- Coach Trip
-
Coach Trip 
Coach Trip title card from Series 1 to 2 (Top) Coach Trip title card from Series 3 to present (Bottom)Format Reality Starring Brendan Sheerin Narrated by Andy Love (2005-2006)
David Quantick (2009-2010)
Dave Vitty (2010-present)Country of origin United Kingdom Language(s) English No. of series 7 (Original & Revival series)
2 (Celebrity series)No. of episodes 230 (Original & Revival series)
20 (Celebrity series)Production Running time 30mins (inc. adverts)
60mins (Episode 50 also inc. adverts)Production company(s) 12 Yard Broadcast Original channel Channel 4 Picture format 16:9 576i (SDTV) Original run 7 March 2005 – present External links Website Coach Trip is a reality show that was broadcast on Channel 4 with More4 and Pick TV showing repeats since 7 March 2005. The programme returned on 25 May 2009. The show's format consists of 4 to 7 teams of 2 undertaking a coach tour principally of continental Europe (but with individual series including sojourns into North Africa and Western Asia). The tours have usually lasted 30 or 50 days (Celebrity Series tours have usually lasted 10 days), with passengers remaining on the tour only until they are ejected by their companions to be replaced by a new couple. The travellers are accompanied by tour guide Brendan Sheerin.
Voting system
Yellow cards are first presented if the other couples on board vote for them with the most votes or to couples as a warning; a Red card is awarded if the other couples on board vote for them a second time or to couples with another warning, and this means they are sent home to be replaced by a new pair.Unlike most coach trips the passengers vote for who they don't like travelling with at the end of each day. Whoever gets the most votes is awarded a yellow card, if they are voted for again they receive a red card and are sent home to be replaced by a new pair. Yellow cards have been occasionally awarded to couples due to timekeeping issues; Red cards have also been presented to couples on occasion, although when this is done it is normally the result of certain travellers' bad behaviour or canvassing for votes.
On day 19 of series 2 the voting rules were amended once after revealing the quiz winners and losers so contestants cannot vote for the winning couple and the losing couple loses the chance to cast votes against others. Also on day 24 of series 3 and day 25 of series 6 the voting rules were amended once after the announcement about the red terror which also returned from day 5 to day 9 of celebrity coach trip, whoever receives the most votes will automatically be given a red card. This regards of which couple who already got a yellow card or not. Also from day 2 of series 5 the voting rules were amended so contestants cannot vote for the couple who got a yellow card the previous day. The newest rule to the voting system that's yet to happen will be contestants who did not receive any votes at all the previous day loses the chance to cast votes against others the following day and another that's yet to happen will be contestants who were disqualified from the activity loses the chance to cast votes against others and another that's yet to happen will also be that the contestants cannot vote for the couple who got a yellow card for timekeeping from the following morning. If Brendan thinks that the couple canvass for votes, overtake the previous vote, instigate a fight at the vote or shows inappropriate sexual behaviour they will automatically receive a red card and the vote will either begin or continue without them.
Voting alterations
Votes have occasionally been altered to accommodate for a lack of couples like 8 or 10 passengers on board the coach or for other reasons; On Day 4 of Series 2 the vote was changed after first John & Irene's early departure due to their ill health then Paul & Heidi receiving a red card later at the previous day's vote and on Day 14 of Series 2 the vote was changed again after first Clare and Kat received a red card at the previous day's vote then Alan & Lorenzo refused to get out of bed followed by stationary traffic with an accident in front and on Day 12 of Series 4 the vote was also changed after a fight had broken out on board the coach between Bruce & Jon and Tam & Jayson before new couple Mark & Mary arrived, this normally results in the couples on board voting for who they want to receive a treat rather than the penalty cards. Introduced by July 2010 5 couples became the new minimum of who to vote for who receives the penalty cards.
On Day 17 of Series 1 and Day 19 of Series 3 Brendan decided to skip the vote due to shortages of couples.
Also, on Day 21 of Series 2, the vote was suspended due to the contestants learning of the 7 July 2005 London bombings.
The final vote is usually altered on day 10 of 10, day 15 of 15, day 29 of 30 and day 49 of 50; this normally results in the couples on board voting for who they want to receive a prize rather than the penalty cards.
