Our 50-year affair: Timothy West and Prunella Scales on decades of marriage and canal-boating
"I always say I want to die on the eighth curtain call."
Beloved actress Prunella Scales, best known as Sybil Fawlty in Fawlty Towers and for her long-running partnership with husband Timothy West, has died aged 93. In this classic interview, first published in March 2014, she and West reflected on a life of laughter, love and canal journeys that defined their half-century together. Add Great Canal Journey to your watchlist Timothy West is gaily reminiscing about the time in 1996 he and Kevin Whately faced a watery grave. "We were doing Twelve Angry Men at Bristol Old Vic and I took a party of actors on the boat down the River Avon — a very swollen River Avon as there'd been a lot of rain." Nosing his narrowboat into a lock, it was swept into the adjacent, waterfall-like weir. At the last second a safety bar stopped them toppling over. "Kevin Whately and I were standing on the back of the boat looking very brave but thinking, 'This is probably the end of our boat and our trip and possibly the production.' The trouble was we hadn't the force — either from manpower or engine power — to get away as the water was driving us against this bar." In the end, a passing canoeist paddled a rope to the opposite bank and flagged down a lorry. The driver attached the rope to his front bumper and ploughed across somebody's field, dragging the actors out of danger. "It was quite a hairy afternoon," recalls Tim. "It's a good thing there was plenty of wine on board!" Watching Tim and Pru's Slow Boat, you wonder there aren't more mishaps. At 81, Prunella Scales is still astonishingly nimble: shimmying along locks unfazed by the sheer drop either side. Her husband is at the helm and responsible for a few sickening crunches as the boat bounces off the bank. "Yes, it's always Tim who steers!" trills Prunella, with mock exasperation. "But I enjoy running up and down because of the wonderful wildlife on the towpath. And it keeps you fit." The couple celebrated their golden wedding anniversary last October with a trip down the River Thames on paddle steamer the Waverley. Their love affair with canals was ignited in the 1970s, when they borrowed a friend's boat for a fortnight. "We'd never been on a narrowboat before and we just had one of the best holidays of our lives," says Tim. "It was a blissful summer and the two boys [Sam, now also an actor, and Joe] were... how old were they, Pru?" "Just old enough to help with opening and shutting locks. The great thing was they got so beautifully tired they fell asleep at six and we were able to have a glass of wine and talk." They've been navigating Britain's more than 2,000 miles of canals ever since, and holidaying on their current vessel since 1989. Pru: "She sleeps seven if everybody knows each other well and nobody snores." Tim: "She's showing her age a little bit: I always say, she doesn't have teething troubles; she has denture troubles!" In the programme, he talks movingly about their own battles with the passing years and a condition that Pru suffers from — "a sort of mild Alzheimer's... She can't remember things very well, but you don't have to remember things on the canal. You can just enjoy things as they happen — so it's perfect for her." They're also determined not to let it keep them from the stage. "I always say I want to die on the eighth curtain call," says Pru. "Eight will mean the show's been rather a success. I just hope I'm somewhere near the middle and have been reasonably good in the part." Prunella Scales shares her favourite narrowboat journeys Our canal boat is a sort of weekend country cottage — except that you can wake up to a different view outside the window every morning. When Tim and I were younger, we used to explore the whole network of waterways — up as far as Ripon, in North Yorkshire — the farthest north in England and Wales you can go by narrowboat. But which waterside haunts stick in my memory? Our first experience of a canal holiday was being lent a boat on the Oxford Canal in the beautiful summer of 1976. I remember mooring for one evening near King's Sutton, watching the sun go down and just listening to the water trickling through the gate of the nearby lock. Our two boys, having spent the day working the locks and swing bridges, had collapsed with happy exhaustion. Bliss. For some years we kept our own boat at Newbury on the Kennet and Avon Canal. Various locks on this canal were offered for "adoption" by patrons, and we picked the delightfully wooded Copse Lock, just where the River Kennet joins the canal for a time. A lovely spot. When you've travelled the length of the Stratford-upon-Avon Canal, what an exciting moment it is to come out from under the final road bridge and find yourself staring at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre! Our son Sam lived on our boat for two seasons in Stratford. It was a nice life: play Hamlet, fall into the Dirty Duck, fall into your boat — and try not to fall out! Journeying north once, we left the tomato-soup-colored waters of the Potteries, and instead of following our intended main route to Manchester, we thought we'd have a look at the narrower Macclesfield Canal. I'm so glad we did. The area south of Congleton, where the canal is carried on a high embankment, offers views of some of the most beautiful countryside available anywhere on the system. Going even further north, I have to mention the nine-mile-long Crinan Canal in Argyll and Bute, slicing across the Kintyre peninsula to provide a shortcut from Loch Fyne to the Atlantic. We didn't do it in our own boat, of course — at 4mph it would have taken us about a year — but in the venerable "puffer" steamship Vic 32, aboard which we have taken blissful holidays. Tim is a steam freak — he was in his element!
