Hamish and Andy's Gap Year
| Company type | Television series |
|---|---|
| Industry | Entertainment, Television |
| Founded | 2011 |
| Headquarters | Various international locations (New York City, London, Bangkok, Buenos Aires) , Australia (production origin) |
| Products | Television comedy series |
Hamish & Andy's Gap Year is a comedy series that has earned a Logie Award, showcasing Australian comedians Hamish Blake and Andy Lee as they embark on international journeys. The inaugural season consisted of ten weekly episodes, all filmed in New York City. The second season, aired in 2012 and titled Hamish & Andy's Euro Gap Year, was recorded over seven episodes from The Lord Stanley, an abandoned pub located in East London, England. In 2013, the third season—Hamish and Andy's Gap Year Asia—was broadcast from The Raintree bar in Bangkok, Thailand. The fourth installment was named Hamish and Andy’s Gap Year South America.
The premise of the show was developed after the Nine Network signed Blake and Lee for two television series across two years. Since neither had taken a traditional gap year after finishing high school, they chose to capture their overseas experiences on camera, highlighting the irony of securing a TV deal instead.
During the first season, the American group Moon Hooch served as the resident band, known as The Buskerteers.
Segments
Recurring segments throughout the series include:
- Safari: Hamish and Andy showcase clips from their travels beyond New York City, utilizing a "safari map" positioned beneath their desk to identify locations while dressed in tailored safari attire.
- Hamish VS. Andy: This segment features contests between the two hosts with Ryan Shelton acting as correspondent. Beginning with season two, Ian Danter took over narration duties from the original voiceover.
- Ultimate Wingman: Hamish endeavors to assist single Andy in finding a romantic partner by acting as his wingman.
- Cultural Eating: Introduced in the second season, one host offers the other unusual local foods; this segment became a regular feature in seasons three and four.
- Interviews (Season 1 only): Conducted with celebrities either in studio or hotel settings; these were later excluded from DVD releases due to interviewee restrictions.
- R2-To-Do (Season 1 only): Featured a robot assigning tasks for Hamish and Andy’s travels.
- 100-Second New York Lesson'd (Season 1 only): Ryan Shelton led fast-paced, exaggerated tours of New York culture with cameo appearances by Hamish and Andy.
Series overview
To date, four seasons of Hamish & Andy's Gap Year have been broadcast.
| Season | Season Title | Episodes | Base Location | Originally aired | DVD release date | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season premiere | Season finale | ||||||
| 1 | Gap Year | 10 | United States Brooklyn | 28 July 2011 | 29 September 2011 | 17 November 2011 | |
| 2 | Euro Gap Year | 7 | United Kingdom London | 14 June 2012 | 26 July 2012 | 23 August 2012 | |
| 3 | Gap Year Asia | 6 | Thailand Bangkok | 8 July 2013 | 19 August 2013 | 28 August 2013 | |
| 4 | Gap Year South America | 6 | Template:Country data ArgentinaTemplate:Namespace detect showall Buenos Aires | 1 July 2014 | 5 August 2014 | 6 August 2014 | |
Hamish & Andy's Gap Year (2011)
| Episode No. | Title | Original Australian air date | Australian Viewership (millions) Template:Episode list Template:Episode list Template:Episode list Template:Episode list Template:Episode list Template:Episode list Template:Episode list Template:Episode list {{Episode list |
EpisodeNumber = 9 | Title = Episode 9 | OriginalAirDate = 22 September 2011 | Viewers = 0.850 | ShortSummary =
Safari: Hamish competes in the National Hollerin' Contest and attends SWAT training sessions. |
|---|
|}
Hamish & Andy's Gap Year USA – "Best Of" Compilation (2015)
In 2015, an updated edition of Hamish & Andy's Gap Year was made available on Stan, alongside other specials such as Caravan of Courage and Learn India with Hamish & Andy. This version, derived from the interview-free DVD, presents a reordered sequence of episodes with the exclusion of certain segments, primarily the 100-Second New York Lesson'd clips. It is also accessible via the Hamish & Andy TV YouTube channel.
