More than five years after they last hit the road, ‘The Trip‘ is back, and this time Steve Coogan and Rob Brydon are heading to Scandinavia. Sky has officially announced The Trip to the Northern Lights, the fifth instalment in the multi-award-winning comedy series, directed once again by Michael Winterbottom.
Swapping the sun-drenched landscapes of Greece for the remote beauty of Northern Europe, the six-part series follows Coogan and Brydon on another fictionalised culinary journey. From sculptural Swedish hotels to isolated Norwegian fishing huts, the pair deliver their signature mix of food critiques, celebrity impressions and philosophical musings, all while hoping to catch a glimpse of the Northern Lights.
This new chapter sees Rob (60) and Steve, still very much 59, reflecting on ageing, ambition, fame and family. Naturally, they do so through the only lens they know best: themselves. Expect plenty of sparring over Bond and Bergman, BAFTA bragging rights and whether either of them will ever actually retire.
Steve Coogan said:
“I’m delighted that Michael Winterbottom has managed to persuade me at the age of 59 to join Rob, aged 60, to squeeze the last few drops of comedy from a bottle that we both thought was pretty much empty.”
Rob Brydon added:
“I’m so pleased to be heading out on a Trip once again, this time to beautiful Scandinavia and how lovely to do it while Steve Coogan, Michael Winterbottom and I still have most of our faculties.”
While this marks the first official confirmation of the new season, fans may remember that news of ‘The Trip’ returning was accidentally served up months ago… via a speeding ticket. As Geektown reported in February, Steve Coogan was clocked doing 97mph on the M6 near Telford last summer. Coogan found himself having to justify his need for speed (or at least, to drive…) to a magistrates’ court, and in doing so, let slip that a new season of The Trip was in the works.
In a letter to the court, he explained that filming was due to begin in the summer and that, crucially, he needed to be able to drive for the production. The show is called The Trip, after all… Coogan pleaded that a driving ban would cause serious disruption, not just to his own livelihood but to the many people working on the show. “These include camera, sound, and lighting technicians, riggers, and others on modest wages who would face cancellations and financial hardship,” he wrote, arguing that rescheduling would be highly complicated.
The court clearly didn’t want to be responsible for putting hundreds of crew out of work (or robbing us all of another round of Coogan and Brydon bickering over who does the better Roger Moore), so they stopped short of a ban. Coogan ended up with five penalty points (one short of a ban, as he already had points from a previous offence) and a £3,590 fine. Crisis averted, and a rather unconventional way to confirm a new season!
Meghan Lyvers, Executive Director of Original Scripted at Sky UK and Ireland, said:
“We’re excited to continue this iconic series with Steve, Rob and Michael. Their singular blend of comedy, character and cultural commentary feels as fresh as ever. The Trip to the Northern Lights promises to be a smart, surprising and brilliantly funny new chapter.”
‘The Trip to the Northern Lights’ is directed by Michael Winterbottom and produced by Revolution Films, Baby Cow Productions and Small Man in association with Sky Studios. Executive producers include Winterbottom, Melissa Parmenter, Steve Coogan and Rob Brydon, with Josh Hyams serving as series producer.
Filming on ‘The Trip To The Northern Lights’ begins later this year across Scandinavia. The series will air on Sky and stream on NOW in the UK and Ireland. If you want to keep track of this or any other shows, you can add them via our Never Miss system, and you’ll be notified when it gets a UK premiere date.
