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Suggs’ Italian Job
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Join the Madness frontman as he tours Italy
Suggs' Italian Job, Episode 1
Suggs ponders over kitchen utensils at the world famous Alessi design house.
Suggs' Italian Job, Episode 1
Suggs hopes his musical skills distract the audience from the paper hat.
Suggs' Italian Job, Episode 1
Suggs, circa 17th century
Suggs' Italian Job, Episode 1
Suggs is heading to the glamorous car rally the Mille Miglia
Suggs' Italian Job, Episode 1
The Ansaldo workshop who create the sets for the world famous La Scala Opera House
Suggs' Italian Job, Episode 2
Stradivarius violin in the making in Cremona workshop
Suggs' Italian Job, Episode 2
Cremona City Hall with a priceless collection of Stradivarius violins
Suggs' Italian Job, Episode 2
O Suggs, Suggs, wherefore art thou Suggs? Well, he's on Juliet's balcony.
Suggs' Italian Job, Episode 2
Suggs in Verona
Suggs' Italian Job, Episode 2
Suggs visits Villa Malinverni, one of Andrea Palladio's first buildings
Know your Vermicelli from your Vivaldi? If you think you know a fair bit about Italy, try our Suggs' Italian Job Quiz!
Italy is a place of refuge and inspiration for Suggs, just as it has been for many other artists and performers over the centuries. But usually his visits are high-speed affairs a flight to the south and a few days in his holiday home in Puglia, before he jets back to his work commitments in the UK. In this series he'll have the opportunity to make a more leisurely journey from north to south, absorbing the rich variety of Italy's cultural life along the way.
Travelling in a classic Mini (this is his Italian Job after all), Suggs' grand tour will take him to the iconic cities (Milan, Venice, Rome, Florence and Naples) and through the spectacular landscapes which have inspired so many artists. But he'll also make regular detours along the way, straying off the beaten track to discover many unfamiliar places with surprising stories to reveal.
As he zig-zags his way south, he'll investigate the stories behind some of the masterpieces of the Renaissance, go behind the scenes at some of Italy's most celebrated cultural venues and events, meet modern day artists and craftsmen keeping Italy's arts heritage alive, and track down experts with a passion for performance, art and design who are keen to share their enthusiasm and knowledge with Suggs and our audience.
EPISODE 1: LAKES, MOUNTAINS & LA SCALA
Suggs visits one of the powerhouses of modern Italian design, celebrates the Italian love affair with the sports car, and meets Puccini’s grand-daughter at the most famous opera house in the world.
EPISODE 2: VIOLINS & VILLAS
Suggs discovers the secrets of Stradivarius, gatecrashes a wedding at a Palladian Villa, learns how to restore a fresco by Giotto and explores the medieval towns which inspired some of Shakespeares best-loved plays.
EPISODE 3: CANALS & CARNIVALS
Suggs explores the worlds most Romantic city, reveals Canaletto's cunning secret and investigates the masked world of the annual carnival.
EPISODE 4: MICHAELANGELO & THE MAESTRO
Suggs has a singing lesson from Pavarotti’s vocal coach, explores the marble quarry where Michelangelo’s David was born, and performs a classic Madness number with a real ‘rock’ band – all their instruments are made of stone.
PROGRAMME 5: FRESCOES & FOOTBALL
Suggs arrives to the birthplace of Reneissance and football, discovers the Vasari Corridor and some exceptional ice-cream, and investigates those pesky claims about Italians having invented football by playing a game dressed in 17th century football kit.
PROGRAMME 6: PRINCESSES & PIAGGIOS
Suggs abandones his trusty Mini and explores the capital city from the back of a Vespa, heads for Mussolini's film studios, and tours the stunning Palazzo Borghese with Principessa Nike Borghese.
PROGRAMME 7: PIZZA & PUPPETS
Suggs takes a musical tour through the city where Caruso first sang, tries his hand at Neapolitan puppetry and discovers the secret of the scenegiatta.
PROGRAMME 8: JOURNEY'S END
Suggs follows in the footsteps of the Godfather and D.H. Lawrence and follows the trail of a stolen masterpiece.
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Latest comments
Brian Yates
Wed 12 November 2008, 10:55
I have deleted the 1st episode from my skyplus befor viewing,will it be shown again or can i watch on line. I can get sky sports on line.
Thanks
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Eve Byrne
Tue 18 November 2008, 20:05
IHi Suggs, about South Italy, I read your recent piece in the paper about your place in Puglia and it took me back to 20 - 30 years of regular trips to that part of Italy where we now have so many friends.
I should first say that my friend and I did the catering for your Wedding at
Lauderdale House one snowy Winter many years back and one of our helpers was from Puglia. I also should say that my daughter was and remains a great fan of yours.
Our Italian friends are mainly from Lecce, Santa Maria al Bagno and Gallipoli. Among them is a young pianist, Francesco Libetta who lives in Lecce and who is in the Top Ten of the worlds players. He played in The Miami Piano Festival one year and they staged the next in Lecce.
We have had such good times in Puglia that I was moved to read your article and it prompted me to write to you so if you are interested I would be glad to hear from you.
Eve Byrne
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tony
Sat 22 November 2008, 19:32
I would love the ragu recipe
from last weeks suggs in italy
please
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brianbjew08@talktalk.net
Thu 11 December 2008, 21:42
Enjoyed the whole series.
Are you going to present the series on a DVD for sale?
Brian Waugh.
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Paul Robertson
Sat 13 December 2008, 11:16
My wife and i adore Italia and regularly go there.
Unfortunately we only caught the last 2 episodes of this great series; will it be available on dvd or at least repeated.
We gotta see it.
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Doog
Sat 11 April 2009, 11:55
Just done the Italian Job quiz, and having lived in Rome now for 15 yrs my results were, well, above average shall we say. However, I was well impressed by the comments. Of all the football teams in Italy, my results said that my team was Lazio...too damn right it is! Come on lads, todays Derby day, let’s kick some AS Roma butt!!!! Nice one.
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John
Mon 13 April 2009, 12:24
Just done the Italian Job Quiz and, having visited Rome once for five days, I got eight out of eight. It is so simple, it is not necessary to have lived in Rome for any length of time. Or even visited Italy once!
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Stephen Flintoft
Wed 17 June 2009, 12:01
Great series...should definatey go on dvd! What is the incidental music that is played throughout the series..not the opening credit music but the one with strings and voices… fantastico!
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someese
Mon 10 August 2009, 21:27
Saw Suggs Italian Job episode 1 last Wednesday Was it simply a one off as it isn’t listed this week? Also what is the point of people posing questions in this comments section if you don’t answer?
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Claire
Wed 19 August 2009, 16:00
Hello ! I would like to buy the DVD of all the episodes from Suggs Italian Job. Where could I find it ? Thank you very much !
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mrs alagna
Sat 12 September 2009, 09:28
only just picking this series up as missed it first time around-great job from Suggs-a natural presenter-no pretentions, down to earth and showing Italy through the man in the street’s eyes. Loved the piece last week about the Villa’s from Cremona who make wonderful violins- what talented men. More of the same please.
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Sig Gigolli
Thu 24 December 2009, 16:32
Loved the fresco restorer!
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