New ITV travelogue

Billy Connolly is to travel Route 66 for a new four-part ITV1 documentary

The Big Yin says he will be fulfilling a lifelong dream as he makes the 2,488-mile journey from Chicago, via the Grand Canyon and deserts of New Mexico, the Wild West of Oklahoma and Texas and on to Santa Monica, California, on his trike.

Connolly said ‘Travelling Route 66 has always been a lifelong ambition. It brings together some of my favourite things, my trike, my banjo and America - the ultimate road trip.’

The show will be filmed in May for a primetime broadcast later this year.

Jo Clinton-Davis, ITV’s controller of popular factual programmes, said: ‘The combination of Billy and Route 66 is an absolutely magical one. It may be Billy`s passion project but it’s also ours.’

The series, which follows his successful World Tour Of… travelogues for the BBC, is being made by Maverick Television, which has previously produced Embarrassing Bodies and How To Look Good Naked.

Published: 9 Dec 2010