"Cycling makes me very fit, but with all the wonderful food in France, I haven't lost any weight," sighs 20-stone Tom Vernon. Having gently pedalled his way round both Louisiana and Argentina, he is now turning his attention to la belle France.
Shown as the BBC's French Challenge initiative gets under way this week, Vernon begins a six-part series that takes him through the varying regions of France meeting ordinary and extraordinary people and, of course, sampling a few tasty morsels on the way. His first stop is Brittany, where he discovers quaint fishing villages, women in tall lace bonnets, mile upon mile of artichoke fields, and some Gallic fun and games.
Pottering around on a bicycle gives him the opportunity to see everything in detail. As he explains: "Vernon'sfirstlawof delightful inertia is that a bicycle is not for going places, a bicycle is for stopping."
Director/Producer Tom Vernon A Fat Man production for BBCtv
Subtitled 79 (The French Challenge season continues with Gardeners' World at 8.30pm on BBC2)
FRENCH CHALLENGE GUIDE: for a free copy ring freefone [number removed] daily between 10am to 8pm. Or send 9x7 inch sae to BBC
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