Big Weekends with Gregg Wallace - Season 1

Gregg heads to Barcelona, uncovering the city's artistic side in the incredible architecture of Antoni Gaudi, most famous for the Sagrada Familia, a large unfinished Roman Catholic minor basilica. The MasterChef presenter learns about the city's other artistic sons, while doing a self-portrait in the style of Pablo Picasso. He also visits the street festival in the Gracia neighbourhood, which culminates in the breathtaking castellers, or `human towers", and samples the array of back-street tapas restaurants.

Greg starts in Rome, which boasts inexpensive cuisine and an unrivalled history that stretches back thousands of years. After checking out some its best sights on the back of a scooter and going inside the famous Trevi Fountain, Gregg heads to a restaurant popular with the locals to discover how, in the Eternal City, the best food is often the cheapest. He also learns the secrets of the Italian ice-cream, gelato, and tries some classic Roman breakfast sweet treats. He even gets the chance to train as a gladiator.

The MasterChef judge visits Scotland's capital, where he heads up the Royal Mile to one of the most documented castles in the world, goes underground to see the centuries-old streets that still remain and learns about the tradition of bagpipe playing. He also learns about Scotland's rich larder with one of its finest chefs Tom Kitchin, helping cook up a feast of grouse and langoustines. Gregg finishes his brief jaunt by joining some locals for an early-morning dip in the North Sea.

The host enjoys a three-day trip in York. While it's a small city, York packs in almost 2,000 years of history and has been at the centre of some of the most important events in British history. Heading to the famous Gothic York Minster, climbing the city walls and taking a tour that focuses on the life of Guy Fawkes, Gregg uncovers a history that introduces him to Romans, Vikings, and medieval and Tudor kings. He also meets one of Yorkshire's best chefs, who cooks a menu filled with one of Gregg's favourite ingredients - rhubarb.

The presenter heads to Italy and reveals it is possible to enjoy Venice without breaking the bank. By avoiding the tourist traps he sees a new side to the city. Over three days, Gregg explores one of Italy's most distinct food cultures, explores the city's fascinating and surprising history, and meets the locals who make Venice so special.