Clive Myrie confronts Russian ambassador in tense interview

Clive Myrie is best known for reporting on current affairs for the BBC, from visiting war-torn countries to sharing hard-hitting breaking news.

Not long ago was the journalist reporting from Ukraine during the height of the conflict.

Now, he takes viewers to one of his favourite holiday destinations – Italy, in his brand new BBC Two series Clive Myrie’s Italian Road Trip.

Clive has been visiting the country for more than 30 years and the 15-part series has given him the chance to explore new hidden gems.

He spoke exclusively to Express.co.uk and other press about what it was like showing a different side of himself.

“It was absolutely wonderful [travelling for pleasure] to be able to show another side to my personality,” he said. “Which is always there because it’s part of who I am.

“I think as a news presenter, foreign correspondent, hard news journalist, the public are only going to really see one dimension which is a shame because there’s a lot more to offer and to have the opportunity to do that in a place which I love was absolutely fantastic, so I jumped at the chance.

“It was hard work, believe me. I have had the opportunity through presenting Mastermind and standalone documentaries that aren’t on a hard news theme, but it’s nice to be able to show another side of my personality.

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“It’s like when I’m getting some bread in Waitrose and someone will just look at me and say ‘What are you doing here?’, I say ‘I’m getting something to eat, human beings eat’.

“But I do totally get people only see me in a suit, they only ever see me with a furrowed brow looking very serious but actually there are other bits to me as well and to be able to show that is great. And I purposely do not wear a suit when I’m not in the office in order to keep away from it because I wear a suit and tie every day, it was a good change.”

Clive addressed how his series stands out from other travel shows as it combines journalistic insight with lighthearted fun.

He said: “It was important to play to my strengths and make it less about Clive just on holiday and try to add a little bit of depth, that was important for the BBC. For me to go completely the other way from being a serious news journalist to just mucking around on a beach might have felt a bit too ridiculous, it’s a little bit less ridiculous with me adding some context.

“Clearly there’s a big side of my personality that is very serious and is willing to deal with knotty issues but there’s a whole other side that likes a bit of a laugh.”

During the road trip, Clive travels to Rome, the slopes of Sicily’s Mount Etna and Barga, the most Scottish town in Italy.

He discovers what makes Italian food and drink so delicious, including the technique that’s made Neapolitan pizza world-famous.

Clive will also show viewers how some of the country’s most iconic dishes and ingredients are made, as he makes Mozzarella in Amalfi, shapes tortellini in Bologna and prepares chocolate according to one of the world’s oldest recipes in Sicily.

Clive Myrie’s Italian Road Trip airs on BBC Two from May 1 at 6.30pm. All episodes will be available on BBC iPlayer.

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