“Hector san UK” features the Award Winning Travel Presenter, Hector O’hEochagáin making his way through the hills, dales and cityscapes of our nearest neighbour, Great Britain. Hector sets out to explore the similarities and tease out the differences between our nations as he celebrates the many wonderful aspects of British life such as the vibrant music scene, the incredible passion for sport, the stunning landscapes and the throbbing cities. This is a real gem so close to Home.

Great Britain and Ireland have been inextricably linked for centuries, and share a rich cultural heritage. In the new series, Hector wants to explore the similarities, and tease out the differences between our nations, and to celebrate the many wonderful aspects of British life, the vibrant music scene, the incredible passion for sport, the stunning landscapes, the throbbing cities.

Beginning in the Highland Town of Inverness, Hector makes his way South through Edinburgh and Glasgow, crossing Hadrian’s Wall and into Newcastle. It’s off down next by the Eastern Coast to Hull and then he cuts West to take in Blackpool, Liverpool, Manchester and Bradford.

Checking out the Midlands he travels through Leicester, Coventry and Stoke-on- Trent before heading into Wales and venturing Southwards to Cardiff.

Once he crosses the Severn River into Somerset he makes his way to Torquay and then on the Final Leg of the Trip he heads for Southampton and the Isle of Wight before finishing up in London City ….

He meets loads of Celebrities along the way from the Members of Big Country to Phil Taylor, the Darts Supremo to Geoff Capes the former Strongest man in the World to David Icke the former Grandstand BBC Presenter with an amazing story to tell, Driving around with Michael Eaves the farmer behind the Lands of Glastonbury, Drinking Cider with Chris Jagger, Mick’s Younger Brother, to hanging out with Joe Calzaghe, the World Champion Boxer, Levi Routes, the Star of the Dragon’s Den on the BBC, dancing with the Famous Geordie Dancer Star of Sky Sports and Newcastle … The list goes on and on ….

His trip is full of activity from wearing his kilt proudly in the Highlands of Scotland, Meeting the creators of Dandy and Beano, Walking the Holy Ground of Carnoustie where Pádraig Harrington won the British Open, Sparring with Ultimate Fighter Michael Bisping in Liverpool, Going to an away match in London with FC United of Manchester, Checking out the Magic of Dynamo on the Streets of Bradford, Building Taxis in Coventry, Checking out the Toilets of Stoke, Meeting the Miners in the Big Pits of Wales, Walking the Streets of Newport with Goldie Lookin Chain and finding a mad Elvis in the Mountains, Checking out the Crop Circles around Stonehenge with the Stone Seeker, Becoming a Chap for a day in London and joining up with the Mods in Carnaby Street …

Hector san UK will be a very entertaining and inspiring trip with Hector through the United Kingdom as he casts aside our history and in his own irreverent and youthful way, enjoys the Present Day UK …

Hector san UK / TG4 / 2008

Clár 1 : TX 10.01.08

UK Hector begins in the Highlands of Scotland as Hector makes his way from Inverness down South along the Angus Coast to Dundee. Linking up with some Irish Bus Drivers he wonders how the Scots have got away with this “scam” of the Lough Ness Monster; He gets kitted out in a kilt and walks the Streets of Inverness and flashes the Locals; Goes in search of Minestrone Soup at the home of Baxters Soup in Fochabers and then onwards he goes to Aberdeen to meet up with idols of his youth, the famous Scottish Band, Big Country.

Next he’s on the road heading south to Arbroath and meeting the Local Fishermen and tasting the Local Arbroath Smokies before finally meeting up with Desperate Dan and Dennis the Menace at the birthplace of Beano and Dandy in Dundee …

Clár 2 : TX 17.01.08

When Pádraig Harrington won the British Open Golf Championship in 2007 at Carnoustie, it was one of the greatest moments in Irish Sport … Hector returns to the course to walk the 72nd Hole where Padraig almost lost it all and takes us back in his own irreverent style shot by shot … Next he’s off across the Forth Bridge into Edinburgh to do a spot of “Flairing” and to meet up with the “Krankies”, the Scottish Comic Duo and onward to Glasgow where he has a crack at some piping. He then begins his journey South crossing the famous Hadrian ’s Wall into England and havin a good old bacon butty on the side of the road to celebrate his entry to good Old England …. Next stop is Newcastle as he checks out St.James’ Park, stands tall beside the “Angel of the North”, has some craic with the local ladies and has a pint and a dance with the famous Geordie Dancer …..

