Latest news with #GavinAndStacey
Yahoo
14 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Rob Brydon taking presenting tips from Claudia Winkleman
Rob Brydon is taking presenting tips from Claudia Winkleman. The Gavin and Stacey actor is hosting the BBC's new challenge show, Destination X, and revealed he watched episodes of Claudia on The Traitors to prepare. He told The Sun newspaper: 'Claudia has a lightness of touch. I think she judges it just right. She doesn't force herself to the front. "She is there as a conduit, as a bridge with the viewer and you feel like you're with a really good friend who is allowing you into this world. "I wanted to be a pleasant way to bring people into the show with a nice comment here and there. 'The Traitors was one of the big reasons I wanted to do Destination X. I could see similarities.' Rob, 60, also revealed he is relishing the challenge of trying something new. He explained: 'People always ask me about Gavin Stacey. 'Some people know me for Would I Lie To You? But I've never done anything like this. 'Having something new and exciting and different is just a delight. I'm taking a chance on something I haven't done before.' Destination X has been described as a cross between The Traitors and Race Across The World. A show synopsis states: "Merging fantasy with reality in this larger-than-life adventure competition series, viewers will follow contestants as they embark on the road trip of a lifetime but have no idea where they are. In order to win, they must figure out their mystery locations. Once they're on the blacked-out Destination X bus, the journey transforms into a real-life boardgame with challenges designed to offer clever clues as to their location, along with a few misdirects to keep them, and the viewers, always guessing. 'At the end of each episode, contestants must guess where they are and the furthest from the actual location will leave the competition. The first player to reach the final destination, Destination X, will be crowned the winner. With high stakes and mind-blowing spectacular gameplay, the series will continuously keep viewers engaged and take them along for the ride."
Daily Mail
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Gavin And Stacey star Rob Brydon reveals the embarrassing realisation he had while filming new Traitors-style travel show
Rob Brydon has revealed the embarrassing realisation he had while filming his new Traitors-style BBC travel show, Destination X. The Gavin And Stacey star, 60, is stepping into new territory as host of the ambitious reality series, which combines elements of The Traitors and Race Across The World. But while the premise is high-concept, Rob admitted that his biggest challenge came from something surprisingly simple - remembering how to walk as himself. Recalling walking on the set of Destination X, he told The Sun: 'My first scene, I am walking into an airport, and I'm thinking, "Right, OK, how am I going to be?". He continued: 'Because I've got a horrible walk. I walk like an ape. I walk side to side. So I'm thinking, "Try not to walk like an idiot".' 'It even occurred to me that I won't be sat behind a desk. I had to think, "How am I going to hold myself?".' Rob is best known for playing the loveable Bryn West on Gavin And Stacey and for sitting behind the panel on the BBC quiz show Would I Lie To You? - so standing up and leading a fast-paced, globetrotting series is new ground for him. Still, he soon found his rhythm on Destination X, which sees a group of strangers blindfolded at an airport, flown via helicopter, and then driven around Europe on a blacked-out bus. At each stop, they take on challenges to win clues about where in the world they are. At the end of each episode, they're asked one simple question: Where are we? The person whose guess is furthest off is eliminated. He also admitted that Claudia Winkleman's performance on The Traitors was a big influence, as her ability to steer a complex, strategic format helped convince him he could try something similar. While many actors might be wary of unscripted work, Rob said he enjoys the unpredictability and variety of presenting. He finds it refreshing - even if it means stepping outside his comfort zone. One contestant in particular made a big impression on him - a London taxi driver named Darren. Rob said it was touching how often he spoke about missing his wife and he could tell he was genuinely missing her. Over time, the cast's relationships evolve, but as the competition intensifies, so does the sense of mistrust. Each episode sees the players gathering in a map room on the bus to log their location guesses. The differences in their answers can be drastic, even though they all receive the same clues - leading to dramatic eliminations and second-guessing. Rob said it's fascinating to watch contestants convince themselves of the wrong answer, only to realise later how close they'd been. He admitted that trying something so different is a risk and that no show is guaranteed to be a hit - but he's hopeful the heart of Destination X will resonate with viewers, especially families looking for something they can watch together. As a father of five, Rob said he understands the value of TV that unites generations - and he hopes this show can become the kind of weekly event where everyone chips in with theories and guesses. He also touched on why Gavin and Stacey was so special, because families would sit down together to enjoy it, which is increasingly rare today. Looking ahead, Rob is hopeful of a second series or perhaps a celebrity spin-off. But he jokingly insisted on one condition for future seasons: they have to include a stop in Wales, a cheeky nod to the beloved Gavin and Stacey location of Barry Island. Destination X airs Wednesday, July 30 and Thursday, July 31 at 9pm on BBC One and iPlayer.
