Home / Series / An Idiot Abroad / Aired Order /

All Seasons

Season 1

  • SPECIAL 0x1 The Preview Show

    • September 5, 2010
    • Sky One

    Alongside exclusive footage, Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant quiz their perfectly round headed best mate Karl Pilkington about his forthcoming travels around the world.

  • S01E01 China

    • September 23, 2010
    • Sky One

    Karl Pilkington's journey begins in the Far East. As well as casting his verdict on The Great Wall of China, he immerses himself in the culture with laugh-out-loud results.

  • SPECIAL 0x2 Unseen Karl - China

    • September 23, 2010
    • Sky One

    Karl Pilkington struggles through a Chinese lunch break featuring heavy suction and a platter of Chicken feet.

  • S01E02 India

    • September 30, 2010
    • Sky One

    Karl travels to India and gives own unique verdict on its ancient customs and vibrant culture.

  • SPECIAL 0x3 Unseen Karl - India

    • September 30, 2010
    • Sky One

    Karl gets a gift from the production team to assist him on his travels and makes an amazing admission about one of his favourite pastimes.

  • S01E03 Jordan

    • October 7, 2010
    • Sky One

    This week, Karl Pilkington's voyage takes him to Petra in Jordan, by way of Israel. What will he make of the 'rose-red city half as old as time'?

  • SPECIAL 0x4 Unseen Karl - Jordan

    • October 7, 2010
    • Sky One

    Stephen sends Karl to meet a man who says he's Jesus.

  • SPECIAL 0x24 Unseen Karl - Accents

    • October 7, 2010
    • Sky One

    Stephen sends Karl to meet a man who has the strangest accent ever.

  • S01E04 Mexico

    • October 14, 2010
    • Sky One

    Karl travels to Mexico where he pays a visit to Chichen Itza. He also tries his hand at wrestling, learns how to become a cowboy, and hunts for a Mexican jumping bean.

  • SPECIAL 0x5 Unseen Karl - Mexico

    • October 14, 2010
    • Sky One

    Karl meets some ugly plants, and spends an evening in Mexico doing exactly what he'd be doing at home.

  • S01E05 Egypt

    • October 21, 2010
    • Sky One

    Karl Pilkington's journey continues in Egypt, where Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant have arranged for him to sample the local culture. He tastes delicacies including rabbit meat, takes a boat ride down the Nile and is entertained by a belly dancer, before visiting the pyramids.

  • SPECIAL 0x6 Unseen Karl - Egypt

    • October 21, 2010
    • Sky One

    Karl goes Snorkelling in the Red Sea and comes face to face with a Chicken fish

  • S01E06 Brazil

    • October 28, 2010
    • Sky One

    Tag along with Karl Pilkington as he takes up temporary residence in Rio de Janeiro. On his way to Christ the Redeemer, he experiences a back wax and Brazil's famous beaches.

  • SPECIAL 0x7 Unseen Karl - Brazil

    • October 28, 2010
    • Sky One

    Karl checks out the talent on a popular beach.

  • SPECIAL 0x25 Unseen Karl - Gets Picked Up

    • October 28, 2010
    • Sky One
  • S01E07 Peru

    • November 4, 2010
    • Sky One

    Reluctant explorer Karl Pilkington visits Peru, where he is unhappy with the Amazon jungle's toilet arrangements, and fails to impress a local tribe with his hunting skills. Arming himself with oxygen, the Mancunian then sets off on a high-altitude, eight-hour trek to witness Machu Picchu, the fortress city of the ancient Incas.

  • SPECIAL 0x8 Unseen Karl - Peru

    • November 4, 2010
    • Sky One

    Karl watches more dancing and goes to wash his clothes. Plus a sneak peek of next week's finale!

  • S01E08 Karl Comes Home: The Debrief

    • November 11, 2010
    • Sky One

    Reluctant globetrotter Karl Pilkington is reunited with Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant to reflect on his journeys to the seven wonders of the modern world, considering whether travel has truly broadened his mind.

Season 2

  • S02E01 Desert Island

    • September 23, 2011
    • Sky One

    Karl makes his way through the 'Bucket List' that has been created. First up he ends up spending a a night on a private island.

