Richard E. Grant's Odyssey Documentary Airs Sunday

Actor Richard E. Grant is to host a new four-part documentary series for Channel 4, titled 'Richard E. Grant's Very Modern Odyssey'. The programme, which premieres on Sunday, August 2, sees Grant embark on a journey across the Mediterranean. He will be retracing the route described in Homer's ancient Greek epic, The Odyssey.

Themes of Loss and Survival

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Grant, aged 69, has spoken about how becoming a widower has made him acutely aware of themes of loss and survival. His wife, Joan Washington, died in September 2021 after being diagnosed with stage four lung cancer. The couple had been married since 1986.

Speaking about the documentary's subject matter, Grant commented on the personal impact of his wife's death. He said that being a widower made him "acutely aware of loss and survival", as reported by The Standard.

Filming Challenges

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The filming process for 'Richard E. Grant's Very Modern Odyssey' presented significant difficulties. Grant described the travel involved as 'exhausting' and an 'endurance test'. He detailed issues such as delayed and cancelled flights, and camera equipment being lost for five days. One particular journey involved taking planes, ferries, and a minibus for 29 hours over a three-day period, as reported by The Standard.

Further challenges included interviewing contributors who did not speak English, which Grant likened to 'trying to navigate past six-headed Scylla', a monster from Homer's epic. He also commented on the impact of post-Brexit travel regulations on journeys around Europe, describing queues, delays, and frustration at airports.

Grant also reflected on the modern reality of visiting famous Mediterranean sites, noting that in the age of social media, they have become 'a selfie magnet'. He suggested visiting at unsociable hours as the best way to avoid large crowds.