Good news, bad news. And the adventure goes on.

-


I heard from BBC2 today. Sadly they are not going to commission a second series of 'One Man and His Campervan'. It is upsetting as I was really hoping that the show would take off and that I'd get to head off on another adventure. I have been contacted by so many people asking about series 2, and had such a positive reaction to the show that I'd thought it was a strong possibility. Still, the show didn't do too badly, with 1.95 million viewers for the final episode. That's more than Frank Skinner's Opinionated (1.75) this week. Anyway, it's disappointing but that's the way it goes. And who knows what else might be around the corner for me and my van.

Of course the experience of doing the show in the first place was unbelievable so I'm not complaining. It was a wonderful thing to do and it's taught me that there's so much more to the UK than quite good surfing beaches (and not so good surfing beaches).

So that's the bad news. Now for the good. I am working on a second book at the moment which has been keeping me busy. With more easy two ring recipes and more lifestyle stuff it's my guide to the UK coast. So I'm heading off in the van to see if I can find out which is the best ice cream, where the best lighthouses are, where you can see great coastal art and how to keep warm in your camper in the winter. So it's more camping, more food, more adventure.

I'm off to Wales and Ireland next week to meet up with forager and a lady who cooks with seaweed, to take a dip in the famous seaweed baths in Sligo and to take a swim in one of Kate Rew's favourite swimming holes (from her book Wild Swim). Then I'm going to drive what is supposed to be one of the world's best driving routes, along the causeway coast.

Along the way I'll be cooking recipes from the new book and photographing them. I am also hoping to perfect the exhaust pipe oven, which sounds scary but isn't. So far all I've managed to do is warm a sausage so there's a way to go with that one.

I'll be blogging as I go so keep an eye out for videos and shots from the trip here or at http://www.martindorey.com/

In the meantime, here's a shot I took this week to go with a piece in the new book about summer stargazing.

Comments

  1. Lindjemp14 April 2011 at 19:04

    I'm gutted they are not making a second series - my whole family totally enjoyed all your shows!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Thom Flaxman14 April 2011 at 19:20

    You won't have to go too far from home to find the best ice cream ;-)

    ReplyDelete
  3. Emma-Jayne14 April 2011 at 19:52

    Aww shame they are not making another series, my 22 month old loved the whole series :) Looking forward to your new book being finished so I can buy it hehe

    ReplyDelete
  4. Anonymous14 April 2011 at 22:02

    I got really into the whole series and was sad when it ended. It annoys me to learn they are not going to make another series when I look at some of the rubbish that continues to be shown on our screens on a regular basis.

    Anyway, good luck with the second book and I look forward to reading it, along with the updates on here

    ReplyDelete
  5. rescue15 April 2011 at 11:48

    well we could never charge the bbc with making the rite decision so nothing changed there lol.

    The series was great martin maybe one of the other channels will pick up on 2 million viewers
    and remember be nice to your clutch

    ReplyDelete
  6. Mark Beresford15 April 2011 at 15:39

    This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Mark Beresford15 April 2011 at 15:46

    Sorry to hear about the second series, but maybe another TV company will pick up the gauntlet. If you're looking for lighthouses try St Anthony's near St Mawes in Cornwall. (Where Fraggles Rock was based).. Good luck with the new book and keep posting.. :-))

    ReplyDelete
  8. cheapo15 April 2011 at 19:03

    The BeeB may come around, you never know.
    It seems disappointing, but we are left with a real jem of a series. Of which we will enjoy endless repeats on Dave, or wherever and whenever they crop up! And your good self is 'forced' to drive and surf and cook and eat even more intensively than before. :¬D
    Intensive eating! Now there's a phrase!

    ReplyDelete
  9. Honouria15 April 2011 at 19:32

    Such a shame, I got your first book for Christmas and when I saw the show on TV was so excited, learnt so much about the lifestyle just need a camper now, so I can start living it.

    ReplyDelete
  10. DevonMaid15 April 2011 at 23:06

    So disappointed to hear there won't be a second series. One Man and His Campervan was great! A refreshing change from everything else on tv. I loved it!
    No matter...things will work out for the best Martin. Good luck with the trip. Keep us all posted with your progress!
    Can't wait for the second book...!

