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Edinburgh Live
Edinburgh Live
Entertainment
Abbie Meehan

Edinburgh to feature on Channel 4's new four-part series Hobby Man

A brand new Channel 4 programme is set to visit Edinburgh next week, as comedian Alex Brooker heads to the capital.

Alex will head to Edinburgh as part of four-part series, Hobby Man, to try out new interests and test them alongside four celebrity hobby testers. The synopsis for the show reads: "At the age of 38, Alex Brooker has decided he needs something new in his life... a hobby.

"So, in the company of four celebrity hobby testers chosen for their enthusiasm, insight and total lack of experience, Alex travels around the country having a go at hobbies and meeting the people who love them."

The journalist and comedian heads to the capital to try out three brand new hobbies, including chess, brewing your own beer, and birdwatching.

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The episode synopsis reads: "In this first episode, Alex is in Edinburgh with Scarlett Moffatt for a funny and enthusiastic introduction to three hobbies. Together, they visit one of the world's oldest chess clubs to find out why this ancient game continues to be so popular. Alex has never played before, so he goes on a crash course before going head-to-head with Scarlett in a match worthy of The Queen's Gambit.

"Their second hobby is home brew, as they meet brewers from the all-female group Beers Without Beards and get hands-on with home brewer Malcom as he starts brewing a new batch. Then they go one step further and brew their own beer, Hoppy Man, before heading north to Loch Leven to try out their third hobby - birdwatching - where they join two keen birders for an introduction and embrace all things ornithological on the final part of their trip."

Speaking on the show, Alex said: "I’ve realised that I’m now in my late 30s and still only really like the same things as I did when I was 12 – basically Football and Ghostbusters. And while most people used lockdown to find new hobbies or carry on their existing ones, I mainly watched children’s TV to keep my kids happy so I’m delighted Channel 4 have made me their Hobby Man!

"It’s been amazing travelling around Britain with our brilliant guests and getting out my comfort zone trying new hobbies. From learning to knit, making my own beer and getting panicked 3000ft in the air in a glider – it’s been some experience! I hope the audience enjoy it as much as I have."

Hobby Man will air first on Friday, August 19 at 8pm on Channel 4. The next episode will then air on Friday, August 26 at the same time, with a visit to south Wales on the cards.

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