Clár 3 : TX 24.01.08

Hector now hops over to the West Coast and into Lancashire and into the Brit’s favourite Holiday Spot, Blackpool. He meets the locals, buys rock candy, joins in with a lunatic who’s trying to set a World Record on a Rollercoaster in Pleasure Beach and gets a chance to call the Balls at the Mecca Bingo with the local ladies.

He’s on the road again as he heads Eastwards for Yorkshire linking up with the amazing Dynamo the magician in Bradford, to get the inside track on life there but before he knows it he’s stopping the traffic and collecting the Tolls on the Humber Bridge and chatting up the local Bobbies in the City of Hull. It’s them a trip of another 60 miles even further East to Spurn Point where he meets up with the men of the RNLA lifeguard who guard the treacherous waters of the North Sea ….

Clár 4 : TX 31.01.08

Next stop for Hector is Merseyside where he meets up with Xabi Alonso in Liverpool Football Club, a man who has a bit of Meath in him and then it’s off to spar with Ultimate Fighting Champion Michael Bisping who takes no prisoners and proceeds to clatter him.

On board his personal Barge he now heads down the Canal to the grounds of Old Trafford in Manchester where he bows his head in adoration …He hangs out on the streets with the locals and with a slight hunger on him he hits the Curry Mile where he cooks up a hot one and makes friends and dances with the locals …

You might have expected him to link up with his heroes at Manchester United but instead he meets up with FC United the Soccer Club that was set up by the supporters in opposition to the American Glazer takeover at United and decides to go with them to an away match but manages to end up in London at Wimbledon FC where he has a wild old time … However he knows that next week he’ll be back up in the Midlands once again.

Clár 5 : TX 07.02.08

Half way through his epic trip through the UK, Hector’s down the Midlands now as he links up with Darts Supremo Phil Taylor, Eats some local oatcakes in Stoke on Trent and checks out the making of the Toilets in the Town of the Potteries. Next he’s off to Coventry to see where the famous London Cabs are built, then he’s linking up with a man called Manjit in Leicester where they spend some time blowing up hot water bottles before finally heading up to Grantham where he arm wrestles with once strongest man in the World, Geoff Capes who now farms Budgies for a living !

Clár 6 : TX 14.02.08

Crossing into Wales aboard a Barge and via an aquaduct, Hector is taken by the rugged beauty of Wales with its Mountains and Lakes. He meets up with some local lads who teach him the Local Welsh Lingo, Goes to the home of Ifor Williams famous Trailers that every farmer in Ireland owns and then heads to the Big Pit to meet the Local Miners. Between linking up with Goldie Lookin Chain on the Streets of Newport, checking out the Bog Snorkellers in the Valleys and meeting an unusual Elvis in the Hills, Hector caps it off by heading to Cardiff and the Millenium Stadium and linking up with World Champion Boxer, Joe Calzaghe.

Clár 7 : TX 21.02.08

Hector is now in Somerset and he is so enjoying it. He passes through Glastonbury and links up with the Local Hippies on the Streets but then meets up with the man who owns and still farms the Lands of Glastonbury Festival Michael Eaves. Next up he’s drinking Cider with a local farmer in his shed and bumps into Chris Jagger, Mick’s Brother who lives down the Road. Next up he heads for Taunton for a spot of Cricket dropping in to Avesbury along the way to see the latest Crop Circles. But he’s on the Road again very soon heading for Southampton and the Isle of Wight where he has good old natter with David Icke, the Former Grandstand Presenter with a mad mad story !

Clár 8 : TX 28.02.08

Hector arrives in London in style as he power boats down the Thames on the last leg of his amazing trip through the UK. Rising high on the Iconic London Eye he gazes out over the city before he makes his way out to meet Levi Roots, star of BBC’s Dragon’s Den, hangs out with the Mods on Carnaby Street, and dresses up as a Chap for a Day at the Chap Olympics.