Ep 3. Very British Problems on Holiday

In this episode of Very British Problems season 2, the focus is on the trials and tribulations of going on holiday as a stereotypically reserved Brit. The episode begins with a series of humorous sketches, featuring comedian James Acaster, highlighting some of the anxieties that come with going on holiday - from the stress of airport security to the nightmare of forgetting to pack something essential.

We then meet a series of British holidaymakers, each with their own specific set of quirks and anxieties. One woman is horrified at the thought of going abroad because she's never been able to find a decent cup of tea outside of the UK. Another man is paranoid about getting a sunburnt bald patch and spends hours applying layers of sunscreen to his scalp. There's even a couple who go on the same holiday to the same place every single year, refusing to change their routine even slightly.

Throughout the episode, these holidaymakers recount various mishaps that have happened to them on previous holidays abroad. One woman talks about how she had to ask a French pharmacist for medicine to relieve her constipation, sheepishly admitting that the whole experience was "horrendous". Another man tells the story of how he got hopelessly lost in Seville, only to be taken in by a local family who insisted on cooking him a full meal and giving him a place to sleep for the night.

Despite the various stresses of going on holiday, there's a sense of camaraderie among the Brits. They bond over the difficulties of ordering drinks in a foreign language, the horror of encountering a topless sunbather on the beach, and the universal awkwardness of the first evening of a package holiday, when everyone is trying to establish who's who.

One of the highlights of the episode is a segment that focuses on the tradition of the British afternoon tea. We see various holidaymakers attempting to recreate this quintessentially British experience in various locations - from a cramped hotel balcony in Spain to a windy beach in Cornwall. Despite all the odds, they manage to brew a decent pot of tea, slap some jam on a scone, and enjoy a slice of home comforts in an alien environment.

As the episode draws to a close, we see the various holidaymakers returning home to the UK, some feeling a sense of relief at being back in familiar territory, others already planning their next adventure abroad. There's a sense that, for all the pressures and difficulties of going on holiday as a Brit, there's also a deep-seated love of exploration and adventure that's hard to resist. Whether it's sampling a new cuisine, exploring a new city, or simply enjoying the feeling of sunshine on your skin, there's something undeniably thrilling about venturing beyond your comfort zone - even if you do still pine for a decent cup of tea.