Our 50-year affair: Timothy West and Prunella Scales reveal their romance with Britain’s backwaters
Beloved actress Prunella Scales, best known as Sybil Fawlty in Fawlty Towers and for her long-running partnership with husband Timothy West, has died aged 93. In this classic interview, first published in March 2014, she and West reflected on a life of laughter, love and canal journeys that defined their half-century together. Timothy West is gaily reminiscing about the time in 1996 he and Kevin Whately faced a watery grave. "We were doing Twelve Angry Men at Bristol Old Vic and I took a party of actors on the boat down the River Avon — a very swollen River Avon as there'd been a lot of rain." Nosing his narrowboat into a lock, it was swept into the adjacent, waterfall-like weir. At the last second a safety bar stopped them toppling over. "Kevin Whately and I were standing on the back of the boat looking very brave but thinking, 'This is probably the end of our boat and our trip and possibly the production.' The trouble was we hadn't the force — either from manpower or engine power — to get away as the water was driving us against this bar." In the end, a passing canoeist paddled a rope to the opposite bank and flagged down a lorry. The driver attached the rope to his front bumper and ploughed across somebody's field, dragging the actors out of danger. "It was quite a hairy afternoon," recalls Tim. "It's a good thing there was plenty of wine on board!" Watching Tim and Pru's Slow Boat, you wonder there aren't more mishaps. At 81, Prunella Scales is still astonishingly nimble: shimmying along locks unfazed by the sheer drop either side. Her husband is at the helm and responsible for a few sickening crunches as the boat bounces off the bank. "Yes, it's always Tim who steers!" trills Prunella, with mock exasperation. "But I enjoy running up and down because of the wonderful wildlife on the towpath. And it keeps you fit." The couple celebrated their golden wedding anniversary last October with a trip down the River Thames on paddle steamer the Waverley. Their love affair with canals was ignited in the 1970s, when they borrowed a friend's boat for a fortnight. "We'd never been on a narrowboat before and we just had one of the best holidays of our lives," says Tim. "It was a blissful summer and the two boys [Sam, now also an actor, and Joe] were... how old were they, Pru?" "Just old enough to help with opening and shutting locks. The great thing was they got so beautifully tired they fell asleep at six and we were able to have a glass of wine and talk." They've been navigating Britain's more than 2,000 miles of canals ever since, and holidaying on their current vessel since 1989. Pru: "She sleeps seven if everybody knows each other well and nobody snores." Tim: "She's showing her age a little bit: I always say, she doesn't have teething troubles; she has denture troubles!" In the programme, he talks movingly about their own battles with the passing years and a condition that Pru suffers from — "a sort of mild Alzheimer's... She can't remember things very well, but you don't have to remember things on the canal. You can just enjoy things as they happen — so it's perfect for her." They're also determined not to let it keep them from the stage. "I always say I want to die on the eighth curtain call," says Pru. "Eight will mean the show's been rather a success. I just hope I'm somewhere near the middle and have been reasonably good in the part." Prunella Scales shares her favourite narrowboat journeys Our canal boat is a sort of weekend country cottage — except that you can wake up to a different view outside the window every morning. When Tim and I were younger, we used to explore the whole network of waterways — up as far as Ripon, in North Yorkshire — the farthest north in England and Wales you can go by narrowboat. But which waterside haunts stick in my memory? Our first experience of a canal holiday was being lent a boat on the Oxford Canal in the beautiful summer of 1976. I remember mooring for one evening near King's Sutton, watching the sun go down and just listening to the water trickling through the gate of the nearby lock. Our two boys, having spent the day working the locks and swing bridges, had collapsed with happy exhaustion. Bliss. For some years we kept our own boat at Newbury on the Kennet and Avon Canal. Various locks on this canal were offered for "adoption" by patrons, and we picked the delightfully wooded Copse Lock, just where the River Kennet joins the canal for a time. A lovely spot. When you've travelled the length of the Stratford-upon-Avon Canal, what an exciting moment it is to come out from under the final road bridge and find yourself staring at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre! Our son Sam lived on our boat for two seasons in Stratford. It was a nice life: play Hamlet, fall into the Dirty Duck, fall