“Oh my Christ!” Fans of Ruth Jones and James Corden’s award-winning Gavin & Stacey will be thrilled to know that Pam and Mick Shipman (aka actors Alison Steadman and Larry Lamb) are reuniting on screens in this one-off special travel series. Tidy!

In the three-part series Alison & Larry: Billericay To Barry, the on-screen couple and real-life friends will be making a 210-mile road trip from Billericay in Essex to Barry in south Wales, recreating the same trip that fictional characters Gavin and Stacey Shipman (Mathew Horne and Joanna Page) completed on their journey for true love. Aw!

For those of you who need reminding (spoilers ahead!), Gavin & Stacey was a noughties smash-hit comedy that centred around its titular characters and their blossoming romance. The series followed Gavin and Stacey’s relationship milestones from meeting to marriage, as well as the interconnected lives of their friends Smithy (James Corden, Peter Rabbit), Nessa (Ruth Jones, Stella), Gavin’s parents Mick and Pam and Stacey’s mother Gwen (Melanie Walters, Pitching In) and uncle Bryn (Rob Brydon, Would I Lie To You?).

Other talents including Julia Davis (Sally4Ever), Adrian Scarborough (Sanditon), Steffan Rhodri (Fifteen-Love), Robert Wilfort (Sex Education) and the late Margaret John also starred, and although the series ended in 2010 its one-off Christmas special in 2019 was the most-viewed non-sporting TV broadcast in the UK for a decade.

In the new show on GOLD, Steadman and Lamb will visit filming locations, chat with actors from the series and get stuck into some activities to unleash their “inner Mick and Pam”. And we heard there’ll be a few singalongs in the car too, no doubt inspired by Smithy who was known to belt out a song or two with his sister Rudi Smith (Sheridan Smith, Rosie Molloy Gives Up Everything).

The first episode opens with Steadman and Lamb at the start of their B-road bimble from Billericay to Barry, with the pair heading to Epping Forest to meet Russell Tovey (Being Human), who played Budgie in the series. Tovey reveals to the road trippers exactly why Gavin is from Billericay, as they take in the sights on an electric bike before meeting the local hawks, kestrels and barn owls.  

Don’t miss this series when it begins at 8pm on Monday 14 August on GOLD HD (CH 124). And if you want to reacquaint yourselves with Pam and Mick Shipman, head on over to Apps & Games > BBC iPlayer where you can catch series 1-3 and the Christmas special of Gavin & Stacey.

Inspired to explore the nooks and crannies of Britain yourself? These celebrities-turned-tour-guides are here to help. Get ready for a whole lot of laughs, delicious local bites and plenty of stunning scenery to boot.

Best Of Britain By The Sea

Find series 1 in Apps & Games > Channel 4

I do like to be beside the seaside! Grab your spade and bucket and come along with food critic Grace Dent and chef Ainsley Harriott, as they explore Britain’s coastline. With stops in Norfolk, south Wales, Aberdeenshire, Isle of Wight and Devon, the foodies unearth the regions’ best-kept secrets, culinary delights and hidden charms that make them so special. And there’s plenty of mouthwatering dishes that’ll inspire you to bring some of the seaside into your own home.

Joanna Lumley’s Home Sweet Home – Travels In My Own Land

Find series 1 in Apps & Games > ITVX

Joanna Lumley has spent a lifetime globetrotting around the world’s most exotic destinations. But in this series she retraces old steps and visits pastures new in Britain, beginning at Essex’s Tilbury Docks where she first arrived in England from India in 1947. From there we follow her to the north of England, Scotland, Northern Ireland, Wales and the West Country before ending her packed itinerary in London. Plus, Lumley takes a nostalgic trip to the cobbles where she starred in Coronation Street alongside soap legend William Roache. Sounds absolutely fabulous!

Jack Whitehall: Travels With My Father

Find series 1-5 in Apps & Games > Netflix

While most of those who have embarked gap year-type travels have gone solo or with a group of like-minded mates, comedian Jack Whitehall chose his father Michael as a companion – and we’re delighted to travel with them! The pair have visited every corner of the globe but it’s the fifth and final series where they come home to the UK that’ll have you in stitches. From partaking in traditional Morris dancing by the Cerne Abbas Giant to exploring the Lake District with llamas and seeking out the fabled Loch Ness monster in the Scottish Highlands, there’s never a dull moment on the pair’s amusing adventures.

Extraordinary Escapes With Sandi Toksvig

Find series 1-3 in Apps & Games > Channel 4

Broadcaster Sandi Toksvig embarks on star-studded adventures with some of the nation’s most brilliant women in this award-winning series. Exploring the finest delights and delicacies that the UK and Ireland have to offer, Toksvig gets to know her companions without the usual glitz and glam that they’re accustomed to. And with guests including the likes of Sunetra Sarker, Sarah Millican and Judi Love, expect plenty of laughs. Sign us up!

Great British Dog Walks With Phil Spencer

Find series 1 in Apps & Games > Channel 4

It’s harder to think of a better walking companion than our furry friends. And property expert Phil Spencer takes walkies with his dog Luna one step further by inviting celebrities and their pooches to join the fun. Spencer tackles parts of the 195-mile Coast To Coast path that crosses the Lake District, Yorkshire Dales and North York Moors alongside SAS: Who Dares Wins hero Billy Billingham and his bulldog Alf, Paralympic athlete Libby Clegg and her two guide dogs Hatti and Bramble, and former JLS star JB Gill with his rescue dog Nala.

The Grand Tour

Find series 1-5 in Apps & Games > Prime Video

Jeremy Clarkson, James May and Richard Hammond may have gained international fame through Top Gear, but it’s their swashbuckling adventures with The Grand Tour that have us gripped. With their travelling tent, hot hatchbacks and celebrity cameos, the trio have driven around the world with their UK pit stops including Whitby, the Welsh Hills, Scotland and of course the “Eboladrome” racetrack at RAF Wroughton. And if you came for the cars, you’ll stay for the brilliant banter between these three long-time friends.

Miriam And Alan: Lost In Scotland And Beyond

Find series 1-2 in Apps & Games > Channel 4

Hollywood actors and long-standing friends Miriam Margolyes (Harry Potter) and Alan Cumming (The Good Wife) star in this charming travelogue, which sees the dynamic duo invite viewers along for the rip-roaring ride as they rediscover their Scottish roots. In their travelling mobile home, the potty-mouthed pair venture to the bustling streets of Glasgow, the serene and ancient Highlands, and take a wild trip from Inverness to Edinburgh, leaving no Scottish stone unturned.

Rosie Jones’ Trip Hazard

Find series 1-2 in Apps & Games > Channel 4

Adventure awaits for armchair adrenaline junkies in this this action-packed travel series, where comedian Rosie Jones and pals take on thrilling challenges across the UK. Jones tries the world’s fastest zipline with Jenny Eclair in north Wales, climbs Scotland’s Cairn Gorm with AJ Odudu and goes coasteering in Pembrokeshire with Fay Ripley, while she and her guest stars also immerse themselves in the local culture to find out what makes these destinations worth visiting. 

When is Alison & Larry: Billericay To Barry on TV?

You can watch the three-part series Alison & Larry: Billericay To Barry from 8pm on Monday 14 August on GOLD HD (CH 124). It will also be available in On Demand.