Giles Wemmbley Hogg Goes Off
Giles Wemmbley-Hogg Goes Off: The Complete s1-5
Meet Giles Wemmbley Hogg 2m’s, 2g’s. Traveller, backpacker, ethnologist, fearless investigator of cultural diversity, and upper middle-class student ponce from Budleigh Salterton.
On April 25th 2001, the first Giles script was recorded. It has always been done in the same way - on ”location” on Wimbledon Common, which has wide open spaces, forest and undergrowth and water for the various exteriors and a nice pub for the interiors.
Marcus Brigstocke had been doing the character as stand-up for a number of years, but he and co-writer Jeremy Salsby were convinced there was a longer-form idea in the character. They also had the damned good sense to ask Graeme Garden to join the writing team.
Pilot & Series 1
The pilot - where Giles goes off to the Sudan - was inspired by a radio “Documentary Feature” about a London accountant who had given up her job to search for a half-mythical Borneo ape-man called, if memory serves, “Oran Pendek”. It was in the form of an audio diary, complete with creaky buses, rain, close-whispered monologues and “authentic” natives and it unwittingly formed the template for a typical Giles episode.
The first six episodes starred, amongst others, Burt Kwouk, Rebecca Front, Neil Dudgeon, Tom Goodman-Hill and Doon Mackichan (“Smack The Pony”), who played Arabella, Giles’s on-off girlfriend. In subsequent series, Arabella was played by Catherine Tate.
Highlights of the first series included Giles’ fight with a flock of flamingos, sharing a blubber-based meal with a friendly Inuit, accidentally knocking over the entire Terracotta Army like a row of dominos and having a ping-pong ball-based encounter in Thailand whilst seeking out the local dance culture.
Series 2
In this series, the story had moved on. Giles was no longer in his Gap year, but studying at the University of both Bristol and Durham due to a slip-up on the old ACAS form. He was also doing Canadian Studies.
In this series, he went, amongst other places, to Germany to discover the Munich OktoberFest, to Cuba to become a socialist and to surf on a giant banana and to Tanzania to save the giraffe, although it didn't particularly need saving before Giles arrived on the scene.
The series climaxed with a dramatic dash round the world to New Zealand to try and stop his former girlfriend, Arabella’s wedding to some lucky Kiwi. In a cliffhanger ending, Arabella (now played by Catherine Tate) returns to Budleigh Salterton alongside her Gilesy.
Other stars of the second series included David Mitchell, Nina Wadia (“Goodness Gracious Me”) and Olivia Colman (“Peep Show”).
Series 3
Two years later, and Giles has graduated. Proudly bearing his low 2.2 in Canadian Studies, he wanders into a bunch of jobs that his father, Peter Wemmbley Hogg (“same spelling”) rigs up for him including, variously, working on an Oil Rig, working as a Trader in the Japanese Stock Market, becoming a Chalet Girl in the French Alps and finally, travelling to Ireland in the hope of becoming a journalist and marrying Arabella, but ending up as a nanny.
Highlights of the series included Giles being locked in a decompression chamber with a farting Geordie, Giles at an excruciating Businessmen’s’ meal in Tokyo dining off a nude lady (“Bags I do the washing up!”), and Giles setting off an avalanche with an avalanche alarm.
Joining Marcus in this series were, amongst others, James Fleet, Jessica Hynes, Neil Dudgeon, Miranda Hart (“Hyperdrive”) and once again, Catherine Tate as Arabella.
Giles Wemmbley Hogg Geht Zum FussballWeltmeisterSchaft
In June 2006, we took the opportunity to create a three-part Giles Word Cup special where he travels to Germany to get some peace and quiet, because, as he puts it - “Germany's always pretty peaceful, except when they're at war obviously, but other than that it's a bit less busy than the rest of Europe, probably because it's not as nice.”
Along the way, Giles loses the World Cup, wins back the heart of his now-fiancée Arabella and gets the entire Iranian football squad drunk on fermented apple juice. He also kills an owl in the Black Forest with a tent toggle. It’s a long story.
Also returning in this series was Giles regular Tom Goodman-Hill, as his ever-enterprising and white collar criminal Old Carthusian school chum, Puffy Lympstone-Gough.
The third episode also boasted the now-legendary “Cutlery Song”.
The three shows won the Sony (Silver) Award in 2007.
Giles Wemmbley Hogg Goes Off... To Glastonbury
Summer 2006, and Budleigh Salterton’s most famous citizen, traveller and worldly guru comes home to Glastonbury in a whirlwind cultural celebration of utter British daftness, eccentricity, myth and glory, reporting back as if it was a foreign country, complete with his reactions to the music, the mayhem, the mud and the endless endless hummous.
Recorded at the same time as the Television Glastonbury special, but with a different script, the story revolves around a Cornish Pastie franchise, Shirley Bassey, a stomach bug and a very boring man called Merlin. And ends with a little tribute to The Wicker Man.
