Joanne McNally joins Bill Murray on his Ireland road trip

Hollywood star Bill Murray takes the passenger seat as comedian Joanne McNally drives him around in a golf cart for his new Ireland road trip series.

The six-part BBC show, A Course Called Ireland, follows the comedian, 75, as he takes a trip around the island to tackle some of the most breathtaking golf courses.

Inspired by Tom Coyne's bestseller A Course Called Ireland, Murray, who has Irish roots, is joined by celebrity friends including The IT Crowd actor Chris O'Dowd, American football player Jason Kelce, and Murray's long-time golfing companion Coyne.

Newly released images show Murray reunited with his St Vincent co-star O'Dowd as they sit next to each other laughing.

He is also seen being driven by McNally on a golf cart.

The series, of six 30-minute episodes, focuses on "life, chance encounters, and the joy of going off course".

Eddie Doyle, Head of Commissioning at BBC Northern Ireland, said: "This series is about much more than golf.

"It's a journey packed with friendship, humour, unforgettable characters, and the kind of magic moments you simply can't script.

"Bill Murray is one of a kind, and every stop on this adventure is a joy to watch, for golf fans and anyone who loves a great road trip."

The award-winning actor is best known for Lost in Translation, Ghostbusters, and Groundhog Day.

A Course Called Ireland will be available to watch on BBC One Northern Ireland, BBC Two, and iPlayer.

Greg Groggel, Senior Vice President of Unscripted at Skydance Sports, who produced the series with Stellify Media, added: "Bill Murray became our creative North Star as we embraced the unexpected and let the people, places, and moments we encountered shape the series.

"The result is something truly original. But at its core, A Course Called Ireland is a simple story: two friends on a trip of a lifetime, inviting us along for the ride."

The series will launch on BBC One Northern Ireland and BBC iPlayer on Friday, 23 October, and on BBC Two on Sunday, 25 October at 9:30pm.

Source: Press Association

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