Oz & James Drink To Britain

Marrying the elements of lads mag reportage through the unlikely pairing of Oz Clarke (self-styled king of grapes or "international wine ponce", as his partner in crime terms him) and James May (a young pretender to Clarkson's crown from Top Gear), Oz & James Drink To Britain wastes the licence payers money with an 8-episode jaunt around the sceptered isle in an attempt to find the drinks that define Modern Blighty.

In what seems like an excuse to surreptitiously combine imbibing with driving, the green-lighting heads of the BBC must have been partially soused when they agreed, yet following on from Oz and James's Big Wine Adventure, where France and California were ticked off the list, and not wanting to anger the populace in these credit crunch times, the purse strings are quite obviously tightened with this indigenous outing.

The antagonism which is misguidedly thought of as odd couple chemistry is blown through when the pair (in what increasingly seems to be scripted banter) attempt to frustrate and ignore each other's requisite knowledge, as happiness only occurs when May incites his catchphrase of “fat-head” at Clarke’s undoubted comprehension of drink and Oz is able to scupper James’s laddish jocularism.

The episodes are diverting enough: the first foray finds them gallivanting to Yorkshire and Derbyshire in the quest for the perfect beer, Wigan has them investigating a small commercial brewery, Scotland sees them undertaking a blindfolded whisky trial, while Ireland then follows with the requisite Guinness tasting. Episode 5 finds them tasting “extreme beers”, Wales sees them sampling vodka, the South West offers traditional cider and finally there is Clarke’s native Kent with British sparkling wine. If you enjoyed the first two series, this is more of the same, yet one thinks there is little mileage left in the concept.



Extras: Footage not included in the BBC Broadcasts.

Released on DVD on 16th March 2009 by Acorn Media.

Written by Simon Cole.