Series 1 - Episode 4: Caravan

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Paul remains in Blighty, revisiting some holiday destinations of his youth and other quirky spots as he joins one of the largest clubs of people in the country – caravanners.

After building up quite a crowd as he tries to park at his first campsite, Paul heads for the village of Swaton, home to a keen group of practitioners of one of Lincolnshire’s more esoteric pastimes - egg throwing. There’s also a chance for a quick game of Russian egg roulette against the current world champion.

Heading up to the Malvern Hills following a brief stop in Weston-Super-Mare, Paul continues to the The Big Chill Festival. There he meets 70-year-old DJ Derek, whose love of West Indian music started in the 1950s when he played to the Windrush generation in Bristol, and whose popularity is as strong as ever.

Paul moves on to the Cotswolds, and finds time for a pint of real ale himself in a peaceful-looking pub in Great Barrington, before venturing out to the nearby circus. In the front row of the Big Top, Paul’s dream to be part of the show finally comes true as Tweedy the Clown seeks his help, before the performance takes a twist.

Completing his adventure as one of the million or more caravanners who visit Cornwall each year, Paul's path leads away from the tourist hotspots towards Kernow’s Pagan past and some of its peculiar practices.

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Comments (22)

  • Sue Rowan

    7 months ago

    Sue Rowan

    How come Radio Times advertises the November 8 programme at 9 pm and then we get Big Brother? Any reason for change of time? Am now watching Frozen Planet until 10. BB is a step too far!!!

  • V Sinclair

    7 months ago

    V Sinclair

    I agree with Sue. Why was this programme's start time changed suddenly? I had set my video so that I could watch it later and all I got was Big Brother!...

  • punky47

    7 months ago

    punky47

    I agree also, sort of

  • Karen

    7 months ago

    Karen

    Are we supposed to be put off from these holidays? I don't fancy a busy crowded cruise anymore, and I am glad I am all ready hooked on caravaning as this didn't really show it off to it's best. His in ability to handle a caravan I am a female who excelled on the maouvering course and showed the men a thing or two. Also an over crowded commercial site. There are some lovley quiet sites out there where you can escape the crowds. Also you can russell up some lovely meals in your caravan and enjoy eating them with the most fantastic views, so come do the british caravan industry justice, give them a well needed boost and show what caravaning is really about, supporting british industry and british tourisum.

  • karen

    7 months ago

    karen

    are these programmes supposed to put us off these types of holidays, as I am now off over crowded crusies on giant american shopping malls. I am glad I am already a caravaner as this does not show it off at it's best. Poor attempts at manouvering, not cooking a proper meal with the facilities and showing an over crowded camp site. There are some lovely small family sites out there which are quiet and well spaced and give some privicy if you want it. There are courses to go on to teach you how to manouver a caravan, which as a female I am pround to say I excelled at and put some males to shame. so do the british caravan industry justice and help the british tourisum by showing a better experience and more of the way of life and sites.

  • Ian

    7 months ago

    Ian

    We love using our caravan, but watching this was very boring. Surely no one can that stupid that they make the same mistake every time they reverse a caravan. It is more exciting watching paint dry!

  • Arthur Brown

    7 months ago

    Arthur Brown

    Would have been nice to view on catch up TV but subtitles were not available.

  • Morris G

    7 months ago

    Morris G

    Brilliantly funny. Great to see some of the wonderful Cornish people! A great little land of its own! So different and definitely not England as the people pointed out.

  • Morris G

    7 months ago

    Morris G

    Brilliantly funny and good to see some of the great Cornish people too! As they pointed out, Cornwall is definitely a land apart and not in England. Last time I was there we had a great welcome and even heard the Cornish language being spoken in a pub near Zennor. It was a bit like Welsh.

  • Norman P

    7 months ago

    Norman P

    Great programme, I enjoy everything that Paul makes from whatever part of the world and this one also brought back many holiday memories with my grandparents, parents and with our own chlldren in the South West and Scotland. I think Cornwall will only get independence if they join forces with Devon. Soldiers need good cream teas as well as pasties..

  • tom m

    7 months ago

    tom m

    paul should get his research done properbly england did not discover football

  • Mark

    7 months ago

    Mark

    As an avid bird watcher and RSPB volunteer...I was mortified when paul suggested that the flash of red hair was a kingfisher. Perhaps one of his trips should be to go to an RSPB reserve...?

  • Harold Graham

    7 months ago

    Harold Graham

    Two years ago, we spent Christmas down in Cornwall and visited Penzance. The whole town was involved in a strange procession with the horse Paul met up with - or very similar - and people were carrying burning torches and wearing black outfits. I was told it was a Cornish Christmas celebration. They then threw a mock figure on a burning beacon fire. Several were carrying Cornish flags and there were hundreds there and pipes being played. Loads were speaking Gaelic Cornish. No health and safety or police to be seen. Cornwall is definitely a different place. He did well to get off the tourist trail and out of season, there are real different and more local things happening. This brought back memories of a great winter break and was a very good show.

  • Ashleigh Perran Sands 2011

    7 months ago

    Ashleigh Perran Sands 2011

    Jamie, really, couldn't they get a prettier face like Debs or Mark!!

  • JOHN PALLETT

    6 months ago

    JOHN PALLETT

    I LIKE PAUL ON HAVE I GOT NEWS FOR YOU BUT I DO NOT THINK THIS IS HIS FORTE OR GET IAN HISLOP TO HELP HIM!!!!. CARAVANING IS FANTASTIC FUN IF YOU DO IT RIGHT! PLUS ITS BRITISH!!!!SPAIN AND EUROPE ARE TO EXPENSIVE NOW!!

  • Nigel Sivyer

    6 months ago

    Nigel Sivyer

    Good to see DJ Derek is still alive and spinning still!

  • Linda Rogers

    6 months ago

    Linda Rogers

    For God's sake people it's an entertainment programme presented by a comedian! It's light-hearted viewing with a few chuckles thrown in. I also love caravan holidays but would be bored rigid if Paul Merton presented a show on how to hitch a caravan, attach a gas bottle, empty the waste etc. I'm also sure that the majority of people who visit Ibiza don't get dressed up a birds but there you go :D

  • Steve & Pam

    6 months ago

    Steve & Pam

    We also missed it due to change of time. Very annoying. Channel 5 should repeat the show ASAP for all those people who missed it. Brilliant series well done Paul.

  • dawn

    6 months ago

    dawn

    on a legal point of view of this programme it clearly showed the non use of towing mirrors, even tho it was being driven by a 4x4 it is still required to use towing mirrors if the car s width is less than the caravan/trailor. what was even more surprising was the fact that the programme appeared to be instructed by a caravan dealer. and as such he should have made sure he didnt send out his newbies in such a way, yes i know in real life all they are interested in is getting your money from you!

  • Bruce

    6 months ago

    Bruce

    After an excellent first 3 programmes, it was disappointing to see so many contrived situations and scenes in the caravan holiday. Paul's wit was in evidence as usual, but there was a sense of desperation in finding things for him to do! I was so glad I have never had a caravan park holiday.

  • Anthony

    6 months ago

    Anthony

    Taken with a pinch of salt, love to see how modern caravans are equipped nowadays, Paul's pretending not to be able to reverse became a bit tedious after about 10 seconds....

  • Kuldip Singh

    6 months ago

    Kuldip Singh

    Mr. Paul Merton, I watch your TV Show today , "Pual Merton in india" Great show , very interesting, Thanks for u ...

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