Series 4
He’s back! But this time, he’s got a computer! Budleigh Salterton’s most famous citizen has been grounded by both the Home Office and his father, so he’s set up GWH Travvel ("2m's 2g's 2v's, bit of a mix up at the printers").
Run from his bedroom in Budleigh Salterton, with the help of his ex-Primary School teacher Mr. Timmis and the hindrance of his sister Charlotte, it's a one-stop Travel/Advice/Events Management/Website service, where each week, his schemes range far and wide - whether it's roaming the country lecturing would-be overlanders on how to pack a rucksack ("If in doubt, put it in. And double it"), or finding someone a zebra for a corporate promotion ("I'll look in the Phone Book - how hard can it be? Now, "A to D".....), GWH Travvel stays true to its motto - "We go there, so you won't want to".
Highlights of the series include a trip to Greece to rescue some GWH Travv punters that he’d accidentally put in harm’s way, an Agatha Christie-style septuagenarian hen night Murder on the Orient Express, a Vegas Road Trip involving an unexpectedly powerful jacuzzi and some sparkly Germans and in the Xmas Special, a magical fairytale involving his girlfriend Bella, her ghastly mother and Neil Diamond.
Joining Marcus in this series were, amongst others, Celia Imrie, Alison Steadman, Morwenna Banks and, once again reprising her role, Catherine Tate as Bella.
Series 5
This series aired in Winter 2011 and continued the adventures of Giles and Wemmbley Hogg Travvel assisted, as ever by his sister Charlotte (Catherine Shepherd) mad Mr Timmis - for this series played by Vincent Franklin, while Adrian Scarborough was off filming “Upstairs Downstairs” for the duration.
In the first of the four adventures - featuring Rebecca Front - when an American mogul tries to buy up every last pebble in lovely Budleigh, Giles decides to run for Mayor. Meanwhile Charlotte goes on a tent protest....
In episode two - Giles has become Mayor of Budleigh Salterton, but when he accidentally enters an Iron Man triathlon in Spain, he has to enlist the help of , a tub of mysterious white powder , a donkey and Neil Diamond. Plus this show features Mitch Benn ("The Now Show") and his amazing Spanish accent!
In episode three (co-starring Laura Solon & Ben Willbond), Giles tries to put Budleigh Salterton on the gastronomic map, and inadvertently serves up a full-scale biohazard lockdown instead. Yumsk!
In the fourth and final episode, Giles travels to Turkmenistan, where he meets some leftover post-Soviet rocket fuel. What could possibly go wrong? And how will he react to the world’s first weightless pastie?
Giles Wemmbley Hogg Goes Off... Article 50
In March 2019, the culmination of the UK punching itself firmly in the cock meant that the nation looked to one man to sort out the Brexit mess - Giles WH, the only man alive with more 'g's in his name than Jacob Rees-Mogg. This special one-off, broadcast the night before Britain was due to leave the EU saw Giles go to Brussels under secret instructions from his patriotic godfather (played by Alexander Armstrong) to save Mr Figgis's Budleigh Fudgery from almost certain closure...
Giles Wemmbley Hogg Goes Off
Pilot & Series 1
Show 1
"The Sudan"
First Tx: 16/7/02 18.30-19.00
Meet Giles Wemmbley Hogg 2m’s, 2g’s. Traveller, backpacker, fearless investigator of cultural diversity, and upper middle-class student ponce from Budleigh Salterton. In his gap year between school and University, Giles travels far and wide along the student trail from Beijing to Bolivia by way of Thailand and the North Pole. Each week, with his trusty portable DAT and his Charterhouse rugby shirt, Giles travels to far-off foreign lands, and records his adventures for the benefit of the Radio 4 listener. And each week, he makes a thumping great prat of himself.
This week, Giles goes off to ... The Sudan because he’s heard the fishing is good. Along the way, he accidentally spears a chicken, accidentally digs a big hole, accidentally bumps into a lakeful of flamingos and accidentally bumps into what can only be described... as Sandi Toksvig.
