Producers from the BBC show “The Hairy Bikers” are scouting for locations along Route 66 for a six-part series about the Mother Road.
The Launching Pad restaurant’s Facebook page stated last week:
TV producers from the BBC stopped by to see us today at the Launching Pad. They are scoping locations for a long-standing popular show in the UK called the Hairy Bikers! Lol! They are a biker duo who take road trips around the world looking for great food and great sites to see. They are doing a 6 part series on Route 66 and their first show is about locations in Illinois.
The Hairy Bikers are Si King and Dave Myers, who’ve been on television as a pair since 2004. Here’s more about the upcoming Route 66 series from the BBC:
The Bikers’ journey will be carved into six legs, in which they’ll visit destinations like Chicago, St Louis and Las Vegas, and travel through incredible landscapes from vast prairies in Oklahoma to the staggering scale of the Grand Canyon. The breadth of food on offer will allow them to experience everything from the very latest L.A. trends to regional specialties that only the locals know about.
Si King says: “America has a multicultural food scene and is the home of some outrageous food. We’re all accustomed to the supersized portions and all-you-can-eat challenges that the USA has become known for, but we’ll be seeking out the best and most diverse cuisine this fascinating country has to offer.”
Dave Myers says: “Route 66 is a bucket-list trip for us and it truly is an American dream to take in the sights and scenery of this part of the world – all whilst enjoying some delicious local delicacies along the way.”
According to Wikipedia about the Hairy Bikers:
Their TV shows are a mixture of cookery and travelogue, using a similar format and style to that previously associated with Keith Floyd, including the habit of frequently referring to the cameraman and other crew. Most shows feature the pair riding motorbikes, including the BMW R1200GS, F650GS and Triumph Rocket III. The show also features elements of the Two Fat Ladies format, including regular banter between the two stars, use of various unusual cooking locations and the use of motorbikes.
They also have been the subjects of 21 books, mostly cookbooks.
It will be interesting to see what places two duo finally chooses for their series. The show is so popular, it wouldn’t be surprising to see another surge of British tourists on Route 66, much like the one in the wake of “Billy Connolly’s Route 66” in 2011.
For yanks who haven’t experienced the show, here’s one about the historic pubs of England:
(Image of The Hairy Bikers on tour in Birmingham, England, by Birmingham City Council via Flickr)
They should contact Alton Brown.