UKTV channel Gold is reuniting Ricky Tomlinson and Ralf Little in Ricky and Ralf’s Very Northern Road Trip. This six-part UKTV Original series sees the two much loved comic stars head out together in a campervan across the north of England, where they’ll share memories, entertain each other, and along the way discover just what sets the north apart from the rest of the UK. Ricky and Ralf’s Very Northern Road Trip is produced by North One.
Ricky Tomlinson said, “People are always going on about exotic holidays here, luxury cruises there, finding your inner-self wherever. Now, don’t get me wrong, I love a bit of sun on the Med as much as the next man – but for my money, there’s everything you could ever want on your doorstep here in the north of England – and no better way to see it than in your own home on wheels.”
Ralf Little added, “I’ve been lucky enough to do a fair bit of travelling around various bits of the world – but this promises to be a holiday like no other. Weeks on the road, in a campervan with my 80-year-old TV dad. In the middle of autumn. What could possibly go wrong? Seriously, bring it on. Who knows, I may even be able to teach him a thing or two about the north.”
Ricky and Ralf’s Very Northern Road Trip is commissioned by Joe McVey, UKTV commissioning editor, and ordered by Richard Watsham, director of commissioning, and Steve North, genre general manager for comedy and entertainment. Executive producer for North One is John Quinn and it is directed by Chris Amess.
Joe McVey said, “I’m thrilled Ricky & Ralf have agreed to tour the north in a campervan for us. It’s been in the office since someone won it on Bullseye in 1986 and we’ve been trying to find a use for it. Not only is this going to be a warm, frank and very funny look at an incredible part of the country we’ve also freed up a bit of desk space. It’s a real win-win for us.”
Gerald Casey, Gold channel director, said, “These are two comic icons and it’s clear how much they enjoy each other’s company – even in a campervan! We know that Gold viewers will really appreciate seeing their offscreen relationship and experiences as they travel the north together.”
John Quinn said, “They’re the perfect odd couple, really. Ricky’s a scouser who’s just turned 80, Ralf’s from just outside Manchester and about to hit 40. So they’re united as proud northerners, yet still separated by half a lifetime and 30-odd miles of M62 – which might as well be ‘half the world away’ – it should all make for a unique insight into life, history and humour in vastly contrasting areas of northern England.”
Ricky and Ralf’s Very Northern Road Trip is the latest UKTV Original for Gold, following David Jason: Planes, Trains & Automobiles and the smash hit success of Dad’s Army: The Lost Episodes. Shortly due on the channel are a pair of retrospectives fronted by Sir Lenny Henry – Race Through Comedy and Trust Morecambe and Wise, while in scripted the channel is looking ahead to Dial M for Middlesbrough starring Johnny Vegas and Sian Gibson, The Cockfields, written by Joe Wilkinson and David Earl, starring Diane Morgan, Joe Wilkinson, Sue Johnston and Bobby Ball, and Sandylands starring Sanjeev Bhaskar, David Walliams and Natalie Dew.
Ricky and Ralf’s Very Northern Road Trip will air on Gold next year.
Picture: UKTV