Drivers, registration plates and weather conditions
There have been two different drivers who drove each coach on each different series. On series 1 the driver was Chris Groombridge who only drove T100 MTT. Series two had his successor Paul Donald. He drove T100 MTT after his predecessor on series 2, MT04 MTT on series 3 and MT09 MTT currently from the 4th series maybe till series 5, 6 or 7.
The first coach 'T100 MTT' is a Volvo B10M with Jonckheere Mistral 50 bodywork. The coach 'MT04 MTT' arrived in Central London to be supplied by Motts travel. It is a Volvo B12B with Plaxton Panther bodywork. The coach 'MT09 MTT', also a Volvo B12B/Plaxton Panther, is supplied by Motts travel based in Aylesbury, Bucks. The newest coach 'MT61 MTT' will be introduced by Motts travel by 1 September 2011 according to the DVLA and will be used for future series of Coach Trip.
Weather conditions in each series are variously chosen to forecast depending where the coach trip goes to and from for 10, 15, 30 or 50 days.
List of arrival day locations started from
For some series the Coach and Brendan appear in different locations of Great Britain & Northern Ireland or The Republic of Ireland to pick up 14 tourists at either bed & breakfasts, hotels, Scottish airports or Irish airports. For other series the coach appearing with Brendan has picked up 8 to 14 tourists in mainland European airports.
Here is a list of the locations the coach trip started from for some first destinations and yet to start from for other first destinations in each series.
Start Location Entered Europe, North Africa or Western Asia from Series London Channel Tunnel 1 & 7 Dover 3 Portsmouth 4 Leeds Hull 5 Madrid Airport n/a (Already in Europe) 2 Milan Airport 6 Nice Côte d'Azur Airport n/a (Already in Europe) C2 Prague Ruzyně Airport C1 List of countries visited
Here is a list of the countries that have been visited.
Europe
- Latvia
- Liechtenstein
- Lithuania
- Luxembourg
- Malta
- Monaco
- Montenegro
- The Netherlands
Northern Africa
Western Asia
List of activities
On each series of Coach Trip there are different activities each day for tourists and celebrities to do and/or have already done by appearance.
Activities A - E Appearance(s) (so far) Accordion lesson Celebrity Series 1 Amusement parks Series 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 Amusement park quizzes Series 6 Alpine horn lesson Series 6 Aquarium visiting Series 2, 5 and 6 AquaSpheres Celebrity Series 1 Archery Series 2, 4 and 6 Ballet Celebrity Series 1 Basque pelota Series 6 Beekeeping Series 2 and 4 Beer bathing Celebrity Series 1 Belly dancing Series 2, 4, 6 and Celebrity Series 1 Boules Series 6 Buggy driving Series 6 Bungee jumping Series 4 and 5 Canoeing Series 4, 5 and Celebrity Series 1 Cathedral visiting Series 1, 3, 4, 6 and Celebrity Series 1 Cavern visiting Series 1, 3, 4 and 6 Cider tasting Series 6 Coach quizzes (mornings only) Series 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 Cocktail making Series 4 Cricket Series 6 Crossbow making Series 3 Cruising Series 1 and Celebrity Series 1 Cycling Series 3 and 6 DJ Mixing & Rapping Series 2 and 5 Dolphin watching Series 5 and 6 Dry slope activities Series 6 Eel tasting Series 3 Activities F - O Appearance(s) (so far) Factory visiting Series 1, 2, 3 and 4 Fashion shows Series 2, 4 and 5 Fire water tasting Series 2 Fishing Series 4, 5 and 6 Flamenco dancing Series 6 Football Series 2 and 6 Golf Series 2, 4, 5 and 6 Gondola riding Series 1, 3 and Celebrity Series 1 Hand ball Series 5 and 6 Horse riding Series 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 Hunting Series 5 and 6 Ice hockey Series 5 Kayaking Series 3 and 6 Lake diving Series 2, 3 and 6 Language lesson Series 1, 2 and 6 Mask making Series 1 and Celebrity Series 1 Maypole dancing Series 5 Medieval activities Series 4, 5 and 6 Morris dancing Series 6 Mosaic making Series 3 Motor racing Series 2, 4 and 5 Mountain visiting Series 3, 4 and 5 Museum visiting Series 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and Celebrity Series 1 Oyster tasting Series 6 Opera