    ReplyDelete
  11. Anonymous16 April 2011 at 03:42

    well, best of luck in the next endeavor...

    ReplyDelete
  12. Happy Campervanning18 April 2011 at 22:07

    That's a real shame! Maybe you could produce a similar show yourself as an Internet only video podcast (I'm sure some of the camping equipment suppliers would be interested in sponsorship). That's how Robert Llewellen started CarPool and it was soon picked up by Dave.

    Actually, the more I think about this, the more I think it's a great idea. Forget everything I just said, maybe I'll do it myself...

    ReplyDelete
  13. Anonymous26 April 2011 at 18:44

    Shame that there will be no second series but why not do what this guy has done and load up videos for us to watch

    http://campervanculture.com

    ReplyDelete
  14. Michelle2 May 2011 at 16:37

    That's such a shame it was a great series which the whole family could enjoy. My 5 year old loves watching the episodes I still have on the cable box. Is there any chance of it being brought out on DVD?

    ReplyDelete
  15. Nicola McCarthy12 May 2011 at 20:24

    I feel a 'what's wrong with the world' rant coming on! Seriously, with all the absolute rubbish on the box these days, you'd think the twits in TV land would recognise a little gem of a programme and give us more. I loved it and recommended it to several friends. Still, with another book under your belt, who knows what the future holds - please don't give up!

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

What do you call yours? #mycampervaniscalled LOVE!

-
Image
A few weeks ago I (with the help of my friends at the Caravan and Motorhome Club) asked the good people of Twitter and Instagram to tell me what they call their camper vans. Here are the results! There are so many great names - and so many different names - and it proves to me that you lot really are a funny, creative, soulful and joyful bunch. Thank you! I will announce the winner in the next day or so. But please do comment and share. One thing that’s clear in all this is that camper owners LOVE their vans. Whether it’s the number plate that spells Rosbif (handy for breaking the ice on French campsites) or a name that tells you a little about shocking MPG (Juicy Lucy), it seems that every camper needs a name that has a story, a name that tells you how it rolls, a name that celebrate its quirks and foibles or a name that tells you how it feels to drive. If you don't want to read the full list here's the top line... Of the 200 owners who told me their van’s nam
Read more

Countdown to a camper van adventure

-
Image
On Monday 7th February at 6.30pm my TV show, One Man and His Campervan hits BBC2. It's going to be a wierd and wonderful night. It will be the first time that I've appeared in anything like this (apart from being a little blue man in an Erasure video back in 1991) so I haven't a clue what to expect. Will anyone watch? Will anyone like it? Will anyone even notice it was on? I hope so. I also have higher hopes for the TV series: that anyone who watches it will be inspired to fire up the old van/car/bus/bicycle and take a look at Great Britain for themselves. I always knew that there was more to it than just a few great surfing beaches. It's a very cool place. With very cool people. And a lot of very delicious food. You don't even have to be a Michelin starred genius to enjoy it. All you have to do is want something more than beans on toast. Ambitious? Maybe but not really. Although it can sometimes take a little effort to get off the sofa, go to new places and eat ne
Read more
-
Image
 THE INTERVENTION *The story that didn't make it into Take The Slow Road: France The following year. So good we went back. For many, France has been a proving ground for adventure. It’s so close, and yet so far, a foreign country that’s next door, a culture that’s so familiar and yet so different. Getting there is easy, as is escaping if it all goes wrong. It’s safe, with an edge brought by language, misunderstanding and mutual trust and distrust. We are as alien to them as they are to us: incomprehensible, frightening, friendly, fun, playful. So, for the slow road adventurer, especially the new one, it’s perfect. A chance to get far enough away without being so far that an overnight drive couldn’t whisk you straight back home. It was the place myself and so many other young guns, surfers and searchers made their first forays into the forests of Aquitaine or attempts on the girls of Bordeaux. It was wild and free and I loved every moment of it. Mostly. It’s 1985. We’re fresh
Read more