In the first season of An Idiot Abroad , actor-comedians and Stephen Merchant send their "uncultured" and home-loving friend Karl Pilkington on a journey to visit the New Seven Wonders of the World .

Karl visits the following locations, which include six of the New Seven Wonders and the Great Pyramids (substituted for the Colosseum) : An Idiot Abroad (TV Series 2010–2012)

The series is presented as a practical joke and sociology experiment: while Merchant hopes travel will broaden Karl's mind, Gervais admits the trip is an "expensive gag" intended to make Karl as miserable as possible for his own amusement .