lesson Series 2, 6 and Celebrity Series 1 Activities P - Z Appearance(s) (so far) Painting Series 1, 3, 5 and 6 Parasailing Series 6 Parrot watching Series 2 Perfume smelling Series 2 and 6 Pizza making Series 1, 3 and 6 Pottery lesson Series 2 and 6 Puppetry Celebrity Series 1 Quad biking Series 4 and 6 Rugby Series 2 and 6 Sailing Series 2 and 6 Sausage making Series 5 and Celebrity Series 1 Segways Series 3, 4, 5 and Celebrity Series 1 Sherry tasting Series 2 Skeet shooting & Clay pigeon shooting Series 3 and 4 Souvenir shopping Series 1, 2, 3 and 6 Spas Series 2, 3, 4 and 6 Stilt walking Series 6 Summer bobsleigh Series 3, 5 and Celebrity Series 1 Surfing Series 4 and 6 Swimming baths Series 1, 2, 3, 5 and 6 Tank riding Series 4 and Celebrity Series 1 Tripe making Series 6 Wakeboarding Series 6 Water parks Series 2, 5 and 6 Waterskiing Series 2 and 4 Wine tasting Series 1 and 2 Wood carving Series 5 Yodeling Series 3 Yoga Series 2 and 6 Zoo visiting Series 1, 2, 4 and Celebrity Series 1 Final Day Locations ended at (and yet to end at)
Coach Trip Final Day locations have the tourists arriving back in Great Britain sometimes by foreign airports and sometimes by ferries or eurostar train and sometimes by foreign airports via ferries.
End Location Exited Europe, North Africa or Western Asia from Series Aleppo Airport (n/a - series ended in Western Asia) ? Ankara – Esenboğa International Airport ? Bergen Airport (n/a - series ended in Europe) 5 Berlin Schönefeld Airport ? Cagliari-Elmas Airport ? London Calais 1 Málaga Airport Tangier Ferryport 6 Milan Airport (n/a - series ended in Europe) 2 Prague Ruzyně Airport 3 Rome Ciampino Airport C2 Tozeur – Nefta International Airport (n/a - series ended in North Africa) 4 Venice Marco Polo Airport (n/a - series ended in Europe) C1 Original & Revival Series
Series 1
Main article: Coach Trip (series 1)Coach Trip 1 was the first series of Coach Trip in the United Kingdom, that was filmed from April 2004 to June 2004 and aired from 7 March to 19 April 2005. The trip went through several European countries. Chris Groombridge was the driver for the only time, Brendan Sheerin was the tour guide, Andy Love was narrator and the registration was T100 MTT.
Series 2
Main article: Coach Trip (series 2)Coach Trip 2 was the second series of Coach Trip in the United Kingdom, that was filmed from May 2005 to July 2005 and aired from 22 May to 30 June 2006. This year the trip was centred on Mediterranean countries. Brendan returned as the tour guide, the narrator was once again Andy Love and the registration number plate once again was T100 MTT. Paul Donald was the driver for the first time.
Series 3
Main article: Coach Trip (series 3)Coach Trip 3 was the third series of Coach Trip in the United Kingdom, that was filmed between September and October 2008 and aired from 25 May to 3 July 2009. The show's format after a break of 3 years remained unchanged from the previous series: seven couples travelling around Europe on a coach like series 1 for 30 days attempting vote off the least popular couples. With visits to Croatia, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Liechtenstein and Luxembourg for the first time. Tour guide Brendan Sheerin and coach driver Paul Donald both returned for this series, which aired on Channel 4 with a similar end to series 2. David Quantick was the narrator and MT04 MTT was the registration number plate.
Series 4
Main article: Coach Trip (series 4)Coach Trip 4 was the fourth series of Coach Trip in the United Kingdom which that was filmed between September and October 2009 and aired from 15 February to 23 April 2010. The length of this series was longer than the previous instalments, increased from 30 days to 50 days for a tour centred on European, Mediterranean, North African and West Asian countries on a coach like series 1, 2 and 3 attempting to vote off the least popular couples. Tour guide Brendan Sheerin, coach driver Paul Donald and narrator David Quantick all returned for this series, which aired on Channel 4. MT09 MTT was the coach registration number plate.
