Tom Read Wilson's Magnificent Journey reimagines the rite of passage once undertaken by 17th, 18th and 19th-century aristocrats on their Grand Tours of Europe.
Now, nearly 40 and craving a touch of cultural enlightenment, Tom Read Wilson sets out to follow in their footsteps.
With a heart full of wanderlust and a taste for timeless beauty, Tom embarks on his own Grand Tour, armed with his Super 8 camera and travelling from Paris to Rome to become schooled in art & architecture and enriched in history and culture.
It’s a series brimming with beauty, wit, and the enduring joy of lifelong learning.
Tom Read Wilson begins his Grand Tour in Paris, where he’s introduced to the refined world of aristocratic etiquette, under the guidance of a Parisian Contessa with ancestral ties to Marie Antoinette.
Tom is joined by his modern-day bear leader, Sophie - a knowledgeable guide and tutor - who takes him to some of the city’s most culturally significant sites including Notre-Dame and the Gardens of Versailles, famous for its extravagant parties.
Tom also witnesses a unique historical performance showcasing fencing, archery, and horse-riding - disciplines once seen as essential for any cultured aristocrat.
Inspired to try his hand at fencing, he discovers a surprising aptitude for the sport.
Leaving Paris behind, Tom continues his journey south. Travelling by horse and carriage and later by train, he arrives at Lake Annecy, where he checks into a lakeside hotel frequented by the Grand Tourists.
He then bravely embarks on a perilous crossing of the Alps and prepares himself for the next stage of his European adventure.
Tom Read Wilson's Magnificent Journey begins Friday 2nd January at 8pm on 5.