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While the Euro-hopping competitive reality show Destination X might not have been the summer smash the BBC had anticipated, it did give presenter Brydon a stylish transformation. The complex bus journey clearly wanted to give off a globetrotting atmosphere, so the show's host got dressed with premium suits: boldly coloured three-piece suits, silky cravats and nautical jackets. Unexpectedly, Brydon had the debonair look to match his classic 007 impersonation.

A Thematic Wardrobe with Musical Roots

His latest trilogy of episodes, Brydon's Country Music Expedition, also features some Mr Benn-style thematic wardrobe. The affable comedian transforms into western rancher in a parade of flannel shirts, rugged jackets and sometimes a Stetson hat. It's all part of a premise where he driving a massive Ford Ranger pickup truck on a 2,000-mile circuit of the southern US to learn quickly in country music.

His mission involves celebrating the hundredth anniversary of the genre – or at least the century mark of the legendary broadcast which became the Grand Ole Opry, cornerstone and kingmaker in the industry over decades – via the time-honoured celebrity travelogue tradition of road tripping, chatting with residents and engaging deeply in the culture. This anniversary has coincided with country becoming, according to him, “the fastest-growing music style in Britain” – thanks to Taylor Swift and recent countrified albums from multiple artists, Post Malone and various performers – provides additional perspective for examination.

Travel History With Insecurities

It's established he enjoys long drives and conversations thanks to the various incarnations of The Trip alongside his comedy partner. Initially he appears uncertain about his credentials to be our guide. Observing him speak with a dashboard-mounted camera evokes recollections of a character, the sad-sack cabby from his early career, Marion & Geoff. En route to Nashville, he calls his Gavin & Stacey collaborator Jones to boost his confidence. She reminds him that he has some genuine music credentials: a past charity single of Islands in the Stream was a UK No 1. (“Dolly and Kenny reached seventh place!” she notes.)

Interview Skills and Cultural Immersion

While the overwhelming experience of a night out in the city is a little too much for the host – trying to dance alongside a performer now musician results in him giving up during the opening Shania Twain song – the veteran comedian is far less steady during conversations. His polite lines of questioning seem to gel local etiquette, gathering Johnny Cash stories and reflections about the essence of the genre from silvery-haired veterans like the Grand Ole Opry fixture a renowned figure and nonagenarian tailor-to-the-stars a fashion icon. His gentle manner also works with younger guns, like the scraggly-bearded chart-topping singer and the instrumental virtuoso Tray Wellington.

Although several the stories feel well worn, the first installment does contain at least one genuine curveball. What on earth is Gary Barlow doing hanging out in a cozy east Nashville studio? Apparently he has visited to Tennessee to refine his compositions for decades, and cites Glen Campbell as an influence for his band's enduring hit a classic song. Finally, we meet a guest he can tease, joke with and wind up without fear of causing any offense. (Barlow, bless him, is very game.)

Broader Implications With Spontaneous Interactions

With an entire century of the genre to contextualise and celebrate, it is understandable that this southern-fried tour through Tennessee and Kentucky (including visits in Virginia, Alabama and Mississippi upcoming) aims to concentrate on the art and without needing to address the current political moment. Yet it inevitably but seep in a little. During an appearance on the glossy morning show of the Nashville radio station WSM – proud founder of the Grand Ole Opry – Brydon jokingly wonders whether the nations maintain good relations, disrupting the polished presenters off their stride. We do not get the likely presumably icy aftermath.

A Natural Fit for the Format

But for all his visible insecurity, he is obviously well-suited for this sort of breezy, bite-size format: amiable, engaged, self-effacing and always ready to dress the part, even if he has difficulty to find a fancy cowboy shirt in his size. Might his partner worry that his wingman is capable of solo hosting alone? Absolutely.