IIn a country where much of society is still polarized along class lines, many people have a very particular image of a smart person – and that’s roughly Stephen Fry. A large, Oxbridge-educated man with a posh accent, interested in art and opera, and able to recite passages from classical literature. Rob Linder, criminal barrister, broadcaster, and host of Judge Linder, fits this mold well, loving all things “high culture” and intellectual exploration. As co-host Rylan Clark puts it, he’s “one of the smartest guys I know.” Meanwhile, Linder says Clark “doesn’t understand his art from his elbows.” However, through his three episodes of Rob and Rylan’s Grand His Tour, Clark reveals a level of intelligence that may have been overlooked due to remaining perceptions of what a smart person looks like. He emerges as a brilliant mind, with wit and profundity.
The two describe themselves as different people, good friends, both going through a “painful divorce” and, despite their differing interests, deciding to embark on a journey that will mean a new start. They are positioned as an odd couple. The series follows them through the ‘hedonism’ of Venice, the Renaissance feasts of Florence and the glory of the Baroque style of Rome, recreating the journey Lord Byron undertook 200 years after his death aged just 36. Masu. It wasn’t just a journey that Byron took. Many of the “aristocrats” of the time traveled to Italy as a rite of passage, a form of cultural education, to establish themselves as learned individuals who understood art, history, and the ways of the world. .
We first see Linder in Venice, wanting to ride a gondola and experience the city’s historical traditions. Clark is on a luxurious speedboat, but is a little intimidated by all the art and opera in front of him. But while Linder is moved and fascinated by the galleries, concerts, and archeology of this city and his two others, his response seems a bit shallower than Clark’s considerations. When discussing Caravaggio, Castratos, or the Colosseum, Linder always seems to give the typical wise-guy answer, but Clark connects with his surroundings on a molecular level, and finds his own inside the ancient ruins. It finds existential questions connected to mortality and the desire to achieve greatness.
Clarke also brings great vulnerability to the screen. He is dealing not only with heartbreak, but also with lingering anxiety from being the subject of ridicule early in his career. It’s been a truly amazing journey that he’s been on, from first coming into the public eye as runner-up on Signed By Katie Price, to being branded a “joke act” on The X Factor, to being the final In particular, he came into his own as a presenter on “This Morning.” , Big Brother’s Bit on the Side and Ready Steady Cook. But even though he’s best known for being a larger-than-life icon of camp who makes fun of himself, it’s become clear over the years that Clark is a very smart and talented guy. And this program has made it even more clear. Don’t underestimate it.
The relationship between Linder and Clark is also surprisingly sweet and tender. They often find themselves in a conflict between the smart and the stupid, but they seem to value each other equally. Clark has little ego about the gaps in his knowledge and absorbs what Linder has to say about the historical significance of the places he visits. Linder also looks at him fondly as Clark interprets what Botticelli hanging in the Uffizi Gallery and the Venetian masks worn during Carnival symbolize to him.
Linder and Clark appear to have changed considerably as a result of the trip and the time they spent together, and by the end of the trip they felt a little less hurt and open to the possibility of finding love again (even if it was an ironclad prenup). But what’s most interesting about this show is how it challenges our perceptions of Clark. For centuries, the Grand Tour was undertaken by people much like Linder, people of appropriate class and education, unlike Clark, who was a “ginger-roast in a council flat in Stepney Green”. It’s here. But it’s wonderful to see where the boy ended up, to see his formidable spirit soak up the glory of the journey Bryon once embarked on, and to see his confidence blossom in the Italian sun. .
After newsletter promotion
