Great Coastal Railway Journeys

Great Coastal Railway Journeys is a BBC documentary series produced by Naked and presented by Michael Portillo, a former Conservative MP and Minister of State for Transport.[1]

Great Coastal Railway Journeys
GenreTravel documentary
Presented byMichael Portillo
ComposerJon Wygens
Country of originUnited Kingdom
Original languageEnglish
No. of series1
Production
Executive producer
  • John Comerford
Running time30 minutes
Production company
  • Naked
Release
Original network
Picture format16:9 1080i
Audio formatStereo
Original release24 January 2022 (2022-01-24) –
present
Related

Following the format of Great British Railway Journeys and related series with Portillo as presenter, each episode features a coastal railway journey through England, Scotland, Wales or Ireland.

The first two series were filmed back to back in Summer and Autumn 2021. Series 1 aired on BBC Two in January and February 2022. Series 2 is expected to air shortly, with several retailers having commenced taking pre-orders for the box set.[2][3]

Portillo has also presented 7 other programmes with a similar format: Great Continental Railway Journeys (7 series; 2012–2020), Great American Railroad Journeys (4 series; 2016–2020), Great Indian Railway Journeys (2018), Great Alaskan Railroad Journeys and Great Canadian Railway Journeys (broadcast consecutively in January 2019), Great Australian Railway Journeys (2019), Great Asian Railway Journeys (2020).

Synopsis

Victorian guidebooks written by George Bradshaw under the title Bradshaw's Guide were the first comprehensive timetable and travel guides to the railway system in Great Britain, which at the time although it had grown to be extensive, still consisted of a number of fragmented and competing railway companies and lines, each publishing their own timetables.

Classified by the BBC in both the travel and history genres, the series features Portillo using the guide to plan his journeys, in the process visiting points of interest picked out in the guide and comparing its content with the modern world, both the physical and cultural ones.

Format

Each series features Portillo travelling on a different route each week, with each daily episode being one short leg of the journey. The weekly journey is a point-to-point journey to take in a variety of locations along the route. Filmed entirely on location, the series features a mix of Portillo delivering dialogue to camera, as well as performing ad-hoc interviews with members of the public or fellow travellers, in addition to pre-arranged interviews.

Broadcast

All episodes were originally broadcast on consecutive weekdays on BBC Two and simulcast on BBC Two HD.

Episodes

Dunbar to Peterhead

The first journey takes Portillo from coast to coast, from Dunbar to Peterhead.

No. Episode First broadcast
1"Dunbar to Edinburgh[4]"24 January 2022 (2022-01-24)
2"Leith to Culross[5]"25 January 2022 (2022-01-25)
3"Stirling to East Neuk[6]"26 January 2022 (2022-01-26)
4"St Andrews to Stonehaven[7]"27 January 2022 (2022-01-27)
5"Forvie to Peterhead[8]"28 January 2022 (2022-01-28)

Inverness to Orkney Islands

Portillo's second journey, is from Inverness to the Orkney Islands.

No. Episode First broadcast
6"Inverness to Cairngorms[9]"31 January 2022 (2022-01-31)
7"Cullen to Cawdor[10]"1 February 2022 (2022-02-01)
8"Invergordon to Tain[11]"2 February 2022 (2022-02-02)
9"Lairg to Caithness[12]"3 February 2022 (2022-02-03)
10"Thurso to Orkney[13]"4 February 2022 (2022-02-04)

Tynemouth to Berwick-upon-Tweed

Portillo's third journey takes him across North East England, from Tynemouth to Berwick-upon-Tweed.

No. Episode First broadcast
11"Tynemouth to Bardon Mill[14]"7 February 2022 (2022-02-07)
12"Newcastle to Lynemouth[15]"8 February 2022 (2022-02-08)
13"Morpeth to Amble[16]"9 February 2022 (2022-02-09)
14"Alnmouth to Bamburgh[17]"10 February 2022 (2022-02-10)
15"Farne Islands to Berwick-upon-Tweed[18]"11 February 2022 (2022-02-11)

Fairlie to Isle of Lewis and Harris

In his fourth journey, Portillo explores the west coast of Scotland, starting in Fairlie and finishing in Lewis and Harris.

No. Episode First broadcast
16"Fairlie to Port Glasgow[19]"14 February 2022 (2022-02-14)
17"Helensburgh to Connel[20]"15 February 2022 (2022-02-15)
18"Oban to Staffa[21]"16 February 2022 (2022-02-16)
19"Fort William to Glenfinnan[22]"17 February 2022 (2022-02-17)
20"Mallaig to Isle of Lewis and Harris[23]"18 February 2022 (2022-02-18)

Avonmouth to Fishguard

Portillo's fifth journey takes him along Wales' southern coastline, beginning in Avonmouth and ending in Fishguard.

