Former Top Gear duo Paddy and Chris tackle 'profoundly unpleasant' forest workout

Their new show Road Tripping debuted this weekend.

Paddy McGuinness in the tug of war for his latest show with Chris Harris. (BBC screenshot)
Paddy McGuinness in the tug of war for his latest show with Chris Harris. (BBC screenshot)

Former Top Gear duo Paddy McGuinness and Chris Harris are back on our TV screens for a brand-new mental wellness show titled Road Tripping.

In its premiere episode, which aired via BBC One on Sunday, 29 September, the guys found themselves in the Swedish recreational centre of Kypegården, where Ultraman world champion Jonas Colting was waiting to guide them through an extreme forest workout.

During the rock-hurling segment, a rather shattered Harris told the cameras: "It's not pleasant, it's profoundly unpleasant, but there's a little bit of your brain that's going 'this is good!'".

Chris Harris wasn't a big fan of hurling rocks for exercise. (BBC screenshot)
Chris Harris wasn't a big fan of hurling rocks for exercise. (BBC screenshot)

Their carefully planned 45-minute regimen included sledgehammering dead trees and stumps, chucking rocks between each other and a game of tug of war, introduced by Jonas as "primal training".

"I tell you what, it's the best therapy!" said McGuinness in the voiceover before reflecting on the Swedish mantra of connecting your mind with nature. "I really enjoyed that. There's something to be said about training with no mirrors, no mobile phones, no distractions, no trying to outdo anyone around you, just in a forest; nature, fresh air. It's amazing.

Read more: Paddy McGuinness

"In the UK we do everything 100 miles an hour. I'm the worst for that, you know, but I think when you've got this on your doorstep you get out on your own and just do your bit, whereas in the UK if you see a bloke in a forest on his own... he's not training - just putting it out there!"

Pleased to be physically addressing three years of "not looking after myself", Harris went on to admit he "would join this gym" if it was available back in England. "I don't like gyms; gyms smell of toilet block whereas this smells of green stuff and a little bit of conifer, I love it," he added.

The pair suited up for some ice hockey. (BBC screenshot)
The pair suited up for some ice hockey. (BBC screenshot)

Elsewhere in the programme, the Top Gear duo visited the seaside town of Varberg - "imagine Blackpool but full of saunas" - before signing themselves up for an ice hockey match in Gothenburg.

McGuinness got smashed against the glass rink perimeter by a rival player while Harris gave goalkeeping a go.

Paddy and Chris: Road Tripping airs Sunday on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.