Eschewing the tired celeb travelogue format, Brummie trickster Joe Lycett’s quest to visit every American Birmingham on the map -fifteen to be precise- is a nice spin on it, in a both true and idiomatic flipping the bird sense. The sees him hanging out with US eccentrics: everywhere from bat caves, to a place wonderfully called Intercourse, to a hot dog joint, to going gliding (“it’s basically a caravan with wings”, he shudders).
Essentially, his modus operandi, is to create a treaty of friendship between the nations, And they’re all aware of the UK’s most famous Birmingham export, bar Lycett, the late Ozzy Osbourne.
What could have been a contrived, wacky mess is rather charming, life -affirming stuff, bolstered by the leftfield experiences he encounters on his travels, and his sardonic asides. There’s even a spot of his excellent stand-up. Bostin’.
On Sundays, 10 pm on Sky Mix.
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