- Part 1 (Special Announcement: Hamish debates removing himself)
- DVD Opening
- Safari #1 – Fishing Without Tools
- R2-To-Do – Three-Wheeled Rugged Vehicle + Timeslot Tattoo
- Audience Feedback from Week One
- Safari #2 – Roller Derby Experience
- R2-To-Do – Hillary Clinton's BBQ Debt
- 100 Second New York Lesson'd – Culinary Edition
- Ultimate Wingman Challenge
- Street Golf Featuring Tiger Hood (preceded by "Week Three" DVD title card)
- Part 2 (Special Announcement: Andy comments that the silly parts remain)
- Making Your New York Dreams Reality
- Safari #3 – Live Action Role Playing (LARP)
- Hillary Clinton BBQ Update – Voice Analysis
- 100 Second New York Lesson'd – Nightlife Edition
- Ultimate Baby Wingman Challenge
- Update on Three-Wheeled Rugged Vehicle
- Part 3 (Special Announcement: Hamish references a Brad Pitt cameo, which Andy disputes)
- Safari #4 – Chateau Poochie Visit
- 100 Second New York Lesson'd – Broadway Edition
- Hillary Clinton BBQ Update – Jack Visits Hillary’s Hometown
- Jack The Butcher Observes the Three-Wheeled Rugged Vehicle
- Hamish Competes in Mr. NY State Bodybuilding Contest
- Glitter Cannon Fun Activities
- Safari #5 – Lowrider Exploration
- Hamish vs. Andy – Bin Lid Racing Competition
- Part 4 (Special Announcement: Hamish reveals interviews were nearly included but left out due to celebrity party concerns)
- Ultimate Gameshow Wingman Challenge
- Hamish vs. Andy – Mates Racing Event
- Safari #6 – Western Reenactment Town Visit
- Asylum Productions – The Mockbuster Headquarters
- Safari #7 – Combine Harvester Demolition Derby
- R2-To-Do – The Magic Castle Visit
- Part 5 (Special Announcement: Hamish notes that regular guest stars receive their due, unlike celebrities)
- NASA Tour
- Hillary Clinton BBQ Update – Kim Beazley Appearance
- Magical Johnston’s Street Magic Performance
- Safari #8 – Private Investigator Jay J. Armes Feature
- Hamish vs. Andy – Stranger Racing Contest
- Ultimate Magic Wingman Challenge
- Safari #9 – Hollerin' Event
- Part 6 (Special Announcement: Hamish explains interviews were cut because celebrities limited resale rights)
- Free Plastic Giveaway Event
- Streetball in The Cage with Allan Houston
- Hillary Clinton BBQ Update – Ruddy Comes to the Rescue
- Magic Castle – Hamish Meets Mentor Doug
- Hamish vs. Andy – Subway Rodeo Competition
- 100 Second New York Lesson'd – Art Edition
- Magic Castle Audition Segment
- Hamish vs. Andy – Sleep Racing Challenge
- Final Drive in the Three-Wheeled Rugged Vehicle
- Ultimate Last Ditch Wingman
Hamish & Andy's Euro Gap Year (2012)
Filming took place at the now-closed Lord Stanley pub located in East London (Sandringham Road, Dalston E8). This was the sole season aired in the United Kingdom on ITV4. Both Euro Gap Year and Gap Year Asia were rebroadcast in Australia during December 2020, prompted by Hamish and Andy not producing new television content that year.
