TV FAVOURITES Ricky Tomlinson and Sue Johnston paid visits to a number of North Wales hotspots for an episode of their new series.
The duo, known for featuring on The Royle Family and Brookside together, took a road trip to the region as part of their new show; Ricky, Sue, and a Trip or Two.
During the North Wales episode, which aired on More4 last week, Ricky and Sue stopped off at Gronant, Porthmadog, Denbigh, Colwyn Bay, Portmeirion and Llandudno.
Now in their 80s, both said they used to visit North Wales on holiday as children, with Sue adding: “I love Wales; it’s very special, and the people are lovely”.
They first visit Gronant – Sue’s first trip back to the village for 70 years – where they stop at a farm for Ricky to fill a pillowcase with straw to “bring back some memories”, before taking a stroll along the beach together.
Sue later “followed in my grandad’s footsteps” by riding a steam train from Tan-y-Bwlch station to Blaenau Ffestiniog.
Afterwards, they pick tomatoes with chef Bryn Williams at his Denbigh allotment, before he takes them to his “stunning” Porth Eirias restaurant by Colwyn Bay’s seafront.
Enroute to Colwyn Bay, meanwhile, Bryn teaches them Ricky’s old Royle Family catchphrase in Welsh.
At Porth Eirias, Bryn treats them to a sea bream dish with tomatoes Ricky and Sue picked and shallots, before the pair head off to the “utterly unique” Portmeirion.
There, they meet Meurig Jones, “an expert on the story of this Welsh wonder,” – who takes them for a ride through the village built by Welsh architect Clough Williams-Ellis in the 1900s.
They pass where Noel Coward wrote Blithe Spirit, the old cottage of Beatles manager (and Sue’ old boss) Brian Epstein, and the location where 1960s TV series The Prisoner was filmed.
Ricky and Sue are later inducted into Meurig’s “Cape Club” - a secret society for The Prisoner- and Portmeirion-loving entertainers – as they are presented with their capes.
“I would come here again in a heartbeat, and I’ll recommend it to everyone I meet,” Ricky said.
Finally, it’s a visit to Llandudno – “one of my favourite Welsh towns,” Sue said.
She added: "I love the Victorian seafront, I love the tram to the top of the Great Orme, I even love that wild goats wander into town and terrorise the hedges!”
They spend the night at St George’s Hotel, where Ricky sleeps “like a baby” on his hay-filled pillow, before meeting Welsh athlete and world champion 100m hurdler, Colin Jackson.
While with Colin, they try out “laughter yoga”, before the three of them race each other along Llandudno’s promenade on mobility scooters – with Sue the winner.
“My trip to North Wales with the lovely Ms Sue Johnston has been amazing,” Ricky said.
“The most important thing for me is the generosity and warmth of the local people; they’ve been sensational.”
You can watch all three episodes of Ricky, Sue, and a Trip or Two on demand on All4.
The other two episodes of the series saw them take road trips through Liverpool and the Midlands.
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