  • SPECIAL 0x11 Unseen Karl - When Karl Went Zorbing

    • September 23, 2011
    • Sky One
  • S02E02 Trans-Siberian Express

    • September 30, 2011
    • Sky One

    Karl takes a trip on the Trans-Siberian Express. He is expecting luxury, but Ricky and Steve have other ideas for the trip.

  • SPECIAL 0x12 Unseen Karl - Be A Dwarf

    • September 30, 2011
    • Sky One
  • S02E03 Dolphin Swim

    • October 7, 2011
    • Sky One

    Karl gets the chance to swim with some dolphins but with Ricky and Steve as the holiday planners there are a few surprises.

  • SPECIAL 0x13 Unseen Karl - Karl's Makeover

    • October 7, 2011
    • Sky One
  • S02E04 Whale Watching

    • October 14, 2011
    • Sky One

    Karl isn’t really prepared for the arctic conditions in Alaska. Ricky and Steve have also planned some dog sledding, a meeting with Innuits and a visit to the North Pole. When Karl finally gets to catch his whale watching cruise, he learns that Ricky and Steve have stuck him on a deep sea fishing trawler.

  • SPECIAL 0x14 Unseen Karl - Karl's Igloo

    • October 14, 2011
    • Sky One
  • S02E05 Meet a Gorilla

    • October 21, 2011
    • Sky One

    Karl heads of to Africa to go meet a Gorilla. Before he travels to Uganda, Karl agreed to start in South Africa as he’s been there on holiday he heard it was alright. Ricky and Steve want Karl to have an authentic African experience so they arrange some time in a slum with a family and helping a charity rebuild a shelter. Karl visits Jessica the Hippo who lives with a family and Ricky sends him to join a Rhino conservation project before heading off traveling through the impenetrable forest in Uganda before coming ‘face to face’ with a Gorilla.

  • SPECIAL 0x15 Unseen Karl - Karl The Naturalist

    • October 21, 2011
    • Sky One
  • S02E06 Route 66

    • October 28, 2011
    • Sky One

    Karl wants to drive along the legendary Route 66 in the USA in an open top Cadillac but Ricky and Steve have other ideas. Along the way they want him join a high school choir, hang out with New Age therapists, meet the Amish before ending his journey by Wingwalking.

  • SPECIAL 0x16 Unseen Karl - The Day Karl Didn't Catch A Fish

    • October 28, 2011
    • Sky One
  • S02E07 Climb Mount Fuji

    • November 4, 2011
    • Sky One

    Karl’s last “thing to do” is seeing Japan’s most spiritual destination: Mount Fuji. On arrival in Japan Karl gets lost in Tokyo. Ricky and Steve put him up in a ‘capsule’ hotel, send him to a Sumo wrestling stable, arrange for Karl to meet a Zen Master and send him on the world’s steepest rollercoaster. And he has to attempt to climb Mount Fuji.

  • SPECIAL 0x17 Unseen Karl - Karl on Bonsai

    • November 4, 2011
    • Sky One
  • S02E08 Karl Comes Home

    • November 11, 2011
    • Sky One

    Karl is reunited with Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant after returning home and he reflects on his experiences. There are also a few surprises.

Season 3

  • S03E01 The Short Way Round: Venice

    • November 30, 2012
    • Sky One

    Karl is joined by Warwick Davis as they attempt to follow in the footsteps of Marco Polo. They begin their adventure in Venice.

  • SPECIAL 0x19 Unseen Karl - Karl on Art

    • November 30, 2012
    • Sky One

    Warwick tries to teach Karl about Italian art...

  • S03E02 The Short Way Round: India

    • December 7, 2012
    • Sky One

    Karl and Warwick's journey continues as they make their way to India. Laughing yoga and parts in a Bollywood film are trumped after Karl experiences his first holiday highlight.

  • S03E03 The Short Way Round: China

    • December 14, 2012
    • Sky One

    It's the final part of the journey as Karl and Warwick get ready to make their way to China. A surprise makes sure that the series ends on a high.

  • SPECIAL 0x29 The Short Way Round: A Commentary

    • December 21, 2012

    Pilkington , Gervais and Davis provide a special audio commentary to episode three.

Additional Specials