| Episode No. | Title | Synopsis | Hamish vs Andy Challenge | Original Broadcast Date | Viewership (millions) |
Nightly Ranking |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Episode One | Journey to Mostar, Bosnia, where they leap from the 21-metre Old Bridge. They purchase a rabbit named "Lenny Rabbitz" and compete in Swedish rabbit jumping competitions. | Translation Racing: Communicating with strangers in Italian through an earpiece; the participant who is best understood wins. | 2012-06-14 | 1.413 | #1 |
| 2 | Episode Two | Travel to Lapland for reindeer racing, act as paparazzi in London, and prematurely open their homebrewed beer called "Gap Byear." | Hitchhike Racing: Hitchhiking across Europe starting from Frankfurt within 24 hours without paying or bribing; each player allowed one "Hinder." | 2012-06-21 | 1.365 | #2 |
| 3 | Episode Three | Pilot gondolas in Venice and visit the International Butler Academy located in the Netherlands. | Kiss Racing: Earning points by kissing strangers in Paris—one point per kiss plus an additional point for every second held. | 2012-06-28 | 1.411 | #2 |
| 4 | Episode Four | Participate in Bavarian "Finger Pulling," train at a Russian fighter pilot center, and fulfill dreams submitted by Londoners. | None | 2012-07-05 | 1.183 | #4 |
| 5 | Episode Five | Join Catalonia’s Los Torres Human Towers and attend a snail festival, explore Paris catacombs, attempt a Tour de France stage alongside Cadel Evans (unsuccessfully), then travel from Gibraltar to Morocco on an aqua trike. | Life size "Guess Who?": Played using twelve sets of twins. | 2012-07-12 | 1.090 | #5 |
| 6 | style="background:#9ee6a0;" |Episode Six | Compete in a German "Bus Pulling" contest, fish selling competition in Sicily, attempt to purchase a rollersuit in France, and make an aqua bike journey from Gibraltar to Morocco fueled by a homemade energy drink. | Shop Hiding: Request an item then hide inside the store; longest hiding duration wins. | style="text-align:center;" |2012-07-19 | style="text-align:center;" |1.156 | style="text-align:center;" |#3 |
| 7 | style="background:#9ee6a0"|Pre Opening Ceremony Special | Filmed prior to Australian Olympic athletes arriving at Lord Stanley pub. Features include Russian cat theatre, lighting a flaming galah torch relay, synchronized swimming in Prague, and psychological assessments of Olympians. | None | style="text-align:center"|2012-07-26 | style="text-align:center"|1.118 | style="text-align:center"|#3 |
Hamish & Andy's Gap Year Asia (2013)
The show was filmed on location at 'The Raintree' bar situated in Bangkok, Thailand.
| Episode Number | Australian Premiere Date | Broadcast Time | Overnight Ratings | Consolidated Ratings | Total Audience | Reference | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Viewership | Position | Viewership | Position | ||||||
| 1 | Episode One | 8 July 2013 | Monday 8 pm | 1,566,000 | 1 | 160,000 | 1 | 1,726,000 | |
| 2 | Episode Two | 15 July 2013 | 1,490,000 | 1 | 154,000 | 1 | 1,644,000 | ||
| 3 | Episode Three | 22 July 2013 | 1,455,000 | 1 | 93,000 | 1 | 1,548,000 | ||
| 4 | Episode Four | 5 August 2013 | Monday 7 pm | 1,191,000 | 4 | 110,000 | 4 | 1,301,000 | |
| 5 | Episode Five | 12 August 2013 | 1,228,000 | 4 | 132,000 | 2 | 1,360,000 | ||
| 6 | Episode Six | 19 August 2013 | 1,299,000 | 3 | 108,000 | 2 | 1,407,000 | ||
Hamish & Andy's Gap Year South America (2014)
This installment was filmed in Buenos Aires, Argentina, broadening the journey to encompass the entire Latin America region and including stops in Mexico and Central America.