The Sun
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Inside Rob Brydon's huge new Traitors-style travel reality show as Gavin and Stacey star reveals major struggle
WHEN Rob Brydon reached his 60th birthday with two of TV's biggest hits under his belt, he could have easily put his feet up. Instead, the star of Would I Lie To You? and Gavin & Stacey hit the road and is taking a risk by fronting the BBC's new challenge show, Destination X. 7 7 And he relishes the challenge — as it might give him the chance to show he's not just Stacey's Uncle Bryn. Rob, who turned 60 in May, said: 'People always ask me about Gavin & Stacey. Some people know me for Would I Lie To You? But I've never done anything like this. 'Having something new and exciting and different is just a delight. I'm taking a chance on something I haven't done before.' After 18 years as Uncle Bryn and 16 years hosting the BBC quiz show, it's no surprise Rob was keen to get his teeth into something new. His latest project Destination X is a promising cross between The Traitors and Race Across The World, which each command six million viewers. But there was one hitch. Rob is so used to being seated on his quiz show and playing a character on Gavin & Stacey that he had forgotten how he walks as himself. Recalling walking on to the set of Destination X, he said: 'My first scene, I am walking into an airport, and I'm thinking, 'Right, OK, how am I going to be?' 'Because I've got a horrible walk. I walk like an ape. I walk side to side. So I'm thinking, 'Try not to walk like an idiot'. 'It even occurred to me that I won't be sat behind a desk. I had to think, 'How am I going to hold myself?'' Gavin and Stacey's Rob Brydon admits he was 'moved to tears' after getting first glimpse at script for final ever episode But Rob swiftly found his feet on the thrilling new show, which travels the length and breadth of Europe. Destination X introduces a group of travellers to each other at an airport before they are blindfolded and taken on a disorientating helicopter ride. They then board a blacked-out bus that travels to a few hotspots where the travellers take on challenges to try to win clues. 7 At the end of each episode they are asked one simple question: Where in the world are we? The straightforward premise has helped the show become a huge hit in the US and Belgium. Rob is in charge of the jaunt and has revelled in the role. He said: 'I genuinely love the variety of my career. I like it all. "It's possible some people who act wouldn't be comfortable presenting. 'You would be surprised how many actors wouldn't like it if you told them that they were go- ing to do something with no script. 'But I love all those things. 'Ultimately, having a live audience is my favourite. 'Sometimes with Destination X I would say a funny line and they would laugh and that's an audience. 'I wanted to have the interaction with the players. 'That's something I looked forward to.' Claudia has a lightness of touch. I think she judges it just right. You feel like you're with a really good friend who is allowing you into this world It is perhaps unsurprising that given the similarities of the show to BBC mega-hit Traitors, Rob looked to Claudia Winkleman when he was considering whether to take the job. She has made a huge success of the murder mystery game — and Destination X contains the same elements of strategy and manipulation. Rob said: 'I watched the Belgian version and I thought, with some tweaks, I could see myself in that role. I was intrigued. 'Claudia has a lightness of touch. I think she judges it just right. She doesn't force herself to the front. "She is there as a conduit, as a bridge with the viewer and you feel like you're with a really good friend who is allowing you into this world. "I wanted to be a pleasant way to bring people into the show with a nice comment here and there. 'The Traitors was one of the big reasons I wanted to do Destination X. I could see similarities.' Just like the cast at the heart of The Traitors and Race Across The World, normal folk are the stars. 7 7 'Strong characters' Guessing along with the contestants as they gather clues — and red herrings — is irresistible. Rob, who begins the show in a suave pilot's uniform, clearly took to one of the contestants, wisecracking London cabbie Darren. He said: 'Darren mentions his wife — you hear quite a bit about her. "Bless him, he gets quite choked up when he talks about her. He was really missing her. It was genuine. It wasn't forced. Rob added: 'They are all very strong characters. They developed as they went along, the relationships. 'You enjoy seeing people come out of their shell and then the distrust starts. They start saying, 'We're a team'. But that can't last.' At the end of each episode, the players lock themselves in the bus's map room where they have to plant an X on a map to log their guess. In the first episode alone, the hunches vary wildly despite them all being fed the same information. The person whose guess is furthest from the true destination is booted off the bus and sent home. Rob said: 'Throughout the series they'll think they're somewhere and then they'll talk themselves out of it. 'The map room bits were so enjoyable. 'We were round the monitors watching them make the decisions. Certain shows have become valuable to people of a certain age who want their family together. That's what was special about the Gavin & Stacey Xmas special "Doubt would enter their mind. Sometimes it was a tiny amount. 