Sidekick Pilkington to tour the globe

Ricky Gervais is to feature in a new Sky1 travel series in which his sidekick Karl Pilkington visits seven wonders of the world.

In the eight-part series, Gervais and Stephen Merchant will stay home in London monitoring their friend as he travels the globe.

He will visit the Great Wall of China, Christ the Redeemer in Brazil, Petra in Jordan, Machu Picchu in Peru, Chichen Itza in Mexico, the Taj Mahal in India and the Great Pyramids of Egypt.

Sky said in the promotional blurb for the show, provisionally titled Karl Pilkington's Seven Wonders of the World: ‘Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant are outraged that Karl has written off the Seven Wonders, claiming they're all “a bit shit'

‘They've thrown down the gauntlet to send him around the globe to force him out of his comfort zone. Stephen wants the experience to broaden Karl's mind; Ricky wants Karl to hate every minute of it for his own amusement.’

Pilkington – who starred alongside Gervais and Merchant in their bestselling podcasts – said: ‘I can't wait to get started. Not 'cos I'm excited but 'cos the sooner we start the sooner it will be over.

‘The fact the nurse gave me an injection that protects me from dirty chimps put a dampener on the whole thing. I don't think Ross Kemp has to have that injection.’

Executive producer Dan Goldsack said: 'We’re really excited to be working with the team behind the world record breaking podcasts on their first factual television series. This is a genuine social experiment from Ricky and Steve and it’s going to be fascinating to see Karl’s take on the Seven Wonders.'

Gervais and Merchant said: 'We’re absolutely thrilled that Sky1 took this idea. It’s apt that the home of The Simpsons has made room for another bald-headed buffoon. The terrifying thing is this one’s real.'

The trio’s podcast is also being turned into an animated series for US cable channel HBO, which will air on Channel 4 next year.

Published: 8 Dec 2009