Destination X viewers fume host Rob Brydon is ‘wasted on this on this’ as they make plea for BBC show
Audiences have expressed disappointment with comedian Rob Brydon’s performance as presenter of the BBC’s latest reality programme Destination X, with several suggesting his talents are being squandered on the format.
The programme, which launched on Wednesday evening, features nine participants travelling through Europe aboard coaches with darkened windows whilst attempting to determine their location.
Social media users voiced concerns about Brydon’s presenting approach following the second episode, which aired on Thursday.
Begging for a change to the series, one wrote on X “I like Rob Brydon but he’s not right for this. He’s trying to be too serious. Needs more fun and a few laughs to make it more watchable.”
Another commenter stated: “Rob Brydon wasted on this,” whilst a third declared they had switched off after thirty minutes, noting that “even Rob Brydon doesn’t save it.”
“Tried that #DestinationX on BBC1, what a load of s****. Turned off after half an hour, even Rob Brydon doesn’t save it!” someone else fumed.
“I like Rob Brydon but he’s not right for this. He’s trying to be too serious. Needs more fun and a few laughs to make it more watchable. #DestinationX,” another complained.
One viewer described the show as “like watching paint dry,” though acknowledged potential for improvement.
However, others found themselves captivated by the format.
“I must confess I think it’s kinda okay. I love the fact I have to guess and I don’t know where they are,” wrote one viewer, who appreciated the mystery element despite finding it “boring sometimes.”
The programme earned praise from several viewers who dubbed it “the new Traitors” and “fantastic TV.”
One enthusiast called it their “favourite reality show this year.”
Another viewer found themselves completely absorbed, describing it as “a clever new format” combining elements of “Sherlock Holmes and Wicker’s World,” admitting they became “glued” to the programme when they should have been working.
The format has drawn comparisons to successful programmes like The Traitors and Race Across the World, though critics note significant limitations.
The competitive series, which involved a crew of 190 people undertaking an 11,000-kilometre journey across Europe over 32 days, required nearly 7,000 hotel room bookings according to producers.
Each episode concludes in the Map Room, where participants must mark their suspected location on a European map.
The debut episode on Wednesday saw many similar criticisms, with some fans admitting they had “switched off”.
Multiple viewers described the opening scenes as unconvincing, with complaints flooding Twitter about the programme’s authenticity.
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The early elimination twist, which saw three contestants removed before boarding the coach, prompted complaints during the show’s premiere, while the decision by contestant Mahdi also drew criticism. In the end, several viewers decided to “switch off”.