The observational docu-series follows holidaymakers on the Ambassador Cruise Line
A Cottingham father and son will hit TV screens next week in a brand new series showcasing life on the Ambassador Cruise Line. Graham and Lewis Francis star in The Cruise: Fun Loving Brits at Sea on 5.
The duo will appear in the first five episodes of the series, produced by Title Role Productions. It starts on Monday, September 29 and runs until Friday, October 24 on weekdays 5 from 4pm – 5pm and on 5+1 from 5pm – 6pm.
The full 20-part series is a showcase for Ambassador’s no-fly offering, following groups of friends and family as they hop aboard two of the cruise line’s ships, Ambience and Ambition, for a week of fun both on board and on land. All episodes will also be available to stream on 5, offering viewers the opportunity to catch up online at any time.
Narrated by British comedian, writer and actress Helen Lederer, the week-long broadcast featuring Graham and Lewis offers audiences the chance to follow this close-knit father and son as they enjoy a sailing aboard Ambition that includes ports of call in Lorient and Le Verdon in France, Bilbao in Spain and Porto in Portugal.
Graham became a dad to twins Sam and Lewis at 18, and he and Lewis have been inseparable ever since. Graham is the more adventurous of the two – happiest zip-lining or rollercoasting – while Lewis prefers a quieter pace. Graham had always dreamed of a cruise but his wife suffers from seasickness, while Lewis had long held a fear of the open ocean.
However, with the recent birth of his son, he wanted to conquer his fear – and couldn’t think of a better way to do that than with his dad. Together, they decided to go on an adventure, with Graham promising to guide his son and Lewis bringing his own brand of humour. “Everyone thought it was so out of character for us to be doing it, ” said Lewis, “ but they all wanted to hear what we’d make of it!”
Across all five days on ‘5’, viewers will witness Graham and Lewis at every stage of their Ambassador sailing, ashore and on board. From guided tours in Le Verdon and hearty breakfasts on the beach in Bilbao to cooking classes, tile painting in Porto, a Father’s Day spent swimming and fine dining on Ambition, the pair throw themselves into every moment.
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Alongside the adventures land-side, they make the most of life at sea – enjoying quiz nights, live music, a giant game of chess, gym sessions and ‘sail away’ drinks together. “Nervous and excited – that’s how I felt before we set sail ,” admitted Lewis. “ The open sea always gave me the heebie jeebies, but the ship was so much more relaxed and accessible than I imagined. Having our own space, great food and so much to do made it feel effortless, and we ended up loving every minute .”
Graham added: “ I’ve always wanted to go on a cruise and this really did live up to my expectations. The highlights for me were Bilbao, with its markets and cooking class, and celebrating Father’s Day on board with Lewis – it was a memory I’ll treasure forever. Ambassador made us feel part of a true community at sea – we discovered that cruising is actually a really fun way to travel and see the world. It was just another crazy thing for us to do together, and one we’ll never forget .”
Graham and Lewis’s sense of closeness and humour shines through across the week, showing exactly why they are “the perfect ‘Fun Loving Brits at Sea’”, according to Ambassador’s Chief Marketing Officer, Gordon Nardini. He said: “The series manages to capture everything that makes a cruise holiday magical while reflecting the sense of community Graham and Lewis discovered on board, and which lies at the heart of the Ambassador brand: reconnecting with family and friends, exploring new destinations, meeting new people, life on a ship and, of course, making memories that last a lifetime .”