Giles Wemmbley-Hogg Goes Off

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Giles Wemmbley-Hogg Goes Off is a British radio comedy from BBC Radio 4, written by Marcus Brigstocke, Jeremy Salsby and Graeme Garden.

[edit] Format

The show follows the travel adventures of title character Giles Wemmbley-Hogg ("Two M's, two G's"), a nice but somewhat dim upper-middle class ex-public school boy played by co-writer Brigstocke. Giles is on a gap year before University, and he records his (mis)adventures with his portable digital recorder, in places such as Bolivia, India, and Egypt. Throughout the series he does somehow graduate, albeit with a 2:2 in Canadian Studies.

Themes in this comedy are Giles's naivety, and small-mindedness, with his frequent (and usually inapt) comparisons with life back in his native Budleigh Salterton. However, he is a sympathetic fool and clearly does not mean any harm. (Broadly similar characters are Harry Enfield's Tim Nice-But-Dim, and Bertie Wooster.) It is interesting to note that on 9 April 2006, Brigstocke appeared in BBC Radio 4's Classic Serial adaptation of The Code of the Woosters as Bertie Wooster with Andrew Sachs as Jeeves.

During most of the year you can listen to the show online in the 'Comedy and Quizzes' section of the BBC radio on demand website.

[edit] Episodes

Series 1

1.1 The Sudan Giles' first trip sees him going off to Sudan for some fishing.

1.2 Beijing For his Duke of Edinburgh award, Giles decides to rebuild the Great wall of China.

1.3 Boliva Giles goes on a jungle trek in search of a rare bird species.

1.4 The Arctic Giles gets stuck on the ice cap and has to stay in a research station.

1.5 Moscow With the Budleigh Salterton Donkey Sanctuary in mind, Giles plans to ride from England to Russia on a racing tandom with his friend Toby.

1.6 Thailand On a spiritual journey, Giles goes to Thailand to find himself... and his rucksack.

Series 2

2.1 Tanzania Now at university doing Canadian studies, Giles decides to visit his sponsored child in Tanzania.

2.2 Germany After his sister pulls a sickie, Giles decides to step in and go on a German exchange.

2.3 Cuba As a part of Socialist Soc., Giles goes to Cuba to find inspiration.

2.4 Egypt In a bid to twin Cairo with his native Budleigh Salterton, Giles visits the Egyptian capital to see if it is up to standard.

2.5 India Giles has made the Durham University cricket team, and subsequetly goes on tour with them.

2.6 New Zealand To stop the love of his life from marrying someone else, Giles goes all the way to New Zealand in an attempt to stop the wedding.

Series 3

3.1 Scotland After gaining his degree in Canadian Studies, Giles looks for work, firstly on an oil rig.

3.2 Tokyo The next step in Giles' career sees him go to Tokyo and work in the stock market.

3.3 France Giles becomes a chalet girl in a French skiing resort.

3.4 Russia Giles becomes fourth cultural attache to Vienna, and accompanies a geordie "dancing prodigy" across Europe.

3.5 Haiti Giles helps build a home for CHAVS.

3.6 Ireland In an attempt to become a journalist, Giles becomes a nanny, and takes the children to Ireland.

Series 4

4.1 Giles Wemmbley-Hogg zum Fussballweltmeisterschaft weg (Part 1)

4.2 Giles Wemmbley-Hogg zum Fussballweltmeisterschaft weg (Part 2)

4.3 Giles Wemmbley-Hogg zum Fussballweltmeisterschaft weg (Part 3)

The first series is available on CD and iTunes. Series 4, Giles Wemmbley-Hogg zum Fussballweltmeisterschaft weg!, covers the 2006 FIFA World Cup and featured Giles visiting Germany for the contest, despite not knowing anything about football. It is only available on the iTunes Music Store

• Own site