Good Morning Britain host Ben Shepherd was left red-faced on Thursday, March 23, when was he told to 'say it right' after fumbling over the pronounciation of the Essex town Billericay.
It came during a segment on which Gavin & Stacey actor Larry Lamb appeared on the show to mark this year's National Day of Reflection, and alongside discussing his support for the end-of-life charity, Marie Curie, which looked after his brother Wesley, who died in 2019., he spoke about his travel programme with Alison Steadman, aka Pam in the BBC sitcom.
Billericay is where his character in the Welsh-English programme, Mick, is from and in his fun new television show, called Alison & Larry: Billericay to Barry which is set to air later in 2023, Larry and his co-star Alison Steadman take a 210 mile road-trip from Billericay to Barry (where a lot of Gavin & Stacey is filmed). You can get more TV news and other story updates straight to your inbox by subscribing to our newsletters here.
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But it seemed to be more of a tongue-twister for the GMB presenter who struggled to say the English place name, causing Larry to quip: 'Say it right."
Addressing the former EastEnders star, Ben Shepherd said: "You've done a series of going from Biller-er-... Billericay to Barry..."
"Say it right," joked the 75-year-old actor, before Ben said: "I'm going to try and say it right. As an Essex boy I can't get Billericay wrong!" "Birrelicay," Larry chuckled, purposefully pronouncing it incorrectly.
Explaining the premise of the show after this little jab, he said: "UK Gold shows Gavin and Stacey a lot so they thought, why don't we do a show with the journey from Billericay to Barry Island, or Barry-bados as they call it."
Teasing a little nugget from the show, Larry, 75, added: "I've got a very special guest in the car for [Alison], that's how it starts." Ben interjected and asked whether this special guest was a fan-favourite: Uncle Bryn, played by Rob Brydon.
"This is a very special guest that's not in the programme, somebody that has great relevance in the end," Larry mused, keeping his cards close to his chest.
He concluded: "It's a fascinating trip, with Alison and I reminiscing, kind of slipping in and out of [character as] Mick and Pam."
This uplifting series will see the pair galavant across the country and stop off at a number of locations, some of which are linked to the hit show Gavin & Stacey. Speaking when news of the show was announced, Alison said, as reported by The Daily Star: "I can’t wait to take this trip down memory lane to explore Pam and Mick’s neck of the woods, as well as so many other locations precious to me.
"And who better to do it with than Larry! I’m so excited to be reunited.”
Larry added: "I am really looking forward to reminiscing with Alison whilst taking the trip from Billericay to Barry, it was such a huge part in the plot of Gavin and Stacey. This journey holds a special place in my heart and I hope the fans are pleased with it.”
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