Follow that. It's a particular problem for comedies. Once a successful formula has been established does one break away or stay in the same groove? We've just seen W1A start on BBC2 and while the location might have changed the satirical tone is pretty much the same as the series that spawned it, Twenty Twelve. It's been good so far but is in grave danger of repeating itself. What next, Ian Fletcher sorting out education or the NHS?

And so to Steve Coogan and Rob Brydon (and director Michael Winterbottom), whose The Trip was one of the finest pieces of television in recent years. The lines between fact and fiction were beautifully blurred as Coogan fretted about his career and Brydon did his Ronnie Corbett impression in some of the finest restaurants in the north of England.

This time round, as I'm sure you know if you've read this far or paid attention to the programme title, they are doing the same thing across Italy. The accents are different, the scenery is arguably more gorgeous, but the gags are pretty much the same. In the first five minutes there is a meta-gag from Coogan about sequels never being as good as the originals and an agreement not to do impressions this time round. Five minutes later they are having a Batman-off doing Christian Bale and wondering what Tom Hardy's Bane would sound like doing the voiceover for Crunchy Nut Cornflakes. 

If there is a difference it is in the tone beyond the gags. There's an even more melancholy air here. Coogan's career is still having its ups and downs – he has the time for the fictional trip because his fictional American series is on hiatus, which may be a posh way of saying it has been axed. Brydon has a sort-of upper hand – in fact it is Brydon who makes the initial call to Coogan, saying that the Observer has approached him to do this gastronomic tour. Last time Coogan was offered the gig first and he asked the Welsh wag along for company.

And there is a lot of reflection on age as the duo cruise through the countryside in their dinky Mini (brace yourselves for inevitable Italian Job headlines). As they relax al fresco after a hard day's scoffing Coogan spots young women having a drink and notes that a few years ago he would have been able to charm the knickers off them, whereas now if they notice him at all they think of him as their uncle. In fact he starts to feel a little like a creepy uncle just glancing at them. 

So if you are after big belly laughs the first episode is a little disappointing. The food and everything else, of course, could not look more exquisite. The Italian Tourist Board will love this. As will viewers. And I don't mean to imply that it isn't funny. because it is. Coogan does a positively epic Morrissey impression and Brydon's Ronnie Corbett is a hilarious as ever. I'd be more than happy to have extra helpings of that. 

The Trip To Italy, BBC2, Fridays, 10pm.

Watch the latest Brydon/Coogan Caine-Off here.