Gavin & Stacey icon reveals key inspiration he took from Claudia Winkleman for ruthless new show
Rob Brydon's outfits are certainly just as suave.
There's a brand new reality series making its way to BBC One and for fans of The Traitors – you're in luck.
Destination X, which comes to screens next week, follows a group of contestants who are left to their own devices to figure out mystery locations as they set out on an unforgettable road trip, with nothing but clues to help them work out where they are.
The 10-part series will have audiences watch on as the contestants try and guess where they are, but for the player who guesses furthest from their actual location, their time in the competition is up.
And while it may sound innocent, there is manipulation at the heart of the show, with twists and turns which could see the contestants turn on each other as they get closer to Destination X.
The series is hosted by Rob Brydon, who has been described as not only the host but also "puppet master", as he guides the cast and audience alike on a thrilling journey. As viewers will see, Brydon's eccentric outfits and witty comebacks are at the heart of the series, and will also pay homage to one beloved presenter.
During a Q&A ahead of the show's release, the Gavin & Stacey and Would I Lie to You? favourite explained that he looked to Claudia Winkleman's hosting capabilities on The Traitors to help him for Destination X.
"I love the lightness of touch there," Brydon told RadioTimes.com and other press. "I love the way she's conjured into the show, I didn't want to get in the way of the show, so I was very aware of that."
He continued: "I wanted to just be the bridge between the viewer and the contestants. People say this, but it's true, they are the stars. Their personalities really come out over the course of the series. And for me now watching that first one [episode], you see the beginnings of relationships and people's characters blossoming."
And he isn't wrong, with the contestants in this series all coming from different walks of life, which could aid them as time goes on – something show bosses weren't afraid of.
Executive producer Dan Adamson explained that it was important to have a "broad and relatable cast".
He told RadioTimes.com and other press: "We were also looking for sort of superpowers, [whether that's] Darren's having the knowledge as a cab driver. Does that give him a kind of ability to memorise things? Nick, having run a marathon in every single country in the world.
"We weren't scared to put good players in. We've got somebody who writes crime fiction so understands about plot twists and turns, a retired detective sergeant. We sort of love the idea that they might have something in them that allows them to play this game, because it's all about deduction [and] observation. We wanted them to be good at it."
Destination X begins on Wednesday 30th July at 9pm on BBC One.
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Authors
Katelyn Mensah is the Senior Entertainment Writer for Radio Times, covering all major entertainment programmes, reality TV shows and the latest hard-hitting documentaries. She previously worked at The Tab, with a focus on reality TV and showbiz news and has obtained a BA (Hons) in Journalism.
