Coach Trip Season 12, Episode 1: Essex

1

Essex

A new set of tourists meet in Blackheath, London, and quickly get to know each other over an Essex-style makeover including fake tan, vajazzling and fish pedicures.

2

Amsterdam

The coach heads to Amsterdam, and the group try a spot of flower arranging. But the pace picks up in the afternoon when they hit the slopes.

3

Utrecht

The coach heads to Utrecht and, after a lesson in the art of flirting, the group try out their best chat-up lines on the locals.

4

Essen

The coach travels to Essen where the group get creative by making traditional bread. The afternoon is an adrenaline junkie's dream as the group go indoor sky diving.

5

Koblenz

On the group's second day in Germany a visit to a land art installation isn't to everyone's liking. In the afternoon the group enjoy a cheerleading lesson. But the cheer doesn't last long when it comes to a ruthless vote.

6

Mannheim

The heat is on at a sausage restaurant in Mannheim when the tourists battle it out to see who can handle the hottest curry sauce. Come afternoon and it's time for a game of baseball.

7

Stuttgart

In Stuttgart the group enjoy a spot of beer tasting, before getting on a big bike for a boozy tour of the city. And after lunch there's a wobbly boat race down the river Neckar.

8

Frie­dric­hshafen

En route to Friedrichshafen the coach picks up a new couple. Later the group is split for a Segway race - Brendan's favourite! In the afternoon they explore a Zeppelin museum.

9

Innsbruck

Austria, and perhaps a lesson in the ancient art of tai chi will put some positivity back into the group - followed by a terrifying bungee jump.

10

Val Gardena

It's Day 10 and the coach rolls in to the Italian town Val Gardena, where the tourists have a wood-carving lesson from a flirty Italian before spending the afternoon llama racing.

11

Lake Garda

It's the11th day of the trip and there are tears, tantrums and shock exits in the Italian holiday hot spot of Lake Garda.

12

Padua

The coach stops in Padua, where the group enjoy a morning of biblical history. They later try their hand at painting frescoes, before an afternoon of pure luxury at a top local spa.

13

Treviso

In Treviso in northern Italy the tourists make rabbit pasta before hitting the golf course - and driving and crashing the golf buggies. They later catch a ferry from Venice and enjoy some fine dining at the captain's table.

14

Adriatic Sea

The group spend the day sailing the Adriatic with limbo dancing and taking a turn as the ship's cabaret act. But it all ends in disaster...

15

Preveza

The tourists land on Greece soil and spend an uncomfortable morning olive picking in the blazing sun. Even an afternoon on the beach fails to lighten the mood.

16

Arta

It's Day 16 and the coach is in the Greek town of Arta. The tourists spend the morning fishing, before getting hot and steamy in a dance class.

17

Dodoni

The tourists visit the ancient theatre of Dodoni where they perform their own Greek tragedy. Later they head for the hills to compete in a goat-milking competition.

18

Ioannina

The coach heads for the Greek mainland and Ioannina, where the group go on a rafting trip. In the afternoon Brendan introduces a new couple at a jewellery workshop - but the biggest shock of the day comes after the vote.

19

Grevena

The coach picks up a new couple on route to the Greek town of Grevena, where the gang go truffle hunting. Following this, the tourists try their hand at a spot of painting in a church yard.

20

Thessaloniki

The coach arrives in Thessaloniki on the shores of the Aegean Sea. A new couple joins the group for a snorkel race, and cocktail making in the afternoon leaves the tourists a little shaken.

21

Kavadarci

It's Day 21 and the coach-trippers pull up in Kavadarci, where they enjoy a traditional Bulgarian dance lesson. Tthings get messy later on when they whip off their shoes for some grape squashing - and one couple's Coach Trip dream is crushed at the vote.

22

Skopje

It's a day of surprise confessions and catastrophic kite-flying as the coach arrives in Skopje. The tourists spend a spiritual morning at Mother Teresa's birthplace before a language lesson with the locals.

23

Kyustendil

It's Day 23 and the coach crosses the Bulgarian border to arrive in the town of Kyustendil. The group aren't particularly impressed by the local baths, but everyone gets their hands dirty in the afternoon making clay sculptures - and things really get messy at the vote.

24

Sofia

The coach arrives in Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria, where the tourists become zoo keepers for the day. Later the group are joined by a new couple for some Zorbing, and emotions run high at the vote.

25

Plovdiv

It's the 25th day on the road and the coach is in Plovdiv, Bulgaria. Brendan's planned a sporty day of gymnastics and rowing for the group. But all sportsmanship quickly disappears at the vote.

26

Haskovo

It's the 26th day on the road and the coach stops in the ancient Bulgarian city of Haskovo, where a famous chef serves the tourists a dish they find hard to stomach. Later, the group takes to the tracks for a spot of go-karting, and one of the new arrivals is targeted at the vote.

27

Edirne

Day 27 and the group disembark in the delightful Turkish city of Edirne, where they enjoy a lesson in the traditional craft of soap moulding. Later, they are left black and blue after a visit to the local baths - and the fight continues at the vote.

28

Silivri

It's the penultimate day and the coach-trippers stop in Silivri. The group make a hopeless attempt at belly dancing, and later oil themselves up for some traditional Turkish wrestling. In the final yellow card vote, will the group remain united for the last day of the trip?

29

Istanbul

It's the final day and a spectacular end to the trip as the coach pulls up in the colourful city of Istanbul. The group visit one of the city's most impressive spice markets, and fulfil lifelong dreams of swimming with dolphins.

30

The Journey Home

It's the long journey home for the coach trippers, and Brendan spends the time reminiscing about the last six weeks on the road; his favourite couples, favourite activities - and those he would rather forget.