and resilience. 'Long Way Chat captures the spirit of adventure and the emotional depth of their journeys. Audience members will also have the opportunity to engage with the stars of the series. Audience members will be asked to send in questions before the event and, if chosen, will get a chance to participate in a Q&A, making it a chance to connect with two of the most iconic travel companions in modern documentary history. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'Long Way Chat is more than a show—it's a celebration of discovery, endurance, and the open road.'
Car and Driver
18-05-2025
- Automotive
- Car and Driver
Ewan McGregor and Charley Boorman Hit the Road on Vintage Motorcycles in 'Long Way Home'
Good buddies going on a road-trip adventure is such a regular television offering that it can be hard to remember that there was a time when a reality-TV travel show was rare new ground. Sure, there was On the Road with Charles Kuralt, and Huell Howser's California's Gold, but for the most part, the actual journey in those shows was edited out. It was the destination that got the air time. Then, in 2004, actors Ewan McGregor and Charley Boorman showed viewers that the way one traveled could be as entertaining as where one ended up. In Long Way Round, McGregor and Boorman rode BMW motorcycles across 12 countries, from England through Asia to end in America. The footage seems quaint now, some of it fuzzy and low-res by today's standards, but it brought the idea of dual sport and adventure bikes to a more mainstream audience. It feels sort of silly to say LWR popularized road trips, when stories of on-the-road adventures go back to Homer's Odyssey, but McGregor and Boorman's obvious enjoyment of their time on the road inspired viewers to take their own trips—and certainly led to many more reality travel shows. AppleTv+ AppleTv+ 1974 Moto Guzzi El Dorado. AppleTv+ 1973 BMW R75/5. AppleTv+ AppleTv+ AppleTv+ AppleTv+ Elana Scherr Senior Editor, Features Like a sleeper agent activated late in the game, Elana Scherr didn't know her calling at a young age. Like many girls, she planned to be a vet-astronaut-artist, and came closest to that last one by attending UCLA art school. She painted images of cars, but did not own one. Elana reluctantly got a driver's license at age 21 and discovered that she not only loved cars and wanted to drive them, but that other people loved cars and wanted to read about them, which meant somebody had to write about them. Since receiving activation codes, Elana has written for numerous car magazines and websites, covering classics, car culture, technology, motorsports, and new-car reviews. In 2020, she received a Best Feature award from the Motor Press Guild for the C/D story "A Drive through Classic Americana in a Polestar 2." In 2023, her Car and Driver feature story "In Washington, D.C.'s Secret Carpool Cabal, It's a Daily Slug Fest" was awarded 1st place in the 16th Annual National Arts & Entertainment Journalism Awards by the Los Angeles Press Club. Read full bio
Times
13-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Times
Ewan McGregor rejoins school pipe band in drum roll for TV adventure
Ewan McGregor joined his former school's pipe band for a special performance at his Scottish mansion. The Hollywood star, 54, had played side drum while a pupil at Morrison's Academy in his hometown of Crieff, Perthshire. The school's pipe band were invited to his £2 million home in Carse of Gowrie to serenade McGregor and friend Charley Boorman as they set off on their latest motorcycle adventure. The performance is featured in the opening episode of the Apple TV+ series Long Way Home which sees the pair travel from McGregor's home in Scotland to Boorman's in the south of England — via Scandinavia. • Ewan McGregor and Charley Boorman: 'We love each other. That's the secret' McGregor's mother, Carol, cried as she watched her son
