In a delightful new series that feels like a warm summer holiday, Sandi Toksvig embarked on a railway adventure along the French Riviera for Channel 4. Sandi Toksvig's Great Riviera Rail Trip follows the popular presenter as she travels from Marseilles to Menton, evoking comparisons to Michael Portillo's own railway escapades but with her unique, witty charm.
A Sunny Start in St Tropez
The journey began with a characteristically humorous moment in St Tropez. After arriving from the beach, Toksvig met a handsome, sun-tanned young Frenchman outside a club. Her immediate greeting was an apology: 'I'm so sorry to get undressed as soon as we meet'. Fortunately, this only involved removing her sand-filled shoes, a nod to the beach's famously liberal past.
This initial stop, however, came with a slight confession. The resort of St Tropez does not have its own train station, with the nearest one located approximately 25 miles away, making this segment of her rail journey a technical detour.
All Aboard for History and Scenery
Toksvig's enthusiasm for her mode of transport was palpable throughout. 'I love everything about train travel,' she enthused. 'It just seems to be from another era. I like the sound, the rumble.' The programme was bathed in a feel-good atmosphere, allowing viewers to virtually feel the summer holiday warmth and the cool breeze from her hotel room shutters.
The trip was not just about the trains but also the rich history of the region. In the town of La Ciotat, which boasts its own station, Toksvig visited the birthplace of cinema. The station's museum features a quote from Auguste Lumiere, who, despite filming the first-ever motion picture of a train arriving, famously declared: 'Moving pictures are always going to be a scientific curiosity, but they don't really have a future.'
Local Encounters and Quirky Moments
From the port of Sanary-sur-Mer, where she enjoyed a trip on a vintage wooden boat and sampled bouillabaisse, to discovering that Aldous Huxley wrote Brave New World there, the journey was filled with cultural gems.
Back in St Tropez, Toksvig decided to practice her French while playing boules. She approached a couple with a dog in a picturesque square, asking 'Est-ce que je dis bonjour au chien?' (Can I say hello to the dog?). The reply was a surprise: 'Oh, we know you, we're English.' Out of all the French locals, she had stumbled upon Sue and Richard from Yorkshire, who were on a caravan holiday.
While the QI and Bake Off presenter's style has been labelled with a certain 'Lady Muck Remoaner smugness' by some critics, it was difficult not to be swept along by her genuine excitement and the programme's sunny disposition. Dressed more modestly than Michael Portillo's famously colourful wardrobe, her main flamboyance was a baggy shirt and a knee-length scarf, letting the stunning Riviera scenery and her warm personality take centre stage.
