Gregg Wallace is back on our screens with a brand new travel show.
The MasterChef star’s ‘Big Weekends Away’ involved him travelling around the world to share his weekend breaks with viewers.
Filmed in 2019 the series was due to air early last year, but the COVID pandemic delayed the process as Channel 5 thought it would be inappropriate to show.
However, even now, some viewers find this to be the case.
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Gregg, who lives in Biddenden, near Ashford, opened up this week about his disappointment following the postponement of the show.
After the first episode finally aired on Friday (February 12), some took to Twitter to air their thoughts on the format.
One remarked: “So Gregg Wallace is in an ad telling us to stay home, so that we can watch him gallivant around and stuff his face #BigWeekendsAway”
Another cruelly added: “Gregg Wallace on a cultural journey reminds me of the old adage that you can take a donkey on a trip throughout the world but when it comes back it’s still a donkey.#bigweekendsaway.”
And a third said: “@RickSteinRest can somebody tell Rick that he needs to get his lawyer and tune into Channel 5. @GreggAWallace is ripping him off!!! #bigweekendsaway”
‘Absolute joy’
(Image: Channel 5)
Despite the grief directed at Gregg there were many viewers that actually enjoyed the show, seeing it as a bit of escapism from our current lives and a taste of what’s to come once lockdown is over.
One said: “Really enjoyed #BigWeekendsAway Good mix of the sights and food experiences. Too many travel programmes miss the highlights in their attempt to focus on a coffee shop which could be anywhere or a niche event you’d never go to. Looking forward to the rest.”
Another added: “Catching up on #BigWeekendsAway with @GreggAWallace. What a fantastic show, the absolute joy that Gregg is getting from the sights and the food.
“Really can’t wait to go back to Barcelona and explore more.
“Shame this is on channel 5 so won’t get the viewing it deserves, definitely a bit of me! #bigweekendsaway.”
Whether they liked or disliked the new show, viewers all seemed to agree on one thing – why was he lugging around a big suitcase if it was only a ‘weekend trip’?
(Image: ITV)
This became even more surreal when one watcher pointed out that Gregg didn’t change clothes once.
The confused viewer wrote: “Just watched #bigweekendsaway with @GreggAWallace.
“A fun and informative travel show where Gregg doesn’t change his clothes once for three days leaving me one question…what did he have in that massive suitcase?”
Despite initially being disappointed when the show was delayed for a year due to the pandemic, he said that this should provide the escapism needed by many viewers.
He told Express.co.uk : “I think now that we’ve been in lockdown for so long and COVID has been with us for so long, I think they think, and I agree with them, that an old bald bloke running around these cities with a glass of wine and a little nibble can’t be a bad thing!
“It’s a bit of innocent escapism. We can’t be in this situation forever.”