Starring | |
Giles Wemmbley Hogg | Marcus Brigstocke |
and featuring - | |
Ibrahim | Nadim Sawalha |
Fatima | Shadia Ibrahim |
Policeman | Raad Rawi |
Taxi Man | Essam Edriss |
Fiona | Emma Pierson |
Sven | Dave Lamb |
Herself | Sandi Toksvig |
Written & conceived by | Marcus Brigstocke |
& | Jeremy Salsby |
with additional material by | Graeme Garden |
Produced & directed by | David Tyler |
Show 2
"China"
First Tx: 23/7/02 18.30-19.00
In this episode, Giles is off to China, to help mend the Great Wall, sample the delights of genuine Chinese cuisine and wear a very big Mongolian hat. On the way, he’ll win the hundred metres, rugby tackle a bicycle and experience a nasty incident with a loose chopstick. You can also hear the sound of a man accidentally toppling 6000 terracotta statues and then eating a Mah Jongg tile as Giles Wemmbley Hogg Goes Off... to China
Starring | |
Giles Wemmbley Hogg | Marcus Brigstocke |
and featuring - | |
Chin | Burt Kwouk |
Mrs. Chin | Shirley Chantrell |
Wan | Lobo Chan |
Geoff Wemmbley Hogg | Neil Dudgeon |
Tan | Daphne Cheung |
Written & conceived by | Marcus Brigstocke |
& | Jeremy Salsby |
with additional material by | Graeme Garden |
Produced & directed by | David Tyler |
Show 3
"Bolivia"
First Tx: 30/7/02 18.30-19.00
In this episode, Giles is discovered in the Bolivian rainforest, in search of the mythical bird known as Tuktuk Chupchaka. Along the way, he’ll be machine-gunned by loggers, tip his canoe into the Amazon, shoot an innocent monkey and break up an international cocaine ring with a spoon and a length of elastic. All without taking off his Charterhouse rugger shirt. Hear the sound of a man having a pisco sour, as Giles Wemmbley Hogg Goes Off ... to Bolivia
Starring | |
Giles Wemmbley Hogg | Marcus Brigstocke |
and featuring - | |
Puffy Lympstone-Gough | Tom Goodman-Hill |
Harriet Gloucester | Rebecca Front |
Juan | Arturo Venegas |
Juanita | Steffanie Pitt |
Jailor | Xevi Fernandez |
Written & conceived by | Marcus Brigstocke |
& | Jeremy Salsby |
with additional material by | Graeme Garden |
Produced & directed by | David Tyler |
Show 4
"The Arctic"
First Tx: 6/8/02 18.30-19.00
In this episode Giles finds himself trapped on the Arctic Ice with nothing but a stick of Pepperami for comfort. He has to deal with the endless cold, the ever-present threat of polar bears, a painstaking Science research project and lack of sunlight, but worst of all, one of the team is an American. Along the way, Giles acquires a taste for Maktak, a traditional Inuit delicacy, meets a whale and gets frostbite in a difficult place, as Giles Wemmbley Hogg Goes Off… to The Arctic
Starring | |
Giles Wemmbley Hogg | Marcus Brigstocke |
and featuring - | |
Bjorn | Paul Shearer |
Helga | Melanie Giedroyc |
Judith | Lorelei King |
Glenn | Clive Russell |
Annowalk | Kerry Shale |
Kim | Daphne Cheung |
Written & conceived by | Marcus Brigstocke |
& | Jeremy Salsby |
with additional material by | Graeme Garden |
Produced & directed by | David Tyler |
Show 5
"Moscow"
First Tx: 13/8/02 18.30-19.00
In this episode, Giles abandons his feet and decides to go by pedal power, using nothing less than a solo-powered tandem and a pair of rather skimpsy cycle shorts. He’s going to ride all the way to Moscow to raise money for Budleigh Salterton Donkey Sanctuary with nothing more than a blow-up globe for comfort. Along the way, he’ll meet Russians, Croats, Italians, a dinner lady from Taunton and the entire Tour De France, but unfortunately coming the other way. Plus a game of boules that inadvertently knocks out a Frenchman. So not a complete disaster then, as Giles Wemmbley Hogg Goes Off... to Moscow
Starring | |
Giles Wemmbley Hogg | Marcus Brigstocke |
and featuring - | |
Ivan | Jack Klaff |
Mrs. Buntstick | Amanda Walker |
Customs Officer | Morgan Jones |
Waitress | Flip Webster |
Maria | Flaminia Cinque |
The Boules Man | Toby Sedgwick |
Vatroslav | Rad Lazar |
Written and conceived by | Marcus Brigstocke |
& | Jeremy Salsby |
with additional material by | Graeme Garden |
Produced & directed by | David Tyler |
Show 6
"Thailand"
First Tx: 20/8/02 18.30-19.00
In this episode, Giles has decided to find himself by going off to… to Thailand. Within hours of landing, he finds himself, but loses his rucksack. And where is the mysterious beach that all travellers talk about? Follow Giles as he crosses oceans, treks across mountains, dives through a waterfall and gets shot at in a hemp field all to reach the land of his dreams. As well as his rucksack.
