Interview: Simon Reeve on ‘Australia’ – his latest BBC travel series
Simon’s riveting journey blends a travelogue with current affairs, history, culture, wildlife, conservation, and offers unique insights into life in glorious Australia. The first leg of Simon’s journey takes him from the ‘red centre’ of the country south to the wine region, then west to Perth. On the second he travels across the remote and wild north to the Great Barrier Reef. And his third takes him down the east coast to the magnificent cities of Sydney and Melbourne.
Reporter Ruth Grimoldby was joined by Simon Reeve to tell more about his adventures in Australia in his new show.
On his journey Simon encounters an array of extraordinary and engaging characters. He goes ‘bush’ with an elite group of Australian army trackers, and meets the pumped and tattooed members of a motorcycle gang accused of involvement in organised crime, as well as bikini-wearing meter maids, a former British binman now making a fortune as a truck-driving instructor, and Australia’s first Muslim ladies Aussie Rules Football team.
Simon drives a huge Prime Mover truck, rides the Indian Pacific train across the vast Nullarbor Plain, meets gold-panners working near the most valuable patch of ground on Earth, and learns how an extraordinary resources boom has made Australia rich – but doesn’t seem to be benefitting the country’s Aboriginal people. He gets a tasting lesson from a legendary winemaker, helps scientists catch the most venomous creature on the planet, and has close encounters with Australia’s extraordinary wildlife, including the strange poisonous cane toad, camels from the world’s largest herd, and the Crown of Thorns starfish and shoals of iridescent fish on the beautiful Great Barrier Reef.
With the Ashes on the horizon and the Lions beginning their tour of Australia next month, the show will give a fantastic insight into the nation we love to beat but also love to travel to.
Simon will also be the guest at a series of events around the UK to talk to travel enthusiasts and adventure lovers about his travels.
Simon Reeve in conversation with Kuoni will give audiences insight into Simon’s experiences as he travelled around Australia, as well as giving members of the public the opportunity to quiz him about the amazing people and wildlife he encountered.