| Episode Number | Synopsis | Hamish vs Andy Challenge | Australian Premiere Date | Broadcast Time | Overnight Ratings | Consolidated Ratings | Total Audience | Reference | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Viewers | Position | Viewers | Position | ||||||||
| 1 | Episode One | Hamish and Andy commence their adventure in Mexico by engaging in a traditional event featuring paper-mache bull hats equipped with fireworks. They proceed to Nicaragua where they ascend a volcano and prepare lasagna using its heat. Hamish convinces Andy to visit a Shaman for a shoulder ailment. In Cultural Eating, Andy persuades Hamish to consume teredo worms. | Stranger Soccer/Football: Participants drop a small soccer ball near strangers' feet before crossing a line close to a miniature goal. Any goals scored after crossing the line are deemed offside. Spectators may defend but cannot assist with the ball. | 1 July 2014 | 7:30pm Tuesday | 983,000 | 7 | 127,000 | 5 | 1,110,000 | |
| 2 | Episode Two | The pair begin with a mock border crossing in Mexico before traveling to Colombia for a blow dart contest which Hamish wins. Andy dons a monkey costume while villagers aim blow darts at him. In Cultural Eating, Andy samples 'roast face,' a Bolivian delicacy. | Brazilian Wax Racing: Competitors attempt to have strangers wax their bodies as many times as possible within one hour. After forty-five minutes, waxing intimate areas yields higher points. | 8 July 2014 | 967,000 | 6 | 87,000 | 4 | 1,054,000 | ||
| 3 | Episode Three | — | Corporate Fat-Cat Racing | 15 July 2014 | 1,014,000 | 6 | 123,000 | 4 | 1,137,000 | ||
| 4 | Episode Four | — | _No challenge_ | _Error: Year value is required (help) Template:2014-07-22_ | _1,047,000_ | _6_ | _102,000_ | _5_ | _1,149,000_ | ||
| 5 | Episode Five | _‘Monkey Run’: Contestants have one hundred bananas attached and navigate an obstacle course with feet chained together. Losing bananas to monkeys results in penalties. The contestant retaining the most bananas wins._ | _Error: Year value is required (help) Template:2014-07-29_ | 8:40pm Tuesday | _987,000_ | _9_ | _216,000_ | _1_ | _1,203,000_ | ||
| 6 | Episode Six | _‘Photo Stalling’: Players offer to take tourists’ photos but delay taking the shot. Moving subjects lose the round. The second round challenges players to pose tourists multiple times before returning the camera._ | _Error: Year value is required (help) Template:2014-08-05_ | _1000,000_ | _8_ | _201,000_ | _2_ | _1,201,000_ | |||
Awards and nominations
The duo Hamish & Andy have secured 5 Logie Awards out of 16 nominations for their show Hamish & Andy's Gap Year.
| Year | Nominee | Award | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | Hamish Blake | Most Popular Presenter | Template:Nom |
| Gold Logie: Most Popular Personality on Australian TV | Template:Won | ||
| Hamish & Andy's Gap Year | Most Popular Light Entertainment Program | Template:Won | |
| 2013 | Hamish Blake | Most Popular Presenter | Template:Won |
| Gold Logie: Most Popular Personality on Australian TV | Template:Nom | ||
| Andy Lee | Most Popular Presenter | Template:Nom | |
| Gold Logie: Most Popular Personality on Australian TV | Template:Nom | ||
| Hamish & Andy's Euro Gap Year | Most Popular Light Entertainment Program | Template:Nom | |
| 2014 | Andy Lee | Most Popular Presenter | Template:Nom |
| Gold Logie: Most Popular Personality on Australian TV | Template:Nom | ||
| Hamish Blake | Most Popular Presenter | Template:Nom | |
| Hamish & Andy's Gap Year Asia | Most Popular Light Entertainment Program | Template:Won | |
| 2015 | Hamish Blake | Gold Logie: Most Popular Personality on Australian TV | Template:Nom |
| Andy Lee | Gold Logie: Most Popular Personality on Australian TV | Template:Nom | |
| Most Popular Presenter | Template:Nom | ||
| Hamish & Andy's Gap Year South America | Most Popular Entertainment Program | Template:Won |