ANTON AND GIOVANNI’S ADVENTURES IN SPAIN
Tomorrow, BBC1, 9pm
FANCY getting an allexpenses paid trip to somewhere sunny? Nice work if you can get it, right? No wonder Anton du Beke and Giovanni Pernice always look so happy.
The Strictly Come Dancing stars began their joint adventures last year when they travelled to Giovanni’s native Sicily, where they toured the Mediterranean island, taking in such sights as Mount Etna while sampling the local food and drink, and even indulging in the odd tango or two.
Now the bromance continues, this time with Anton as the guide. He fell in love with Spain as a child, spending his school summer holidays with his Spanish relatives in the north of the country.
Anton says: “My loves, it is such a treat for me to be able to take my dear friend Giovanni to a country that I hold so close to my heart.”
The tour lasts just three episodes, and there’s lots to explore, see and sample, so there will be no time for sunbathing (the pair will have to make do with a Strictly-style spray tan) or siestas. Instead, everything from festivals to flamenco are on the menu, accompanied by a splash or two of sangria, of course.
The first episode begins with a dramatic arrival in the Andalusian region via hot air balloon. A tour of the region’s capital, Seville, is the order of the day, with a gondola race thrown in for good measure – whoever loses must then pay for the ice creams.
After that, the pair follow advice from Anton’s mum by visiting the Ronda, one of Spain’s most-photographed places, they learn about a secret coded language while buying fans, and face Gio’s fear of heights head-on.
Finally, the boys arrive in Granada, home to the Alhambra, a hugely popular attraction. The city is also the birthplace of flamenco – they can’t wait to get involved in a demonstration.