Starring | |
Giles Wemmbley Hogg | Marcus Brigstocke |
and featuring - | |
The Beach Seller | Lobo Chan |
The Dancer | Daphne Cheung |
Miles | Chris Lang |
Gareth | Andy Taylor |
Arabella | Doon Mackichan |
Charles | Oliver Chris |
Fenella | Sophie Prideaux |
Chucky | Matt Rippy |
Todd | Adam Long |
Written and conceived by | Marcus Brigstocke |
& | Jeremy Salsby |
with additional material by | Graeme Garden |
Produced & directed by | David Tyler |
Series 2
Show 1
"Tanzania"
First Tx: 15/10/03 18.30-19.00
In this episode, Giles is now a student at the Universities of both Bristol and Durham, (due to a bit of a slip on his UCAS form)/ In the first of his tapes, he travels to Tanzania in an attempt to Save The Giraffe, one of the world’s entirely non-endangered species. Hear how he grapples with a death-dealing tortoise, shouts at some rocks and ends up eating a South African man’s belt as Giles Wemmbley Hogg Goes Off... to Tanzania
Starring | |
Giles Wemmbley Hogg | Marcus Brigstocke |
and featuring - | |
George | Connie M'Gadzah |
Koeman | Frank Lazarus |
Headmaster | Earl Cameron |
Brenda | Mouna Albakry |
Ken | Mac McDonald |
Lisa | Abi Eniola |
Dave | Dan Clark |
Benjamin | Franky Mwangi |
Written and conceived by | Marcus Brigstocke |
and | Jeremy Salsby |
with additional material by | Graeme Garden |
Produced & directed by | David Tyler |
Show 2
"Germany"
First Tx: 22/10/03 18.30-19.00
In this episode, Giles experiences the thrill and excitement of the semi-industrialized plains of Northern. He’s on his way to find the Munich Oktoberfest in the company of his University LagerSoc, but on the way, he encounters a pink Barbie bike, a pile of chops, some rather tight lederhosen, and a German man telling a joke so unfunny that Giles has to dig a tunnel to escape - as Giles Wemmbley Hogg Goes Off... to Germany
Starring | |
Giles Wemmbley Hogg | Marcus Brigstocke |
and featuring - | |
Herr Sostburg | George Layton |
Frau Sostburg | Sheila Steafel |
Brigitte | Britta Gartner |
Klaus | Erich Redman |
Clive | Tony Gardner |
Jonno | Roger Morlidge |
Pete | Richard Turner |
Written and conceived by | Marcus Brigstocke |
& | Jeremy Salsby |
with additional material by | Graeme Garden |
Produced & directed by | David Tyler |
Show 3
"Cuba"
First Tx: 29/10/03 18.30-19.00
This episode, Giles is off to the island of Cuba to study the deep political philosophies of Revolutionary Socialism, and get to ride on a big inflatable banana. Along the way, he’ll be trying to roll a cigar on his thighs, trying out the national dish of some rice followed by some beans followed by some other rice, and refusing to kiss Fidel Castro until he shaves off his beard. “Cuba is a magical land where you can almost hear the cigars growing” says Giles, as he Goes Off… to Cuba
Starring | |
Giles Wemmbley Hogg | Marcus Brigstocke |
and featuring - | |
Professor Sampera | Edward De Souza |
Henrietta | Olivia Colman |
Tony | Sean McKenzie |
Miguel | Bart Ruspoli |
Conchita | Rebecca Santos |
Xavier | Arturo Venegas |
Written and conceived by | Marcus Brigstocke |
& | Jeremy Salsby |
with additional material by | Graeme Garden |
Produced & directed by | David Tyler |
Show 4
"Egypt"
First Tx: 5/11/03 18.30-19.00
In this episode, Giles travels to the land of the pharaohs, on a top-level mission to offer Cairo the once-in-a-lifetime chance to be twinned with Budleigh Salterton, East Devon’s third prettiest coastal town. Along the way, he unleashes a deadly Pharaoh’s curse, hears the tale of the legendary one they call Pe-ter U-stin-ov and tries to find the place were Cleopatra killed herself with a wasp. All this, plus a tombola, some hummus and a 2000psi water cannon as Giles Wemmbley Hogg Goes Off... to Egypt
Starring | |
Giles Wemmbley Hogg | Marcus Brigstocke |
and featuring - | |
Mustapha | Raad Rawi |
Joyce | Rowena Cooper |
Mr Hassan | TJ Ramini |
Lynda | Matilda Ziegler |
Mildred | Eryl Maynard |
Tourist Official | Souad Faress |
Written and conceived by | Marcus Brigstocke |
& | Jeremy Salsby |
with additional material by | Graeme Garden |
Produced & directed by | David Tyler |
Show 5
"India"
First Tx: 12/11/03 18.30-19.00
In this episode, Giles has a torrid time as he travels to India to find peace and enlightenment and to play for the Durham First XI on their cricket tour. As Roger Kipling said, in his famous 'What If?' stories:
If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster,
And treat those two imposters just the same,
If you pick a paw-paw, or a prickly pear,
And you prick a raw paw, well next time beware!