Series 5
Main article: Coach Trip (series 5)Coach Trip 5 was the fifth series of Coach Trip in the United Kingdom which was filmed from May 2010 till June 2010 (Post Iceland Volcano Cloud era) and aired from 30 August to 8 October 2010. The show's format changed slightly from previous series and with weekends included, from Day 2 of that the couple who received a yellow card the previous day would be immune from the following vote the next day. The series involves seven couples traveling on a one-month tour centering on Northern European countries for the first time, with visits to Denmark, Finland, Sweden, Norway, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia. Tour guide Brendan Sheerin, coach driver Paul Donald and the MT09 MTT registration all returned for this series, which airs on Channel 4. Dave Vitty was the narrator.
Series 6
Main article: Coach Trip (series 6)Coach Trip 6 was the sixth series of Coach Trip in the United Kingdom. It was filmed from July 2010 until August 2010 (Pre Arab Spring protests era) and aired from 14 February to 25 March 2011. The voting system rules reverted to those of earlier series. The length of this series was the same as the previous non-celebrity series but with weekends excluded. The tour visited Mediterranean countries like series 2 but with visits to Switzerland added for a month. Tour guide Brendan Sheerin, coach driver Paul Donald, narrator Dave Vitty and the coach with registration number MT09 MTT all returned for this series, which was aired on Channel 4 with a similar start to series 2 and a similar end to series 4.
Series 7
Main article: Coach Trip (series 7)Coach Trip 7 was the seventh series of Coach Trip in the United Kingdom. It was filmed from May until June 2011 and aired from 29 August to 7 October 2011.
Celebrity series
The logo for Celebrity Coach Trip
Series 1
Main article: Celebrity Coach Trip (series 1)Celebrity Coach Trip 1 was the first celebrity series of Coach Trip which was filmed from 6 to 17 September 2010 as is made clear from the reference from the Channel 4 website [1] and began showing on 8 November 2010. The series featured celebrity contestants and the tour lasted 10 days, filmed across 2 weeks. The pair who lasted to the end and are voted the most popular by the rest of the group received a £1000 prize for charity. Starting in Prague Ruzyně Airport [1] it included visits to the Czech Republic, Germany, Austria and Italy. Tour guide Brendan Sheerin, narrator Dave Vitty, coach driver Paul Donald and the MT09 MTT registration all returned for these special episodes. Activities included sausage making, a ballet lesson, a visit to a beer spa, Soviet tank driving, walking on water, using Segways, a cookery lesson, a singing lesson and riding a bobsleigh.[2] The couples at the start were The Chuckle Brothers, Bianca Gascoigne with Imogen Thomas, Ricky Groves with Alex Ferns, Carol Harrison with Ingrid Tarrant and Raef Bjayou with Benjamin Duncan.[3] Later being joined by Colin McAllister and Justin Ryan,[4] Rodney Marsh, Cheryl Baker, David Van Day, Tony Blackburn[5] and The Cheeky Girls.[2] On Day 4 of the series Brendan revealed that from Day 5 to Day 9 there would be no more yellow cards on the trip until future series, meaning the couple that received the most amount of votes would be red-carded off the trip that same day since arrival into Hungary in history. Brendan also made this rule on day 24 of series 3 to stop the contestants spreading round the yellow-cards.
Series 2
Celebrity Coach Trip 2 began on 10 October 2011 after series 7 finished airing. Filming took place from 9 to 23 April 2011. The pair who lasts to the end and are voted the most popular by the rest of the group will get to receive a £1000 prize for charity. Starting from Nice Côte d'Azur Airport, France, the trip will head to Italy taking in Tuscany (including Florence) and Rome.
The first five couples are:
- Big Brother contestants Brian Belo and Spencer Smith
- Make-up artist and DIY expert partners Gary Cockerill and Phil Turner (won the series and £1,000 for charity)
- WAG Lizzie Cundy and model Emma B
- Michael Barrymore and his friend TV producer Maurice Leonard
- Model Alex Best and former MP Lembit Opik
Joining the trip later are:
- John McCririck and his wife Jenny
- Stan Boardman and his daughter Andrea Boardman
- Comediennes Sandra Dickinson and Helen Lederer
- X Factor contestant Wagner and Britain's Got Talent duo Stavros Flatley.[6]
Records
Original & Revival Series
- Longest stays on the coach on a 30 day series Glenn & Becca and Amanda & Nicki from Series 5, Terry & Hilary and Rob & Timmy from Series 6 and Alison & Ashley from Series 7. Entered coach on Day 1, lasted entirety of series (Day 30).
