Sue Perkins: Lost In Thailand sees the comedian on her travels again for Channel 5. Sue is heading to Southeast Asia for her latest travelogue. She will travel from Chiang Mai in the highlands to the beautiful beaches of Phuket before finishing her journey in the country’s capital Bangkok. And along the way, she’ll try out everything from abseiling into underground caves to exploring stunning coral reefs.
“I’m thrilled to get another opportunity to explore the world with Channel 5, and Thailand did not disappoint,” says Sue. ”I took on new challenges, immersed myself in the culture and wandered the wilds of the jungle. But what I love most about traveling is the people you meet along the way, and we met some wonderful people on this adventure. I can’t wait for you to see it.”
Here’s everything you need to know about Sue Perkins: Lost in Thailand…
Sue Perkins: Lost in Thailand release date
Sue Perkins: Lost in Thailand is a three-part series that will start on Channel 5 in the UK on Friday May 10 2024 at 9pm. Episodes run weekly at the same time and will also become available on streaming service My5.
Locations and what happens in Sue Perkins: Lost In Thailand
For Sue Perkins: Lost in Thailand, Sue will explore three very different regions of Thailand, starting off in Chiang Mai in the distant foothills of the Himalayas. There, she conquers her fears to abseil deep underground into a limestone cave. Next, she’s off to the island of Phuket to swim around its coral reefs and check out its last remaining bit of rainforest. Then, Sue ends her journey in Bangkok, embracing its colourful chaos and venturing into the subtropical countryside surrounding the capital. She will meet extraordinary locals and embed herself in local culture, try Thai boxing and meet rescued tigers.
Sue Perkins: Lost In Thailand episode guide
Here's a brief guide to the three episodes in Sue Perkins: Lost In Thailand...
Episode 1: Friday May 10
Sue gets off to a flying start in the Thai highlands, where she conquers her fears and abseils 230ft deep into a limestone cave in the Khun Tan mountain range. "I don’t love heights so it’s really outside of my comfort zone," says Sue, whose previous travel series have taken her to Alaska and Japan. "I looked down into this giant hole and couldn’t see the cave floor. It was going well until I smacked my knee, then I just hung there like a sack of potatoes. But I did it, and it’s an interesting starting point for the series because this is Thailand from a different perspective. While everyone else might be on beaches, I’m abseiling through ancient rocks. I’d do it again, too!"
In thisfirst episode, Sue also joins in a traditional longboat race on the Nan River, tries her hand at weaving with the Palong hill tribe, and unwinds with a Thai massage – in a women’s prison! But a sanctuary for elephants that have suffered while working in tourist attractions or logging left a real lasting impression.
"I love elephants, so being able to get so close and observe their behaviour was incredible," says Sue, who helped feed and sing the gentle giants to sleep. "It was a peak life experience!"
Episode 2
Comedian and presenter Sue Perkins certainly has her talents, but she probably wasn’t expecting to play Cupid during her journey around Thailand. However, in the second episode of her travel series Sue heads to Phuket where she tries her hand at matchmaking some of the island’s rescued orphaned gibbons so they can be released back into the wild in pairs. And this involves creating love tunnels between the primates’ cages and feeding them ‘gibbon sushi’ to teach them what they should eat in the forest.
"This has been one of the most peaceful, wonderful, expansive experiences I’ve had in a long time," says an emotional Sue.
She also tries some more active pursuits on Thailand’s largest island and enjoys a litter-picking snorkelling trip before attempting to master a motorised surfboard known as an e-foil.
"I feel like I’ve been lying on an ironing board in a hurricane,’ she admits. ‘This slightly scary pursuit is supposed to give the sensation of flying standing up but I settled for paddling face down and grunting."
Sue also experiences one of Thailand’s famous half-moon parties and visits Koh Panyi, an incredible island village which is built almost entirely on stilts and boasts a floating football pitch.
"It’s extraordinary to think this place began with three families of nomadic fishermen just looking at that vast rock and thinking ‘we’ll tether ourselves to that for a bit’," says Sue. "This is an extraordinary, integrated community with everything they need and more."
Episode 3
We will be updating soon, so do check back.
Is there a trailer?
Not yet but if and when one is released, we’ll put it up on this page for you to enjoy.
Behind the scenes and more on Sue Perkins: Lost In Thailand
Sue Perkins: Lost in Thailand was commissioned by Adrian Padmore, Commissioning Editor, Non-Scripted UK Originals, Channel 5 & Paramount+ and produced by Jess Ives and Series Edited by Grace Kitto for Coming Up Roses. It's directed by Jason Holmes and Executive Producer is Oliver Wright.
“Sue is the perfect mix of inquisitive traveler and funny tour guide to take us off the beaten track in the incredible Kingdom of Thailand,” says Adrian Padmore, Commissioning Editor of Channel 5 and Paramount Plus.
Oliver Wright, Creative Director, Coming Up Roses adds: “We are very proud of this series. Sue is quite wonderful in it, engaging passionately with every step of her Thai journey. She makes us laugh one minute, then cry the next as she explores every element of Thai life, getting to the heart of its incredible landscapes, wildlife and people.”
All about Sue Perkins
Sue Perkins and her creative partner Mel Giedroyc formed the comedy duo Mel and Sue and co-hosted the shows Light Lunch and Late Lunch. They then had their own daytime chat show Mel and Sue before hosting The Generation Game.
Sue appeared on Celebrity Big Brother in 2002 and won the reality series Maestro in 2008, where she had to conduct an orchestra. She and Mel presented The Great British Bake Off for seven seasons and in 2019 Sue fronted the travelogue Japan with Sue Perkins, plus Sue Perkins: Lost in Alaska early in 2024.
In 2021 Sue took part in The Masked Singer, as Dragon, and finished fifth. She’s also been on Perfectly Legal, World’s Most Dangerous Roads, All Roads Lead Home, Insert Name Here, Last Christmas and The Mekong River with Sue Perkins. She and Mel starred in the comedy series Hitmen.