… as Giles Wemmbley Hogg Goes Off… to India
Starring | |
Giles Wemmbley Hogg | Marcus Brigstocke |
and featuring - | |
Mr Kadesh | Bhasker Patel |
Asha | Nina Wadia |
Yogi Ramacharaka | |
Thomas | Matt Rippy |
David | David Mitchell |
Tenzin | Saraj Chaudhry |
Written and conceived by | Marcus Brigstocke |
& | Jeremy Salsby |
with additional material by | Graeme Garden |
Produced & directed by | David Tyler |
Show 6
"New Zealand"
First Tx: 19/11/03 18.30-19.00
In this final episode of the series, Giles straddles the globe as he travels to New Zealand, in search of his long-lost girlfriend Arabella. It’s a tale of passion, romance and bungee jumping, as Giles finds out the meaning of both true love and Extreme Rugby, although not at the same time. It’s all big Down Under as Giles Wemmbley Hogg Goes Off… to New Zealand
Starring | |
Giles Wemmbley Hogg | Marcus Brigstocke |
and featuring - | |
Arabella | Catherine Tate |
Mrs. Wells | Richenda Carey |
Gregg | Damien Lyne |
Josh | Richard Dillane |
Stevo | Toby Fisher |
Jennifer | Stella Duffy |
Saskia | Sophie Winkleman |
Written and conceived by | Marcus Brigstocke |
& | Jeremy Salsby |
with additional material by | Graeme Garden |
Produced & directed by | David Tyler |
Series 3
Show 1
"Oil Rig"
First Tx: 25/1/05 18.30-19.00
Giles has graduated from University, with a first! He’s actually the first person ever to have finished a course in Canadian Studies, and now he’s on the job market and looking for anyone who’ll have him.
In this episode, Giles tries his hand on board an oilrig in the Cromarty Firth, where he mis-hears the word “roustabout” with unfortunate consequences and decides to become a roundabout. Along the way, he’ll tumble-dry an oilskin and, quite literally, throw a spanner in the works, plus what to do if you’re trapped in a decompression chamber with a farting Geordie
Starring | |
Giles Wemmbley Hogg | Marcus Brigstocke |
and featuring - | |
Ali McDoad | James Fleet |
Tracy | Jessica Hynes |
Sandy | Robert Harley |
Andy | John Bett |
Sven | Martin Wenner |
Mum | Faith Kent |
Written & conceived by | Marcus Brigstocke |
& | Jeremy Salsby |
with additional material by | Graeme Garden |
Produced & directed by | David Tyler |
Show 2
"Japan"
First Tx: 1/2/05 18.30-19.00
In this episode, Giles joins the cutthroat hotshot world of International Finance and has a go at shipbroking, breaking quite a few before he’s put on a different desk. Plus he discovers that the deadly Japanese fugu fish is actually slightly less dangerous than Greasy Mike’s rock salmon in Budleigh High Street…
Starring | |
Giles Wemmbley Hogg | Marcus Brigstocke |
and featuring - | |
Simon | Robert Daws |
Caroline | Matilda Ziegler |
Noriko | Naoko Mori |
Mr. Oligato | Kenji Watanabe |
Tony | Rufus Jones |
Tepanyaki Chef | Dai Tabuchi |
Receptionist | Toshie Ogura |
Written & conceived by | Marcus Brigstocke |
& | Jeremy Salsby |
with additional material by | Graeme Garden |
Produced & directed by | David Tyler |
Show 3
"Chalet Girl"
First Tx: 8/2/05 18.30-19.00
In this episode, Giles grasps a stein of hot Gluhwein and a cowbell and takes to the ski slopes as he tries his hand at being a chalet girl. His responsibilities include cooking, cleaning, ski-guiding and boiling up the fondue, and if that sounds like a recipe for disaster then imagine him trying to do all that, but in French. Plus the sound of a man trying to get on a fast-moving ski-lift for over eight hours…
Starring | |
Giles Wemmbley Hogg | Marcus Brigstocke |
and featuring - | |
Mme Duval | Kate Dûchene |
Tim Patterson | Adam G Goodwin |
Nicki Patterson | Katy Brand |
Charlotte Patterson | Amy Enticknap |
Jeremy De Montfort | Dan Clark |
Sophie De Montfort | Sophie Winkleman |
Mr Buntstick | Gresby Nash |
Pascal | Toby Sedgwick |
Written & conceived by | Marcus Brigstocke |
& | Jeremy Salsby |
with additional material by | Graeme Garden |
Produced & directed by | David Tyler |
Show 4
"The Ballet Tour"
First Tx: 15/2/05 18.30-19.00
In this episode, Giles’s mum has met someone who works for the British Council at her Pilates Class and has pulled a few strings. But despite that, Giles is now charged with bringing a touring version of Swan Lake all the way from St. Stalinsberg to London via Vienna, some smuggled ballet shoes, a large rotating swan and Billy Elliot. And an episode in Minsk General Hospital, no doubt named after the Russian War Hero, General Minsk
Starring | |
Giles Wemmbley Hogg | Marcus Brigstocke |
and featuring - | |
Sergei | Jack Klaff |
Anna | Debbie Chazen |
Darren | Craig Heaney |
Leonid | Erich Redman |
Leonid | Yuri Klimov |
Tatiana | Larissa Kouznetsova |
Written & conceived by | Marcus Brigstocke |
& | Jeremy Salsby |
with additional material by | Graeme Garden |
Produced & directed by | David Tyler |
Show 5
"Haiti"
First Tx: 22/2/05 18.30-19.00
In this episode, Giles has decided to his bit for global charity as he embarks on a Love/Haiti relationship. After dreadful storms and flooding, he’s been sent to Haiti. That's "Crisis Haiti Aid Volunteers". Because, as Giles says, “Wherever there is poverty, suffering and violence you can be sure Chavs will be involved”...