into your boat — and try not to fall out! Journeying north once, we left the tomato soup-coloured waters of the Potteries, and instead of following our intended main route to Manchester, we thought we'd have a look at the narrower Macclesfield Canal. I'm so glad we did. The area south of Congleton, where the canal is carried on a high embankment, offers views of some of the most beautiful countryside available anywhere on the system. Going even further north, I have to mention the nine-mile-long Crinan Canal in Argyll and Bute, slicing across the Kintyre peninsula to provide a shortcut from Loch Fyne to the Atlantic. We didn't do it in our own boat, of course — at 4mph it would have taken us about a year — but in the venerable "puffer" steamship Vic 32, aboard which we have taken blissful holidays. Tim is a steam freak — he was in his element! Visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Where is Doc Martin filmed? Martin Clunes reveals the real Portwenn
The ITV doctor's surgery is really in the picturesque fishing village of Port Isaac on the north Cornwall coast.
As well as all the medical drama and comedy which comes from the grumpy doctor, Doc Martin is also known for its stunning Cornish scenery, with all the action taking place in the fictional Portwenn. Martin Clunes previously told us all about his favourite spots while filming the much-loved ITV drama series, including some locations which have been made iconic across the 18 years the show has been on screens. These include the Doc's cottage, the local pub, the primary school and more, which have featured across all 10 seasons of the beloved series. With the show coming to an end this year, read on for everything you need to know about where Doc Martin is filmed. Where is the real Portwenn? The fictional village in Doc Martin is actually filmed in the historic fishing village of Port Isaac, which can be found on the north Cornwall coast. The Platt, the Cornish name for a market square, is at the heart of the village and has been used for special events throughout the series, including a lifeboat day gala in the very first episode and the wedding of Al and Morwenna in season 9. However, if you're looking for Martin Clunes when he's not on set, you're better off searching in the nearby village of Port Quin. The small cove and hamlet on the north Cornish coast is where Clunes likes to walk his dog, along the cliff overlooking the bay. Clunes said: "It’s an old fishing village along the coast from Port Isaac. There’s a beautiful crenelated folly there called Doyden Castle, built about 1830 by Samuel Symons, which we used as Pentire Castle at the end of season 5." Where is Doc Martin's house and other key locations? Although you can’t actually go in, many people seek out the Doctor’s house and surgery on Roscarrock Hill in Port Isaac in order to snap a picture outside. The cottage is called Fern Cottage, and Clunes is particularly fond of its garden. He said: "Doctor Martin’s house actually has two gardens. One that we use and one just up the cliff a little. When filming gets hectic and I need a bit of peace I can go up to the secret garden, look out to sea and get some space." The cottage went on the market this year after filming. Meanwhile, the scenes set at Portwenn's primary school are filmed at The Old School Hotel and Restaurant, a former school, while the only actual pub in the village, The Golden Lion, is the show's Crab and Lobster pub. Port Isaac's Harbour Treats gift shop was also transformed into the local pharmacy run by Mrs Tishell. Where else should you visit near Port Isaac? Delabole is the third highest village in Cornwall, six miles away from Port Isaac and known for its 500-feet-deep slate quarry. The striking manmade site is worth a visit, but this is also where the Doc Martin crew hang out after hours. "It’s the village I stay in when we’re filming [the series]," revealed Clunes. "I have too many lines to learn to stay in the Golden Lion [in Port Isaac]. It's not as picturesque but it’s got a friendly, close knit community." In the centre of Port Isaac's old fishing village, in a beautiful higgledy-piggledy building, visitors will find Potters (above), a charming little eatery selling sandwiches, salads and cream teas. Under its former name, Victoria House Café, the owners would sell Doc Martin memorabilia. "We had a deal," explained Clunes, "I’d sit there with a coffee signing memorabilia and the money from the signed stuff goes to local charities." Doc Martin is available to stream on BritBox and season 10 arrives on Wednesday 7th September – you can sign up for a 7-day free trial. Looking for something else to watch? Check out our TV Guide. The latest issue of Radio Times magazine is on sale now – subscribe now and get the next 12 issues for only £1. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to the Radio Times podcast with Jane Garvey.
