James' journey begins on the sunny shores of Sicily, a fascinating island that's been fought over for millennia. Here, where cultures collide under the shadow of Mount Etna, James explores the simple pleasures that have sustained people for generations, such as chopping bits off statues, Canoe Polo, and bagpipes.
In the beautiful, rural south of the mainland, James is forced to confront a vision of hell courtesy of Dante's Inferno, and a goat that urgently needs milking. The Amalfi Coast offers some much-needed respite before he dives headfirst into the breathless, chaotic, sea of humanity that is the city of Naples.
All roads lead to Rome, so it was inevitable James would end up in Italy's magnificent capital. However, it's not just Romans and ruins, James also goes on a bus, meets another version of himself, and looks at something too small to see.
James travels from Tokyo to the ancient capital of Kyoto, where a robot guide shows him its temples and shrines; James joins a biker gang for a spin around Mount Fuji; he is entertained by a Geisha who treats him to a traditional tea ceremony.
James arrives by speedboat in Osaka, where he has a go at pachinko and blows his winnings on octopus balls and Kobe beef; James and his guide perform jokes to a comedy audience; James visits a sumo wrestling stable and the Itsukushima Shrine.
In Milan, James submits to a wardrobe update, tries his hand at some exquisite craftsmanship, and bids goodbye to an old friend. Next stop: Venice, by land, air, and lagoon. While in the Dolomites James finds the darker side of Christmas.
James May
Host
Tom Whitter
Director
Producer
Writer