Starring | |
Giles Wemmbley Hogg | Marcus Brigstocke |
and featuring - | |
Marianne | Llewella Gideon |
Jean | Don Gilet |
George | Ram John Holder |
Liz | Vicki Pepperdine |
Bob | Stuart Milligan |
Daniella | Alison Senior |
The Houngan | Babou Ceesay |
Written and conceived by | Marcus Brigstocke |
& | Jeremy Salsby |
with additional material by | Graeme Garden |
Produced & directed by | David Tyler |
Show 6
"Ireland"
First Tx: 1/3/05 18.30-19.00
In this final episode of the series, Giles has decided he wants to become a journalist, and ends up being a nanny. On an eventful trip to Ireland, he cons his girlfriend Arabella, is sick in a Merc, falls in a lake while proposing and runs over a peacock.
Starring | |
Giles Wemmbley Hogg | Marcus Brigstocke |
and featuring - | |
Arabella | Catherine Tate |
David McAlpine | Neil Dudgeon |
Mrs. McAlpine | Miranda Hart |
Ghillie Cooper | John O'Mahony |
Jemima McAlpine | Sally Marsh |
Wallace | Dan Skinner |
Hültz | Steven Kynman |
Crispin | Harry Elliot |
Violet | Llewella Gideon |
Written and conceived by | Marcus Brigstocke |
& | Jeremy Salsby |
with additional material by | Graeme Garden |
Produced & directed by | David Tyler |
Giles Wemmbley Hogg Geht Zum FussballWeltmeisterSchaft Weg!
Show 1
First Tx: 15/6/06 18.30-19.00
Giles begins a three part journey into the heart of the World Cup, as he leaves the pebbly confines of Budleigh Salterton and goes off to Germany. <br /> In this first episode, he encounters the Iranian National Squad, a pig-liver doughnut, two sombreros and a man with a red cross painted on his face.
Starring | |
Giles Wemmbley Hogg | Marcus Brigstocke |
and featuring - | |
Puffy Lympstone-Gough | Tom Goodman-Hill |
Greta | Debbie Chazen |
Mahmoud | Raad Rawi |
Tony | Ryan Pope |
Bazza | Martin Trenaman |
Dawoud | Kayvan Novak |
Lotte | Britta Gartner |
Fritz | Steffan Boje |
Hans | Sonu Louis |
Written and conceived by | Marcus Brigstocke |
& | Jeremy Salsby |
with additional material by | Graeme Garden |
Produced & directed by | David Tyler |
Show 2
First Tx: 22/6/06 18.30-19.00
In the second part of his German World Cup Odyssey, Giles he travels to the heart of the Schwarzwald armed only with a sleeping bag, a slice of gateau and a game of Swingball. And romance is in the air as he and his guide bond over a dead owl and some sticks of Budleigh Salterton rock.
Starring | |
Giles Wemmbley Hogg | Marcus Brigstocke |
and featuring - | |
Jenny | Rosie Cavaliero |
Roger | Laurence Howarth |
Sebastian | Erich Redman |
Petra | Britta Gartner |
Hermann | Steffan Boje |
Herr Quindar | Richard Turner |
Written and conceived by | Marcus Brigstocke |
& | Jeremy Salsby |
with additional material by | Graeme Garden |
Produced & directed by | David Tyler |
Show 3
First Tx: 29/6/06 18.30-19.00
In the final part of his German World Cup Odyssey Giles prepares a massive celebration World Cup dinner with the help of Ainsley Harriott and a copy of The Hairy Bikers Cookbook. And he tries to impress Arabella by dressing up in a giant latex World Cup costume and being boo’d by 80,0000 Germans and a pig.
