Caravan of Courage (TV series)
| Company type | Television series |
|---|---|
| Industry | Entertainment, Travel |
| Founded | 2007 |
| Founder | Hamish Blake and Andy Lee |
Area served | Australia, United States, Great Britain, Ireland, New Zealand |
| Products | Travel series, television specials, radio segments |
Caravan of Courage is a yearly travel series starring Australian comedians Hamish Blake and Andy Lee. To date, four editions have been released. The most recent two were aired on their radio program and later edited into television specials, whereas the initial two were featured as segments within the talk show Rove.
Format
Each edition of Caravan of Courage lasts approximately two weeks, during which Hamish and Andy journey through different states or countries, interacting with local residents and taking part in various activities. Every caravan bears a unique name; for instance, the American trip was dubbed Abravan Lincoln, while the Great Britain and Ireland journey was called Sir Vancealot. The pair frequently opts for less conventional routes, often passing through smaller towns, such as their 2009 decision to avoid central US states.
Overview
| Year | Edition | Network | Original airdate(s) | Viewers | Nightly rank | DVD release (Region 4) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | Caravan of Courage* | Network Ten | 7 & 14 October 2007 | 957,000 968,000 |
— #12 |
n/a |
| 2008 | Caravan of Courage: Who Dares Dar-Wins* | 2 & 9 November 2008 | 1,048,000 968,000 |
#8 #9 | ||
| 2009 | American Caravan of Courage | 10 September 2009 | 1,307,000 | #2 | 26 August 2010 | |
| 2010 | Caravan of Courage: Great Britain and Ireland | 17 June 2010 | 1,749,000 | #2 | ||
| 2012 | Caravan of Courage: Australia v New Zealand | Nine Network | 11 & 18 November 2012 | 1,340,000 1,220,000 |
#1 #2 |
20 March 2013 |
- Initially broadcast as a segment on Rove, rather than as an independent special
Caravan of Courage (2007)
The concept of Caravan of Courage was developed by Hamish and Andy in 2007 for their radio show, branding it as "The Peoples Holiday." Over a fortnight, they covered a distance of around 4,000 km traveling from Melbourne to Queensland, concluding with a live broadcast featuring Rove McManus after production moved to Queensland.
- Day 1: Southern Cross, Western Australia
- Day 2: Norseman, Western Australia
- Day 3: Cocklebiddy, Western Australia
- Day 6: Tailem Bend, South Australia
- Day 7: Donald, Victoria
- Day 8: Benalla, Victoria
- Day 9: Goulburn, New South Wales
- Day 10: Bulahdelah, New South Wales
Caravan of Courage: Who Dares Dar-Wins (2008)
Following critiques regarding the length of their previous trip, Hamish and Andy set out on a two-week expedition from Melbourne to Darwin beginning on 27 October 2008. This journey was named "Who Dares Dar-Wins," a play on the Australian television program Who Dares Wins.
- Day 1: Nhill, Victoria
- Days 2–5: Various destinations across South Australia including Williamstown and Coober Pedy
- Days 6–13: Stops throughout the Northern Territory such as Yulara (Uluru), Kakadu National Park, and Darwin
American Caravan of Courage (2009)
The third installment titled Hamish & Andy's American Caravan of Courage documented a two-week caravan road trip across the United States from Miami to Los Angeles in their vehicle named Abravan Lincoln. This adventure was aired daily on their Australian radio show Hamish & Andy (radio show) and later compiled into a television special on Network Ten, produced by Roving Enterprises in conjunction with Radio Karate. The special garnered an audience of approximately 1.3 million viewers.
Covering roughly 5,000 km, key locations included:
- Miami, Florida – Undertaking a driving test and exploring local attractions
- Alabama – Immersing in regional culture including fraternity initiations and dirt bike riding
- Mississippi – Experiencing traditions such as anvil shooting and blues performances
- Texas – Participating in gridiron football and cheerleading events
- New Mexico – Visiting alien-themed communities and attending cowboy gatherings
- Arizona – Engaging in casino gambling and local challenges
- Las Vegas – Using listener-donated funds to gamble for a hoverboard purchase
- New York City – Final festivities with Australian fans
The television special titled Rove presents Hamish and Andy's American Caravan of Courage premiered on Network Ten at 7:30 pm on 10 September 2009.
Caravan of Courage: Great Britain and Ireland (2010)
Hamish & Andy's Caravan of Courage: Great Britain and Ireland represents the fourth chapter in the Caravan of Courage series. This fortnight-long journey was broadcast on their radio program from 31 May to 11 June 2010 and later transformed into a television special for Australia's Network Ten, with subsequent airing on New Zealand's TV3.
Throughout the expedition, Hamish Blake and Andy Lee explored Wales, Scotland, England, and Ireland. The adventure was featured on Australian radio as part of The Hamish & Andy Show, streaming via the Today Network. Key moments were edited into a TV special that premiered on Network Ten on 17 June 2010.
Prior to setting off, the pair christened their caravan Sir Vancealot. Following an incident where Hamish accidentally collided with a tree, he was appointed as the navigator.
Summary of journey:
- Day 1 – Arrival in Cork, Ireland; activities included playing the Irish tin whistle, kissing the Blarney Stone, engaging in road bowling, visiting a castle connected to Andy’s heritage, and a falcon landing episode.
- Day 2 – Surfing along the Irish coastline; exploring the haunted Leap Castle; attempts to capture thermal imagery.
- Day 3 – Reached Belfast; hunting for leprechauns and touring the city’s murals.
- Day 4 – Visited a boxing club in Belfast; traveled to Strauchur, Scotland; Andy threw Hamish's tin whistle into the sea.
- Day 5 – Visited Loch Ness with monster-hunting activities; swamp soccer match; bagpipe lessons; composed a town anthem.
- Days 6 & 7 – Journeyed toward the England border.
- Day 8 – Crossed from Scotland into England; arrived at Ravenglass; took part in caber tossing, haggis hurling, lobster fishing; attended the Festival of Lying; created a town song.
- Day 9 – Visited Tarporley; engaged in haggis making, Gypsy gambling, visited Clootie Well; completed a mock school project; performed a song for Tarporley residents.
- Day 10 – Explored medieval Warwick; participated in jousting challenges; Andy was diagnosed with foot rot; met neighbors living nearby their caravan.
- Day 11 – Llanwrytd Wells, Wales; took part in bog snorkelling; Andy hid bagpipes; crafted another town song.
- Day 12 – Visited Mersea Island, England; examined a World War I wooden snake at an Antiques Roadshow location; concluded their travels with a live broadcast in London.
The television special aired on 17 June 2010 at 8:00 pm immediately following Masterchef Australia on Network Ten. Produced by Roving Enterprises alongside Radio Karate, it showcased highlights from the twelve-day journey accompanied by commentary before a studio audience.
The program garnered impressive ratings, securing second place for the evening with an audience of 1,749,000 viewers—just behind Masterchef Australia. When including timeshifted viewing figures, total viewership rose to 1,847,000.