Gef Box: Embracing the TT Buzz… Or Not

If you’re stuck inside the TT course these next couple weeks, here’s some shows to keep you busy.

Susan Calman’s Grand Days Out

Television presenter Susan Calman will be visiting the Isle of Man in the latest episode of her travel series.

She will explore the island’s Viking heritage, visit Tynwald, and sample the highly popular kipper. The show sees the comedian hit the road for her very own grand days out in a vintage campervan to discover scenically stunning road trips.

Tune in at 8pm on Friday, June 2 on Channel 5.

Binge-worthy box sets

The Goes Wrong Show

This gimmick will never get old for me. As suggested in the title, it’s a show that goes wrong… a lot (on purpose, obviously).

A troupe of am-dram actors take on some prestigious productions, all the while trying to stop the sets from crumbling and the actors from slipping up.

I had the brilliant experience of seeing The Play That Goes Wrong live in London a few years ago. It was fantastic in the way it was created and executed. You don’t realise until you’re there how technical and precise everything has to be to ‘go wrong’ and come across that way, while remaining safe for the actors and audience.

Check it out on BBC iPlayer.

Gavin and Stacey

I may be a little biased having been raised on this show, but Gavin and Stacey is the best of the best.

London lad Gavin meets Welsh lass Stacey on the phone and they have been chatting for the last six months. Now they want to be together but will their friends and family let them? The pulling together of two very different families makes for a hilarious time.

Ruth Jones and James Corden created some of the most brilliant characters to ever hit TV, and seeing them on-screen together is pure comedic genius. The writing for this show is unmatched, meshing together the usual tropes with some bizarre personality quirks. You tune in for Gavin and Stacey but stay for literally every other character.

Watch it on iPlayer or BritBox. Here’s one of the most famous scenes, which did the rounds on TikTok not so long ago.

Specials

TT3D: Closer to the Edge

I had to, didn’t I? If you feel like really getting into the TT buzz, this one will do it.

Having worked in a TT shop, I can easily say I’ve seen this tens of times and I still find it nerve-wracking every time watching the bikers take off and race around the course.

Motorcycle racers reveal their motivation to participate each year in the Isle of Man Tourist Trophy, the most dangerous and deadliest event in the sport. It primarily follows Guy Martin but other fan favourites appear throughout this gripping film.

This one’s also on iPlayer.