Only a few GTM members might recognize the name “Paul Hollywood” and for those that don’t, he’s one of the famed European bakers behind the popular “Great British Bake Off” which has gained popularity in America through Netflix. I won’t deny that both my wife and I enjoy watching the Bake Off quite a bit. I’ve often wondered if like a lot of British celebs… is Paul a bit of a “petrol head?” – thinking back, I don’t recall if I’ve ever seen him as a guest on Top Gear or The Grand Tour, so I figured – probably not.
Be that as it may – I was recently scrolling through the “Recommended for You” section of Netflix and was startled when I came across the title “Paul Hollywood’s Big Continental Road Trip” — hmm, maybe he was a car guy? – or was Netflix was just baiting me into watching some sort of travel cooking show? What finally pushed me over the edge was the supercars prominently displayed on the cover art.
Finding time to set aside to watch this 3-part mini series, my perception of Paul was definitely rewritten. Quoting some of the opening monologue of Part-1, I quickly came to realize Paul shares a lot of the same ideals around cars that many of us do: “I’ve been into cars for as long as I can remember … [cars] are more than just transport from A-to-B, they are a thing of enjoyment, they are a thing for me that I use to de-stress.” – Amen to that. #respect
Did you know that Paul drove for Aston? – Neither did I.
The plot of the series: in short – set about mainland Europe driving through some of the most gorgeous locations, twistiest roads in all sorts of different vehicles with a variety of guests in the right seat. With some Test Tracks and Factory Tours thrown in for added flavor. Paul makes a point in setting the premise for the show by explaining: “What really fascinates me is what cars say about their owners, and the people who made them.” This is actually another car culture ideal I believe to be 100% true. #likecarlikeowner. Part 1 consists of a 1,000+ mile drive over 6 days through Italy and here are some of the vehicles featured in the first segment:
- Lamborghini Huracan Spyder
- Lamborghini Huracan Coupe – Polizia
- Alfa Romeo Alfasud
- Ferrari California T
- Pagani Huayra Coupe
- Pagani Huayra Roadster
- Piaggio Ape 50
- Alfa Romeo 6C Mille Miglia
- Maserati Quattroporte GTS Grandsport
- Fiat Cinquecento “nouva 500”
- Fiat Panda 4×4, Series 1
- Fiat Panda Cross, Diesel
- Ferrari GTC4 Lusso
- Lamborghini Miura SV
Parts 2 and 3 are spread across Germany and France using a familiar format carried over from Part 1. If you happen to have a couple extra minutes read about VW Part No. 199-398-500-A. #alwayslearning. I won’t give away all the spoilers, so you’ll have to tune in to see what happens in those episodes, but I can say they are quite enjoyable and the cars are cool. (The clip below, which we used in our Fascination: Fiat Panda article, gives you a glimpse into the show).
Overall, the series does a great job of mimicking the “epic adventure” format were accustomed to watching on other programs without completely copying them. At times it feels produced in the same way the Bake Off tends to flow, with moments of monologue smattered between the scenes. The series has a good blend of reality, history lessons and is thankfully kept light-hearted so as to not come off as a proper documentary. The guests make the show feel a little bit like Sienfield’s “Comedians In Cars Getting Coffee” but more in the vein of giving you cultural perspective rather than trying to make you laugh. The upside for non-car people is that the show isn’t all about the facts, figures and specs but keeps it high-level for all audiences. More importantly, as a petrol head it will definitely keep your interest. Enjoy!
