Travel Man viewers surprised over big change to show
Travel Man has returned for a new season, kicked off by a festive special with new host Joe Lycett.
Taking over from Richard Ayoade — who hosted all seasons of the travel docuseries between 2015 and 2019 — Lycett spent 96 hours in Iceland with "comedy legend and Viking impersonator" Bill Bailey.
In tonight's (December 27) special, Channel 4 viewers got to follow this dynamic duo as they explored Reykjavik, Europe's most northernly capital, and its environs.
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Despite Lycett being announced as Ayoade's replacement back in 2019, some Travel Man fans had to take a moment upon realising the series now has a different host. 2019 feels like a lifetime ago, after all.
Did not know Richard Ayoade wasn’t #TravelMan anymore and I am BEREFT
— lauren. (@lozwinter) December 27, 2021
"Did not know Richard Ayoade wasn't #TravelMan anymore and I am BEREFT," one viewer wrote on Twitter.
"Jo [sic] as travel man aye, a Christmas plot twist," another commented.
"As much as I like Jo [sic] lycett generally, travel man just ain't the same without Richard Ayoade!!!" one person added.
Jo as travel man aye, a Christmas plot twist.
— CaptainSpandickulars (@CSpandickulars) December 27, 2021
As much as I like Jo lycett generally, travel man just ain't the same without Richard Ayoade!!! 😔 #legend #travelman
— Suhail Patel #PLM 🇵🇸 (@suhailpat) December 27, 2021
Others, however, were happy with Lycett's stint on Travel Man, leaving the show's deadpan *almost* untouched.
Joe Lycett is the only person who could take over #travelman from Richard Ayoade and it feel like absolutely nothing has changed. Great choice of replacement.
— Mike Oglesby (@_MikeOglesby_) December 27, 2021
"Joe Lycett is the only person who could take over #travelman from Richard Ayoade and it feel like absolutely nothing has changed. Great choice of replacement," one fan wrote.
In the episode, Lycett and Bailey bonded in between an entirely tomato-based three-course meal in a greenhouse and a night in a bubble hotel to catch a glimpse of the northern lights.
Their four-day Icelandic getaway continued with eggs boiled in a hot spring, paired with buttered brown bread that’s been cooking underground for 18 hours.
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"The bleakest breakfast outside of Wetherspoon’s," Joe said, before his bread got swept away by Iceland's unforgiving wind.
Later on, the pair visited the Icelandic Punk Museum, located in repurposed bathroom stalls, where they gifted viewers a wannabe riotous performance, and immediately promised to repay any damages.
Lycett and Bailey also tried their hand at a felt troll-making workshop and an adorable husky sledding session, before chilling in a hot tub with a Christmas beer promptly dubbed "liquid tinsel". It doesn't get any more festive (and chilly) than this.
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