Suggs does Italy with a touch of madness

The Italian Job was a great movie. For one, it had Mos Def, or rather, the artist formerly known as Mos Def (he now goes by the name, Yasiin Bey), starring in it.

The heist film that was directed by F Gary Gray also had some interesting scenes that included quite involved choreography for Mini Cooper cars.

Suggs’ Italian Job does not have even a trace of Mos Def in it.

But the show that began on the Fine Living Network earlier this month does have sightings of a Mini Cooper. Inside the tiny car is Suggs. Who? Suggs from the ska band, Madness!

The lead singer of this band has hung the mic up in favour of a road trip around Italy. While he some- times does the predictable tour of touristy places in the land of real pizza and pasta, Suggs also veers off the beaten track and gives cameras an authentic Suggs experience.

He searches the country high and low to learn a little more about its heritage, culture and the creativity sectors in the various towns. Expect to see Suggs try to break down exactly where the Italians’ love affair with the sports car stems from and how he can be a part of the relationship.

He also gets to have a lengthy chat with Puccini’s granddaughter inside the world’s most famous opera house, La Scala in Milan. Still in Milan, Suggs does his rounds in the fashion houses that call the city home. Suggs tries to learn how to steer a gondola and even goes behind the masks during a carnival.

He may have performed for years to throngs of music lovers. But who would have thought that Suggs would be receiving a vocal lesson from the man who taught Luciano Pavarotti almost everything he knew?

Certainly not Suggs.

Everything from lifestyle to design, romance, music, art and more are explored in this travel show, so if you are a fan of Madness or a fan of Italian culture, you’ll enjoy this.

I wonder how much cooler it would be if Mos Def jumped in a Mini Cooper and took over the hosting duties.

I guess we’ll never know.

• Suggs’ Italian Job is on the Fine Living Network (Top TV Channel 451) every Monday at 10.40am and 3.50pm.