TV Choice Pick of the Night
Griff Across the Alps
Channel 4 & Channel 4 Streaming | 8:00pm – 9:00pm (60 mins)
Griff Rhys Jones returns with his trademark blend of witty observational humor and adventurous spirit for a six-part travelogue through one of Europe’s most formidable natural wonders. Spanning six countries—from the coastal foothills of France all the way to Slovenia—the series investigates how the colossal mountain range has dictated European trade routes, border conflicts, engineering marvels, and unique regional cultures for centuries.
Tonight’s Episode: Switzerland – High Altitude, High Precision
Tonight’s second installment sees Griff tackle Switzerland, exploring how the Swiss have transformed traditionally “impenetrable” mountain terrain into one of the most seamlessly connected networks on the planet.
Episode Highlights:
- The Roof of Europe: Griff rides the iconic Jungfrau Railway up through the Eiger mountain to reach the Sphinx Observatory, standing at an elevation of 3,571 meters. Here, he explores how scientists monitor atmospheric data at sub-zero altitudes.
- High-Flying Adrenaline: Moving from scenic rail travel to extreme mountain sports, Griff meets a local female base jumper who regularly leaps off sheer cliff faces, before taking to the skies himself for a bird’s-eye hang-gliding ride over Interlaken’s lakes and alpine meadows.
- Wrestling & Whey: Delving into local tradition, Griff gets a hands-on introduction to Schwingen—Switzerland’s traditional form of alpine wrestling—and samples fresh, unpasteurized farm whey directly from a mountain dairy farmer.
- Cultural Reality Check: An expat American comedian gives Griff the hilarious, unfiltered truth behind Swiss stereotypes, neutrality, and local etiquette.
Series Overview & Viewing Guide
Episode DetailsHighlights Broadcast TimeSaturday, 8:00pm on Channel 4 (Repeated 9:00pm on 4seven) Series Format6-Part Travel & Geography Documentary Upcoming StopsItaly (Dolomites), Austria, Germany & Slovenia
Why It’s Worth Watching
If you enjoy travelogues that mix gorgeous 4K cinematography with genuine humor, Griff Rhys Jones delivers. Rather than sticking purely to tourist postcards, this episode balances breathtaking aerial vistas of the Bernese Oberland with eccentric local subcultures—whether that’s wrestling in sawdust or jumping off mountains for fun.
Available live on Channel 4 at 8:00pm and streaming on-demand via Channel 4 online.