Three couples hit the road on a mad-cap jaunt from London to Monte Carlo to discover the genius, glory and grub of France in this brand-new series for ITV1.

Paired up to embark on this travel adventure are Jack Dee and Ade Edmondson, in a VW camper van, Jodie Kidd and Julian Clary, in a Bentley convertible and Penny Smith and Rory McGrath, in a union jack bedecked Mini Cooper.

But this is no simple holiday; the couples are in competition to get under the skin of France and discover what makes our closest neighbour tick. As their journeys unfold taking in the stunning French countryside, winding around breath-taking mountains and cruising along the coastal roads the couples are tasked with collecting a total of three items that best represent the head, heart and stomach of each of the regions they are passing through.

The intrepid explorers are followed as they each find their own route through France and at the end of each stage of their journey they are judged on what they have learned and collected along the way. The overall winners are revealed in the stunning setting of Monte Carlo in Monaco.

What appealed to you most about appearing in Monte Carlo or Bust?

A bit of an adventure, being with Jodie Kidd, who I like and get on with, and driving a Bentley. I thought it would be quite a good experience.

Did you know Jodie before the trip and how did you get on together?

We were both on the Strictly Come Dancing live arena tour together a couple of years ago and she's just really good fun. She's very extroverted and loud and also very knowledgeable about places and things and a bit of an alpha woman, which I quite like. She knows her own mind and she's beautiful as well, aesthetically pleasing. I think a lot depended on that. Obviously in a car eight hours a day together, had I been with Ann Widdecombe it might have been a different story.

Talking of the car, what did you think of it? What do you usually drive, did it compare with that?

I drive a Lexus normally, I don't know anything about cars. It seemed very comfortable and there were all these gadgets and adjustments on the seats and the sound system was extraordinary. We did stop somewhere once in a lay-by with the roof down and Jodie put some of her clubbing music and danced on the back seat and you must have been able to hear it about 10 miles away, so it was a nice looking car.

Do you think you got the best vehicle out of the three?

I would have thought so, yes.

When you come to driving would you rather be the driver or the passenger?

Well it depends, I'm a bit of a nervous passenger, when I'm on tour I have a driver who I know and like who is very safe. I don't like going far and I don't like taking risks, which was a bit of a problem as Jodie liked to drive at 140mph while on the phone and eating a baguette. I do remember all my old prayers from my catholic school days and I managed to recite some Hail Marys and Our Fathers. I think that saw me through.

So what would you describe the journey as being like and what did it mean to you?

It was lots of things. I've always dismissed France as being too close to be an exciting destination and I didn't know much about it and I've realised how stunning some of the countryside is, Provence especially. I've always thought it was a place that middle class English people go and, indeed it is, but you can see why. The French are very rude in Paris, I'd forgotten about that, very arrogant and dismissive, Jodie had a few run-ins with lorry drivers. It was definitely exciting and a step into the unknown and I liked the finding of the tasks that made us go to places we wouldn't have otherwise gone. Although I think the judges were ridiculous and unfair!

So having done that, would a driving holiday appeal to you now, doing something similar in a different country?

Yes, I think it's the way to do it really rather than arriving at an airport and going straight to your hotel. I have real sense of the shape and style of those areas in France now, so, yes, it would, as a short answer.

Is there any particular country you would think of to go to?

Yes, almost anywhere is interesting isn't it? Well, I suppose lots of places, I spent some time in Nicaragua, but I don't think the roads are pretty good there though, that would probably put you off. If you go on through France to Spain next and whatever's after Spain!

Any particular funny stories or mishaps that you can remember along the way?

We got drunk once on pear cider at the farm. It was very strong and we got very loud, or Jodie got very loud. Being in Paris with Jodie, you know the fashion world that she was very familiar with and I felt pretty ignorant when it comes to fashion. I think driving through the South of France with the roof down and Jodie, with her Hermes scarf flapping in the wind, did feel as if I was in a glamorous film or something, down the winding roads.

Are there any people you met that stick out in your mind?

Yes the man with the Citroen 2CV business, that funny farmer, he was a scream. There's another episode where we go to get a cockerel and another farmer actually, the chicken farmer he was amusing.

Must be something about French farmers, maybe a new series?? Yes now you come to mention it…