Just what they really, really want
AS three incredibly loud, extrovert women come together for this intrepid road trip, the only question is, who will take the lead?
“What am I doing in the middle of the American Wild West with a Spice girl and an actress?” says Ruby Wax. “We’re following in the footsteps of one of my biggest heroines.”
Ruby, Melanie Brown and Emily Atack are retracing the footsteps of Victorian explorer
Isabella Bird, whose exploits have been
At a time when most explorers were men, Yorkshire born Isabella was a trailblazer.
Being prescribed mountain air to cure her malaise, in 1873 Isabella set off on her travels alone, riding 800 miles on horseback through the Rocky Mountains of Colorado. She befriended outlaws, climbed mountains and faced grizzly bears.
Using her original book A Lady’s Life in the Rocky Mountains as inspiration, Ruby, Mel and Emily embark on their own threeweek Wild West adventure.
into the spirit
largely forgotten.
Emily says: “This is shameful but I’ve never really been anywhere. I can’t just sit on Instagram, there’s a whole world out there.”
When we first see them, they are singing “I tell you what I want, what I really, really want…” and talking about fancying Jeff the driver.
But the laughter eases when they are dropped off in the middle of nowhere and Ruby – the worst driver ever – takes the wheel of their transport.
Entering into the spirit, they head to a cattle ranch to try riding and wrangling.
The bewildered ranch worker says: “You guys are a hoot.” And that’s exactly what this is…
TRAILBLAZERS: A ROCKY MOUNTAIN ROAD TRIP
BBC2, 9pm