No. Episode First broadcast
21"Avonmouth to Six Bells[24]"21 February 2022 (2022-02-21)
22"Barry Island to Pyle[25]"22 February 2022 (2022-02-22)
23"Port Talbot to Pembrey Burry Port[26]"23 February 2022 (2022-02-23)
24"Carmarthen to Pembroke[27]"24 February 2022 (2022-02-24)
25"Milford Haven to Fishguard[28]"25 February 2022 (2022-02-25)

Series 2 (2023)

For Series 2, Michael Portillo will reportedly film an episode on the Swanage Railway.[29]

Douglas to Maryport

Portillo's sixth journey begins in Douglas, the capital of the Isle of Man and ends at Maryport in Cumbria.

No. Episode First broadcast
26"Douglas to Port Erin[30]"22 May 2023 (2023-05-22)
27"Liverpool to Blackpool[31]"23 May 2023 (2023-05-23)
28"Morecambe to Grange-over-Sands[32]"24 May 2023 (2023-05-24)
29"Ulverston to Ravenglass[33]"25 May 2023 (2023-05-25)
30"St Bees to Maryport[34]"26 May 2023 (2023-05-26)

Middlesbrough to Humberston Fitties

Portillo's seventh journey begins in Middlesbrough, Yorkshire and ends at Humberston Fitties in Lincolnshire.

No. Episode First broadcast
31"Middlesbrough to Boulby[35]"29 May 2023 (2023-05-29)
32"Whitby to Robin Hood's Bay[36]"30 May 2023 (2023-05-30)
33"Scarborough to Bridlington[37]"31 May 2023 (2023-05-31)
34"Hornsea to Spurn Point[38]"1 June 2023 (2023-06-01)
35"Grimsby to Humberston Fitties[39]"2 June 2023 (2023-06-02)

See also

Notes

    References
    1. Gove, Michael (1995). Michael Portillo: The Future of the Right. London: 4th Estate. p. 160. ISBN 1857023358.
    2. Great Coastal Railways Journeys Series 2, Dazzler Media, 19 June 2023, retrieved 6 April 2023
    3. "Great Coastal Railway Journeys: Series Two | DVD Box Set | Free shipping over £20". HMV Store. Retrieved 6 April 2023.
    4. "Dunbar to Edinburgh". bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 1 February 2022.
    5. "Leith to Culross". bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 1 February 2022.
    6. "Stirling to East Neuk". bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 1 February 2022.
    7. "St Andrews to Stonehaven". bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 1 February 2022.
    8. "Forvie to Peterhead". bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 1 February 2022.
    9. "Inverness to Cairngorms". bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 1 February 2022.
    10. "Cullen to Cawdor". bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 1 February 2022.
    11. "Invergordon to Tain". bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 1 February 2022.
    12. "Lairg to Caithness". bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 1 February 2022.
    13. "Thurso to Orkney". bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 1 February 2022.
    14. "Tynemouth to Bardon Mill". bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 2 February 2022.
    15. "Newcastle to Lynemouth". bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 2 February 2022.
    16. "Morpeth to Amble". bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 2 February 2022.
    17. "Alnmouth to Bamburgh". bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 2 February 2022.
    18. "Farne Islands to Berwick-upon-Tweed". bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 2 February 2022.
    19. "Fairlie to Port Glasgow". bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 15 February 2022.
    20. "Helensburgh to Connel". bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 15 February 2022.
    21. "Oban to Staffa". bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 15 February 2022.
    22. "Fort William to Glenfinnan". bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 15 February 2022.
    23. "Mallaig to Isle of Lewis and Harris". bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 15 February 2022.
    24. "Avonmouth to Six Bells". bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 15 February 2022.
    25. "Barry Island to Pyle". bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 15 February 2022.
    26. "Port Talbot to Pembrey Burry Port". bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 15 February 2022.
    27. "Carmarthen to Pembroke". bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 15 February 2022.
    28. "Milford Haven to Fishguard". bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 15 February 2022.
    29. "MP turned TV presenter spotted filming at historic Dorset station". Bournemouth Echo. Retrieved 18 April 2023.
    30. "Douglas to Port Erin". bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 11 May 2023.
    31. "Liverpool to Blackpool". bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 11 May 2023.
    32. "Morecambe to Grange-over-Sands". bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 12 May 2023.
    33. "Ulverston to Ravenglass". bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 12 May 2023.
    34. "St Bees to Maryport". bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 12 May 2023.
    35. "Middlesbrough to Boulby". bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 19 May 2023.
    36. "Whitby to Robin Hood's Bay". bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 11 May 2023.
    37. "Scarborough to Bridlington". bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 19 May 2023.
    38. "Hornsea to Spurn Point". bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 19 May 2023.
    39. "Grimsby to Humberston Fitties". bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 19 May 2023.
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