'Someone will have gone out because they were 3km out!' Rob is aware he is stepping out of his comfort zone and might end up with his first flop. But he's hopeful the pure heart of the show will win through and land fans among families. He said: 'You never know with any TV show, with any theatre show, film, how it's going to do. 'You'd have to be detached from reality to now have your fingers crossed and hope that people respond to it. 'For the family' 'You have to have word of mouth. If you hear enough, you might go, 'I'll give it a try'. 'What I love about this show is that it's for the family. I love shows that you can sit and watch, like we watch The Traitors as a family. 'It's the same with Race Across The World. We think, 'Yeah, let's all watch it together'. That's why I'm proud of Would I Lie To You? 'The humour is sharp and clever but you can watch it with your family. 'I hope Destination X becomes appointment viewing for a family and everyone will be chipping in and arguing about it.' Rob, who is a dad of five, added: 'If you're anything like me as a parent, you're desperate for the stuff that can get the kids to watch something with you. 'Those shows have become very valuable to people of a certain age who want their family together. 'The kids get older and everybody is told, 'Oh, they're not going to want to be with you'. 'You think, 'We'll be different'. But sure enough, that happens. 'That's what was special about the Gavin & Stacey Christmas special. "Getting people to all sit down and watch the same show is so hard to do.' It is clear the programme has all the ingredients to become Rob's third hit — and he is already hopeful of a second series or perhaps a celebrity spin-off. But he has one condition for BBC bosses. Rob added with a laugh: 'I've said I'll only do it if we go to Wales.' Barry Island, presumably?
Yahoo
13-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Larry Lamb retiring from acting
Larry Lamb is retiring from acting. The 77-year-old actor – who is renowned for his work as Archie Mitchell in EastEnders and Mick Shipman in Gavin and Stacey – says he may take on some smaller stage parts in the future but the Gavin and Stacey finale was his final major role. He told MailOnline: 'You get so involved with these characters that they become your favourite at that time, they are the focus of your life, but to finish up in my 70s playing a character like Mick who is beloved by millions of people, you have to give the writers credit ... at this stage in my career Mick is the closest to my heart.' Although he is best known for playing Mick and Archie, Larry had a longlasting stage career before those two career defining roles. He said: 'I have had a very fortunate career; I've done so much that I am really proud of that maybe not so many people know. 'I have worked at the Royal Shakespeare company, the National Theatre, I have been in 12 West End shows, I have done all the principal fringe theatres in London, on Broadway, I have been very lucky and now I am quite happy to let someone else play the big roles. 'For years, people didn't realise just how much time I spent working in the theatre, people assumed it was always on the TV, but it wasn't. 'My year would be half of it spent doing television and half of it would be doing plays in the theatre. 'If you have been through a life in entertainment and people don't all know you to suddenly where pretty much everybody knows you as a character... 'I find it's a reward, it's better to be known than unknown as far as I'm concerned. Particularly if you are known as a character that people really love... what a way to finish your working life.'
The Sun
13-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Gavin and Stacey legend reveals they are retiring from acting as they share final TV role – which has already aired
END OF AN ERA He has already filmed his final scenes for television, with them having aired last year AN iconic Gavin and Stacey actor has revealed that he is retiring from acting. Larry Lamb, 77, has revealed that Gavin and Stacey: The Finale, was likely his last ever TV role. 3 3 3 He has gushed how he is delighted to finish off his acting career playing Mick Shipman for the last time. The Finale of the hit sitcom was aired on BBC on Christmas Day, when Nessa and Smithy finally confessed their feelings to one another before tying the knot. Larry, who has also starred in EastEnders before, is now focusing on a novel he has written. Speaking to MailOnline about his retirement from TV acting, Larry said: "You get so involved with these characters that they become your favourite at that time. "They are the focus of your life. "But to finish up in my 70s playing a character like Mick who is beloved by millions of people, you have to give the writers credit... at this stage in my career Mick is the closest to my heart." He then spoke of his "very fortunate career" and how he has "done so much" that he is really proud of. Larry then touched on his little-known acting projects and career highlights. He explained how he has worked at the Royal Shakespeare company, the National Theatre, and has been in 12 West End shows. "I have done all the principal fringe theatres in London, on Broadway, I have been very lucky and now I am quite happy to let someone else play the big roles," he said. Though Larry will focus on his novel now he is stepping back from acting, he did say how he will consider small parts. Larry will consider small stage parts "to keep my face in", he told the outlet.
