McPint: ‘It made brilliant telly’
MCN’s man reveals how he lapped up the original Long Way Round
As a family we followed the Long Way Round religiously. My wife Becky is a big Ewan McGregor fan and he’s the reason my son is called Ewan. I thought the whole series was really good. McGregor might be a big name in Hollywood, but this was the real deal and the pair of them definitely ended up in a few tricky situations! But that’s what makes it such good TV.
I loved it when they welded
‘MY WIFE IS A BIG FAN AND THAT’S WHY OUR SON IS CALLED EWAN’
that tyre lever across the sub frame. They completely drowned the bikes submarine style and then had to take the plugs out so they could get it going again. BMW must have sold an obscene amount of bikes off the back of the series and manufacturers should be lining up to offer them bikes next time. I’ve met Charley a few times and I like him. He is just a genuine, jolly enthusiastic chap, but he’s a bit of a wobbler on a bike and has had a few shunts. That said, he’s always picked himself up and got back on. He’s been on the phone to me a few times recently. I think he’s fishing for ideas and there were even a few ideas floating around for me to join them for a couple of bits of their new trip.
I’d love to do a trip like it though, myself and Knighter (David Knight – multiple Enduro World Champion) would be good, or me and Hutchy. But we’d have to have free-rein. If you had to make it all politically correct you’d kill it, you’d make it shit. I’ve got ideas for a trip, but I’m keeping my powder dry as I don’t want anyone to nick them!