Starring | |
Giles Wemmbley Hogg | Marcus Brigstocke |
and featuring - | |
Puffy Lympstone-Gough | Tom Goodman-Hill |
Greta | Debbie Chazen |
Himself | Ainsley Harriott |
Herr Schmidt | Steven Kynman |
Mrs. Wells | Richenda Carey |
Herr Parzel | Steffan Boje |
Ulrika | Fiona Carew |
Written & conceived by | Marcus Brigstocke |
Jeremy Salsby | |
with additional material by | Graeme Garden |
Produced & directed by | David Tyler |
Giles Wemmbley Hogg Goes Off... To Glastonbury
First Tx: 26/6/07 18.30-19.00
In this episode, we join the guru of Budleigh Salterton as he enjoys the sights, the sounds and the sheer footling misery of Glastonbury 2007. With his ever-unhelpful fiancée Bella and a ragtag assortment of hippies and hummous, Giles discovers that all you need for the perfect festival is 4000 Cornish pasties, Shirley Bassey and a hat in the shape of a muppet…
Starring | |
Giles Wemmbley Hogg | Marcus Brigstocke |
and featuring - | |
Arabella | Catherine Tate |
Dave | Mike Grady |
Merlin | Steven Kynman |
Charlotte Wemmbley Hogg | Catherine Shepherd |
Odette | Llewella Gideon |
Written and conceived by | Marcus Brigstocke |
& | Jeremy Salsby |
with additional material by | Graeme Garden |
Produced & directed by | David Tyler |
Series 4
Show 1
"Greece"
First Tx: 14/12/09 11:30-12:00
Now grounded by his father, Peter Wemmbley Hogg (same spelling), Giles is running a travel company for all Gap Year Travellers and in this first adventure, Giles learns about the philosophy of the Ancient Greeks and grapples with the perfect Aristotelian syllogism and an errant bag of pistachio nuts. And if that sounds confusing, then you know what it feels like to go Wemmbley Hogg Travvel.
Starring | |
Giles Wemmbley Hogg | Marcus Brigstocke |
and featuring - | |
Professor Bakoyannis | Jack Klaff |
Mr. Timmis | Adrian Scarborough |
Charlotte Wemmbley Hogg | Catherine Shepherd |
Jeremy | James Bachman |
Luke | Mark Evans |
Aphrodite | Nina Millns |
Colonel Yiannis | Chris Pavlo |
Written & conceived by | Marcus Brigstocke |
& | Jeremy Salsby |
Produced & directed by | David Tyler |
Show 2
"Lapland"
First Tx: 21/12/09 11:30-12:00
This episode is a special Xmas edition featuring BBC Radio 4’s favourite travelling idiot, Giles Wemmbley Hogg as he embarks on a trip to Lapland that goes a little strange.... Catherine Tate and Celia Imrie co-star in a snowbound special that mixes The Wizard Of Oz, It’s A Wonderful Life and The Ice Queen in Giles’s head, and serves them up with a helping of brandy butter and South Devon-style idiocy. All courtesy of Wemmbley Hogg Travvel.
Starring | |
Giles Wemmbley Hogg | Marcus Brigstocke |
and featuring - | |
Arabella | Catherine Tate |
Mrs. Wells | Celia Imrie |
Mr. Timmis | Adrian Scarborough |
Charlotte Wemmbley Hogg | Catherine Shepherd |
Santa | Ewan Bailey |
Written and conceived by | Marcus Brigstocke |
& | Jeremy Salsby |
Produced & directed by | David Tyler |
Show 3
"The Orient Express"
First Tx: 28/12/09 11:30-12:00
In this episode it’s a Merger On The Orient Express as Giles takes four cross ladies and a piece of lead piping on a septuagenarian trans-Balkan hen party. With an Agatha Christie theme.... Priceless jewels, magnificent moustaches and a pair of pink fluffy handcuffs add up to a baffling mystery, courtesy of GWH Travvel.
Starring | |
Giles Wemmbley Hogg | Marcus Brigstocke |
and featuring - | |
Lady Flench | Alison Steadman |
Mrs.Hadleigh-Broome | Morwenna Banks |
Mrs. Gunthorne | Janet Henfrey |
Mr. Timmis | Adrian Scarborough |
Charlotte Wemmbley Hogg | Catherine Shepherd |
Hugo | Ben Willbond |
David | David Armand |
Mehmet | Nej Adamson |
Written and conceived by | Marcus Brigstocke |
& | Jeremy Salsby |
Produced & directed by | David Tyler |
Show 4
"Las Vegas"
First Tx: 04/01/10 11:30-12:00
In this episode, it’s Viva Las Vegas as Giles has a Vegas-style road trip which involves a high-rolling hand of poker and two sparkly Germans...
