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Although the continent-crossing reality competition the travel contest wasn't quite the summer smash the broadcaster had anticipated, it did give presenter Brydon a stylish transformation. The convoluted coach trip clearly wanted to give off a globetrotting atmosphere, so its master of ceremonies got dressed with premium suits: boldly coloured three-piece suits, silky cravats and yacht-ready blazers. Unexpectedly, Brydon had the debonair look complementing his vintage 007 impersonation.

Costume Changes and Country Music

His latest three-part series, Brydon's Country Music Expedition, includes themed outfit costume changes. The genial Welshman transforms into western rancher sporting of flannel shirts, rugged jackets and the occasional cowboy hat. It's all part of a premise where he driving a massive Ford Ranger pickup truck on a 2,000-mile circuit of the southern US for a crash course in country music.

Brydon has been tasked with marking the centenary of the genre – or at least the century mark of the legendary broadcast which became the Grand Ole Opry, cornerstone and kingmaker of country music for generations – via the time-honoured star-led journey approach involving driving around, chatting with residents and immersing himself in the culture. That the centenary has coincided with country becoming, according to him, “the fastest-growing music style in Britain” – due to global superstars and new country-inspired records from multiple artists, Post Malone and various performers – offers another angle for examination.

Travel History With Insecurities

It's established Brydon is up for long drives and a chinwag thanks to multiple seasons of The Trip alongside his comedy partner. But at first he appears uncertain about his credentials to be our guide. Observing him speak with an in-car lens certainly brings back recollections of a character, the melancholy driver from his early career, a beloved series. En route to Nashville, he calls his Gavin & Stacey co-star Ruth Jones for a pep talk. She reminds him his some genuine music credentials: their 2009 charity single of a classic duet was a UK No 1. (“The original artists only made it to No 7!” she points out.)

Conversational Talents and Cultural Immersion

If the “full sensory overload” during an evening in the city proves challenging for the host – a line-dancing attempt alongside a performer now musician Twinnie sees him giving up early in a popular tune – the veteran comedian is much more steady in the interview segments. His polite lines of questioning blends well with southern manners, gathering anecdotes about legends and general musings on the spirit of the genre from experienced elders like the Grand Ole Opry fixture a renowned figure and nonagenarian tailor-to-the-stars a fashion icon. His gentle manner is effective with younger guns, like the scraggly-bearded chart-topping singer and the instrumental virtuoso Tray Wellington.

Although several the anecdotes seem familiar, the opening episode does contain a single unexpected moment. What on earth is the pop star spending time in a homely recording space? Reportedly, he's been coming the state to refine his compositions for decades, and cites a country icon as an influence on Take That's bulletproof ballad Back for Good. Here, at last, we meet a guest he can tease, mock and wind up without worrying of causing a diplomatic incident. (The good-natured star, is very game.)

Broader Implications and Unscripted Moments

Given a hundred years of the genre to explain and honor, it is understandable this regional journey across two states (with pit stops in Virginia, Alabama and Mississippi upcoming) wants to focus on the art and without needing to engage with contemporary issues. But it cannot help but seep in some elements. While guesting on the polished program on the local broadcaster the established creator of the famous show – Brydon jokingly wonders if the US and Canada are still friends, disrupting the polished presenters off their stride. The audience doesn't see to see chilly response.

Ideal Presenter in This Role

Despite his visible insecurity, he is obviously a good fit for this type of breezy, bite-size format: friendly, interested, modest and prepared for costume changes, even if he has difficulty to find an elaborate western top that comes in a medium. Might his partner worry that his wingman is capable of solo hosting alone? Absolutely.