Rob Rinder and Rylan Clark are back with a new travel series, this time exploring India in a three-part BBC Two programme. The odd-couple presenters, who won a Bafta for their previous Italian jaunt, bring their signature wit and warmth to the subcontinent. The show, inspired by Rinder’s favourite novel, EM Forster’s 'A Passage to India', promises to be a good-natured and entertaining journey.
The first episode immediately wins viewers over with sharp banter. When Rylan is overwhelmed by Delhi traffic, Rinder quips that he sounds 'like the headmistress of a school for excluded children'. Their complementary comedic styles shine: Rinder offers dry, wry observations about classical music and fine art, while Rylan provides a more chaotic, pop-culture-infused energy. The pair’s friendship is evident, with Rinder getting misty-eyed at murals and Rylan revealing eccentric habits, such as having built a life-sized railway station in his house.
Beyond the laughs, the show tackles serious topics with sensitivity. The hosts discuss gay identity and their own yearning for relationships, and they interview India’s first openly gay mainstream politician. They also meet Naveen Kumar, a Dalit rapper who uses music to call out caste injustice. The programme suggests that anxieties about colonial history often stem from western guilt, and it finds a surprising fondness for the British among locals.
While the travelogue doesn’t entirely break free from familiar tropes, it updates them for a modern audience. The series includes encounters with a king cobra, a brutal astrology reading, and lavish parties with billionaires and royalty. Rinder even dons a turban after a tailor’s encouragement, joking that he looks like 'Martine McCutcheon with a thyroid problem'. The show is a treat for fans of the duo and anyone seeking a funny, heartfelt exploration of India.
