Sandi’s Great Riviera Rail Trip review – Toksvig’s wonder-filled travelogue is a bibliophile’s fantasy

The QI presenter’s visit to the French south coast sees her boggling with delight at tales of writers’ past visits, and marvelling at the homes of authors. At points it feels like a literary tour by stealth

‘Look at that!!” exclaims a jubilant Sandi Toksvig at the very start of her jolly new travelogue, Great Riviera Rail Trip. “Marseille!” The city of Marseille is, undeniably, there behind her, it being the starting point for a four-episode trip east along the French south coast that will take in picturesque fishing villages, posh resorts and quirky nooks.

Shows where we watch celebrities go on holiday come in many different stripes, but all boil down to us pressing our noses up against the screen and wishing we were there while the famous bod has a lovely time. The most honest course of action for the famous person is to lean into it and enthuse. Toksvig does this, constantly wriggling and giggling with pleasure as she tells us how incredible, magnificent, wonderful and beautiful the Riviera is. It looks as if she is right.