- Longest stays on the coach on a 50 day series Paul & Matt from Series 4, lasted 33 days. Entered coach on Day 1, Yellow-carded on Day 26 and red-carded on Day 33.
- Shortest stays on the coach on a 30 day series Laura & Mark from Series 7, lasted 12 hours. Joined on Day 1 and red-carded off the trip with 4 votes later that day.
- Shortest stays on the coach on a 50 day series Bruce & Jon from Series 4. Joined on Day 11 and red-carded off the trip a day later for fighting Tam and Jayson.
- Longest time spent couples on a 30 day trips after receiving a yellow card Amanda & Nicki from Series 5 and Alison & Ashley from Series 7. Both couples lasted the entirety of the series as originals after receiving a yellow-card on Day 2. The only difference was in Series 5 is they had a different voing system where as if you got the majority of the votes then you became immune from being voted for the following day. Series 7 didn`t have this voting system in place
- Longest time spent couples on a 50 day trips after receiving a yellow card Vin & Lin from Series 4, lasted 15 days. Joined on Day 22, Yellow-carded on Day 23 and red-carded on Day 37, making 2 weeks.
Celebrity Series
- Longest stays on the coach on a 10 day series Ricky & Alex, Carol & Ingrid and Paul & Barry from Series 1. Entered coach on Day 1, lasted entirety of series (Day 10).
- Shortest stays on the coach on a 10 day series David & Tony and Rodney & Cheryl from Series 1. David & Tony: Joined after lunch on Day 6 and red-carded off the trip with 5 votes a day later. Rodney & Cheryl: Joined after lunch on Day 7 and red-carded off the trip with 4 votes a day later.
- Longest time spent couples on a 10 day trip after receiving a yellow card Ricky & Alex from Series 1, lasted entirety of the series. Original 4, Yellow-carded on Day 3 and lasted till final day, making the whole 10 days of the series.
Transmissions
Original & Revival Series
Series Start date End date Episodes Maximum number of couples 1 7 March 2005 19 April 2005 30 7 2 22 May 2006 30 June 2006 30 7 3 25 May 2009 3 July 2009 30 7 4 15 February 2010 23 April 2010 50 7 5 30 August 2010 8 October 2010 30 7 6 14 February 2011 25 March 2011 30 7 7 29 August 2011 7 October 2011 30 7 Celebrity Series
Series Start date End date Episodes Maximum number of couples 1 8 November 2010 19 November 2010 10 6 2 10 October 2011 21 October 2011 10 7 References
- ^ a b "Celebrity Coach Trip". Channel4.com. Thursday, September 23, 2010. http://www.channel4.com/programmes/coach-trip/articles/celebrity-coach-trip.
- ^ a b Graeme Donohoe (4 November 2010). "Squabbling stars, Segway smashes and sabotaged strudels". The Sun. http://www.thesun.co.uk/scotsol/homepage/scotlandfeatures/3211165/Colin-and-Justin-on-Celebrity-Coach-Trip.html.
- ^ Alex Fletcher (Thursday, September 16, 2010). "Celebrity 'Coach Trip' lineup revealed". Digital Spy. http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/tv/s136/coach-trip/news/a277261/celebrity-coach-trip-lineup-revealed.html.
- ^ "TV home makeover duo Colin and Justin to join Celebrity Coach Trip". Daily Record. September 21, 2010. http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/showbiz/television-news/2010/09/21/tv-home-makeover-duo-colin-and-justin-to-join-celebrity-coach-trip-86908-22576723/.
- ^ Dyke, Peter; Begley, Katie (24 September 2010). "CELEBRITY COACH TRIP: DAVID VAN DAY AND TONY BLACKBURN FIRST OFF THE BUS". Daily Star. http://www.dailystar.co.uk/posts/view/155185.
- ^ "Celebrity Coach Trip Announcement". Channel 4 Press Office. http://www.channel4.com/info/press/programme-information/celebrity-coach-trip.
External links
- Review, Leicester Mercury
- Daily Record interview with William, series 3
- Digital Spy interview with Taryn, series 3
- Digital Spy interview with Tom & Matt, series 3
- Brendan's Video Blog
- Watford Observer interview with Hannah & Kate, series 3
- Channel 4 3-part video interview with Brendan
- Channel 4 video interview with Brendan on Series 4
Categories:- 2005 British television programme debuts
- 2000s British television series
- 2010s British television series
- Channel 4 television programmes
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.
