UK's Best Part-Time Band

Comedian Rhod Gilbert and Ultravox frontman Midge Ure set off on an epic road trip across Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales to discover the UK's best part-time band.

Rhod Gilbert joins up with former Joy Division and New Order bassist Peter Hook and sets off in a ropey old tour bus van for a road trip across northern England and the Midlands to discover the UK's best part-time band. The tour takes them to Liverpool where they meet a primary school teacher/lead singer of a mariachi band and are treated to an intimate band rehearsal in his mum's bedroom. Hooky relives his punk youth with a band made up of junior doctors in Sheffield, and the pair meet a father and daughter who have a bizarre connection to Noel Gallagher and Oasis's Definitely Maybe album. And the family theme continues as they meet several bands of brothers - a ska outfit from a car plant in the west Midlands, and finally Rhod and Hooky are treated to the acoustic harmonies of the Geordie equivalent of the Eagles in the lead singer's kitchen with a band looking to resurrect a career killed by punk in the 70s. At the end of the road trip, Hooky selects five acts to play the biggest gig of their lives at the Leadmill in Sheffield, where they'll battle it out for a place in the grand final, and the coveted title of 'The UK's Best Part-Time Band'.

Rhod Gilbert joins up with Soul II Soul legend Jazzie B in a ropey old tour bus for a road trip across southern England to discover the UK's best part-time band. This is no ordinary talent show - the film follows Rhod and Jazzie as they drop in on bands playing in rehearsal spaces, bars, barns and front rooms. The tour takes them to Somerset where they meet a six-piece country and western outfit the Redhillbillies. Fronted by husband (hedge repairer Tom) and wife (district nurse Jo), the band have 42 children and grandchildren between them so have a ready-made audience at their weekly gigs. Rhod faces an anxious trip to Bournemouth to hear Jazzie's favourite type of music, dub reggae. In a potentially awkward and intimate gig in the keyboard player Dave's front room, Dubheart aim to impress the Soul II Soul legend. Over in Stroud, the pair meet a guitar-based four-piece called Russian Flying Squirrel - formed of dads who met at their kids' school gates. They've yet to play a gig despite honing their musical skills for over three years. At the end of the road trip, Jazzie selects five acts to play the biggest gig of their lives at the Scala in London, where they'll battle it out for a place in the grand final, and the coveted title of the UK's Best Part-time Band.

The six finalists and their mentors go head to head in a battle of the bands at the Ritz in Manchester. From the regional heats, Midge Ure selected the finest from Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales - the explosive ska of Bombskare and the down and dirty rock 'n' roll of Johnny Cage and the Voodoogroove. Hooky landed his two favourite bands from the north - spit-spattered punks Cadavers and the sun-drenched harmonies of the Caffreys. Jazzie rooted out the best from the south. The bands perform an original and a cover song for the Manchester audience who will vote to decide which band will be crowned the winner of UK's Best Part-time Band.