Imagine a milk carton that is distributed exclusively in travel-based circles. If missing kids or warning notices take pride of place on ordinary cartons, then an unflattering mug shot of Giles Wemmbley-Hogg will grace the other milk container. To what purpose, you ask? It might be a sad “Last seen in Munich” sort of notice or it could just be a fervent “Keep away from him at all costs” kind of warning; that sort of question could take months of debate.
Point is, Giles Wemmbley-Hogg, two M's, two G's, is the bane of the tourism industry. Perhaps I should retrace my steps and introduce the topic properly. The aforementioned gentleman is the main character in this fantastically funny BBC show called Giles Wemmbley-Hogg Goes Off. Made for radio, this quirky show follows the adventures, or rather mishaps, of this upper-class simpleton. You'll cringe, shake your head, laugh out loud and, in the worst of cases, cover your face just in case you end up imagining that scenario! By the way, the show lasted 5 series so there's plenty of crazy adventures to go through.
GWH Goes Off ... what is the most fitting way to elaborate about this show? Well, have you ever come across a politically correct traveler who has the best of intentions (why some of my best friends are elves, he seems to say) and yet, he blurts out the most inappropriate comments at the worst possible times (just pick some of the more colorful comments by Prince Philip)? GWH is an exaggeration of this archetype. To this effect, I recall a somewhat misguided comparison between a biltong and a belt. On that note, I must admit that this show does the best Afrikaans accent this side of the equator.
For those interested in experiencing a bit of Wemmbley-Hogg fiasco's, check out Series 2 of GWH Goes Off on BBC Radio 7.