Gwyneth Paltrow’s culinary trip snapped up by UKTV
Monday, December 15th, 2008
Cable and satellite broadcaster UKTV has bagged the television rights to Spain… On the Road Again, a 13-part culinary road trip around Spain featuring Gwyneth Paltrow. The deal was brokered by Elisabeth Murdoch’s independent production and distribution company ShineReveille.
Produced by Frappe Productions for PBS, Spain… On the Road Again sees the Hollywood actress experience the culinary delights of Spain alongside three other “glamorous and passionate foodies” - the New York based chef Mario Batali, New York Times food writer Mark Bittman and Spanish actress Claudia Bassols.
Each episode is 60 minutes’ long and, according to Frappe Productions, features “all the glamour of the Hollywood lifestyle with the strong traditions of Spanish cuisine. [It] is a must for any lover of fiery flavours and sun-kissed surroundings.”
In addition to being filmed by television crews, miniature cameras were installed in the group’s cars to capture their reactions to the food and countryside that surrounded them.
The series reveals a different side to Paltrow, who speaks fluent Spanish having lived in the country as a teenager. As a vegetarian she said that she did not succumb to the temptation of jamón, a cured ham produced only in Spain and Portugal.
UKTV Food’s channel head, Richard Kingsbury, said, “We’re thrilled to have acquired this entertaining cookery series exclusively in the UK for UKTV Food.
“We’re confident this series will encourage more new viewers to sample the channel as its rare opportunity to see another side of Gwyneth, the Hollywood superstar, as she indulges her passion for Spanish food in between juggling family life back in Britain,” he added.
“Spain… On the Road Again is a vibrant and uplifting series and the perfect antidote to those post-Christmas blues.”
The series will air on UKTV Food every weekday at 9pm from Monday 5th January.