Starring | |
Starring | Marcus Brigstocke |
and featuring - | |
Tommy “Tomahawk” Hayes | Kerry Shale |
Nadine | Matilda Ziegler |
Mr. Timmis | Adrian Scarborough |
Charlotte Wemmbley Hogg | Catherine Shepherd |
Tony | Lou Hirsch |
Mikey | David Armand |
Written and conceived by | Marcus Brigstocke |
& | Jeremy Salsby |
Produced & directed by | David Tyler |
Series 5
Show 1
"Local Hero"
First Tx: 28/11/11 11:30-12:00
When an American mogul tries to buy up every last pebble in lovely Budleigh, Giles decides to run for Mayor. Meanwhile his sister Charlotte goes on a tent protest...
Starring | |
Giles Wemmbley Hogg | Marcus Brigstocke |
and featuring - | |
Ronald Crump | Stuart Milligan |
Annie | Rebecca Front |
Mr. Timmis | Vincent Franklin |
Charlotte Wemmbley Hogg | Catherine Shepherd |
Mayor Netherclap | Flip Webster |
Gabe Bjesterveldt | David Armand |
Written by | Marcus Brigstocke |
Jeremy Salsby | |
Toby Davies | |
Produced & directed by | David Tyler |
Show 2
"Iron Man"
First Tx: 05/12/11 11:30-12:00
When Giles accidentally enters an Iron Man triathlon in Spain, he has to enlist the help of Neil Diamond and a donkey...
Starring | |
Giles Wemmbley Hogg | Marcus Brigstocke |
and featuring - | |
José | Mitch Benn |
Eta | Debbie Chazen |
Mr. Timmis | Vincent Franklin |
Charlotte Wemmbley Hogg | Catherine Shepherd |
Carl | James Bachman |
Written by | Marcus Brigstocke |
Jeremy Salsby | |
Toby Davies | |
Produced & directed by | David Tyler |
Show 3
"Festival of Yumsk"
First Tx: 12/12/11 11:30-12:00
When Giles tries to put Budleigh Salterton on the gastronomic map, he inadvertently serves up a full-scale biohazard lockdown instead. Yumsk!
Starring | |
Giles Wemmbley Hogg | Marcus Brigstocke |
and featuring - | |
Mr. Timmis | Vincent Franklin |
Charlotte Wemmbley Hogg | Catherine Shepherd |
Breville-Toaster | Justin Edwards |
The Commissioner | Laura Solon |
Monsieur Delabouche | Ben Willbond |
Tim McBride | Tim Downie |
General Watson | Rupert Vansittart |
Written by | Marcus Brigstocke |
Jeremy Salsby | |
Toby Davies | |
Produced & directed by | David Tyler |
Show 4
"Rocket Man"
First Tx: 19/12/11 11:30-12:00
In this episode, Giles meets some leftover post-Soviet rocket fuel. What could possibly go wrong? And how will he react to the world’s first weightless pastie?
Starring | |
Giles Wemmbley Hogg | Marcus Brigstocke |
and featuring - | |
Mr. Timmis | Vincent Franklin |
Charlotte Wemmbley Hogg | Catherine Shepherd |
Sergei | Jack Klaff |
Russkov | Paul Shearer |
Professor Komarov | Lorelei King |
Callum Bates | David Fynn |
Written by | Marcus Brigstocke |
Jeremy Salsby | |
Toby Davies | |
Produced & directed by | David Tyler |
Giles Wemmbley Hogg Goes Off... Article 50
First Tx: 28/03/19 18:30-19:00
He’s back! Marcus Brigstocke stars as Budleigh Salterton’s biggest idiot, come to help us over the cliff-edge in a show that - in a tribute to Brexit – was being put together right up to the last minute...
Starring | |
Giles Wemmbley Hogg | Marcus Brigstocke |
and featuring | |
Sir Michael De Lisle | Alexander Armstrong |
Lina Janssens-Peeters | Katy Wix |
Charlotte Wemmbley Hogg | Catherine Shepherd |
Mr Figgis | Mike Grady |
Oskar Weiss | Dan Tetsell |
Written & conceived by | Marcus Brigstocke |
& | Jeremy Salsby |
with additional material by | Nick Doody |
& | Katie Storey |
Produced & directed by | David Tyler |
Giles Wemmbley Hogg Goes Off
You can click to buy the CD of both the first series and indeed the second
and every episode including the Word Cup and Glastonbury (and the two "missing episodes" from the CD of the first Series) are available to download on iTunes or just by clicking here...
Check out the Publicity Postcards from the first series - six handwritten postcards from Giles, with pictures.
Have a look at the Glastonbury picture gallery - more mud and rugby shirts than you can believe...
Hear the now-legendary "Cutlery Song" from the World Cup Episode (courtesy of Mums)
Hear the original specially-made Radio 4 trail from Series 2
Download the pilot script. Please don't pinch any of it.
And hey - have a look at the lovely flyer we sent out to mark the start of Series 5 by clicking here
Ooh yes, here's Marcus's website - click here
and a webpage about the World Cup shows - click here
Take it further ...
YouTube: | Clips playlist |