Brand new Paramount+ original series The Road Trip launches on Paramount+ on Boxing Day, and the contemporary rom-com looks set to warm viewers hearts this Christmas.
Based on the best-selling book by Beth O’Leary about giving love another shot, the six-part series produced by 42 (makers of The Flatshare) filmed on location in Bristol with support from our Film Office team. FIlming also took place on sets built at The Bottle Yard Studios.
There are numerous Bristol locations to look out for, including Totterdown (Richmond Street and St Luke’s Steps), Armada House (where characters load up their campervan for the trip), and various Clifton locations including Canning Road (where a car stunt was filmed using a spinning rig, with emergency vehicles arriving in the aftermath), private residences on Worcester Terrace and Berkely Square and street filming on Chandos Road. Bar scenes were shot at the Gallimaufry Pub on Gloucester Road and café scenes in the Harbourside Kitchen at SS Great Britain on Gas Ferry Road. Filming also took place in Gran Canaria, Spain.
In The Road Trip, Addie (Emma Appleton) and her sister Deb (Isabella Laughland) are on a road trip to a friend’s wedding in Spain when they are forced to offer a ride to Addie’s ex Dylan (Laurie Davidson), his irrepressible best friend Marcus (David Jonsson) and complete stranger Rodney (Angus Imrie). With nowhere to hide but a creaky campervan, the group must confront their buried history as secrets and revelations cause many a bump in the road. Peppered with spiky conflict, alongside surreal escapades, the journey to the wedding proves to be an unforgettable ride. Everyone in the van has one question on their lips – what exactly was the real reason behind Addie and Dylan’s breakup? Who was to blame? And will their journey back to where they first fell in love bring a happy-ever-after?
Images courtesy Paramount+
Eight local industry entrants gained work experience with The Road Trip’s production team – arranged by The Bottle Yard Studios team – shadowing camera, costume, make up, script supervision and art departments. Tyron (age 22) said: “I genuinely had so much fun, meeting new people and being creative. I feel much more confident entering into the scripted TV world especially as a minority. I will definitely cherish this opportunity.”
Grace (age 21) added: “I enjoyed every second. I learnt so much from everyone around me. I feel this experience has very much confirmed my decision to script supervise in this industry.” Students from Bristol Film School (boomsatsuma) also gained online work experience with the team.
The Road Trip is written and created for television by Ryan O’Sullivan and Matilda Wnek (Vigil) and lead directed by China Moo-Young (Everything I Know About Love). It is the second Beth O’Leary adaptation by Paramount+ and 42, following the global success of The Flatshare (also filmed extensively in Bristol) which premiered on Paramount+ in 2022.
The Road Trip is available to stream on Paramount+ from 26th December 2024.