Steven Moffat on Doctor Who and The Time Traveler's Wife
The former Who showrunner opens up on the familiar themes in his time-displaced romantic drama.
When Steven Moffat read The Time Traveler’s Wife, he’d just written his first episode of Doctor Who. Like millions of readers, the Scottish screenwriter devoured Audrey Niffenegger’s 2003 novel about a reluctant time-traveller and his long-suffering wife - and promptly borrowed the idea. The result was The Girl in the Fireplace - a 2006 episode of Doctor Who in which David Tennant’s Time Lord falls in love with King Louis XV’s mistress, Madame de Pompadour. “It’s very similar in mood if not in detail,” explains Moffat, who went on to become the showrunner of the sci-fi series and also created the hit BBC dramas Sherlock and Dracula. “It’s about a time-lapse relationship, and I did it quite consciously - knowing I was doing The Time Traveler’s Wife. In my time on Doctor Who, I was more interested in the time travel aspect than most people probably are - I loved time conundrums and paradoxes.” Moffat didn’t realise that the Chicago author had rumbled him until she published a second novel, Her Fearful Symmetry. “She has a character in the book actually watching The Girl in the Fireplace on television, so I knew she was onto me. At which point I could be more obvious, so I made Doctor Who a wife - River Song." Played by Alex Kingston, River Song encounters several incarnations of her extra-terrestrial husband-to-be - just as the ill-starred couple in The Time Traveler’s Wife meet at various ages. Moffat finally met Niffenegger at the press launch for River Song’s last appearance in Doctor Who and has now come full circle: he’s written HBO’s version of The Time Traveler’s Wife, which marries his penchant for sci-fi and spiky rom-coms such as his pre-Who comedy Coupling. He admits he’s “nervous” about comparisons to the novel and the 2009 film adaptation, which cast Rachel McAdams as the long-suffering heroine. “People are very invested in the book, and a lot of people love the movie.” The TV show stars two Brits: Theo James is Henry, a Chicago librarian who involuntarily travels back and forward in time, often dropping in on his younger self and wife-to-be Clare. She’s played by Rose Leslie, who made her name as free-spirited Ygritte in Game of Thrones and a housemaid in Downton Abbey. “There’s a storm going on inside Clare, and Rose Leslie was the only person who got that - who made it fiery," explains Moffat. There was a small complication, though: Leslie was heavily pregnant. “When we finished the last round of auditions, I said, ‘Literally the only question we’ve got here is: How do we handle the childcare? We have got exactly one Clare.’” How did they handle the childcare? “I think Kit Harington would like to have a word,” he jokes. “He handled the childcare. We tried to be as accommodating as we humanly could given the monstrously long hours and sheer size of the part.” Harington is, of course, Leslie’s Game of Thrones co-star and real-life husband. While Moffat initially picked up The Time Traveler’s Wife because of its title, it wasn’t the time-defying plot that he found fascinating about the book. “It’s an ordinary love seen in an extraordinary way,” he explains. “One of the most difficult things to write about is a perfectly happy relationship because it seems a bit dull. But by viewing it through the prism of time travel, you remind everybody that love and loss are inextricably linked: love means loss. “It reminds you that tragedy underpins every love story, and that every day is valuable. There is no such thing as happily ever after - there’s happy for a bit. I was reading it thinking, ‘How can Henry stand the fact that he knows he’s going to die? Oh yeah, I know I’m going to die too - why am I relaxed?’” Unlike Doctor Who’s monster-bashing Time Lord, Henry is no superhero. “He can’t change time; he’s a victim of it. It’s not like Back to the Future - nothing is going to alter. He’s not got a superpower.” Although set in Chicago, HBO’s version was mostly filmed in and around New York. Moffat was only on set for the final week of the six-month shoot, partly because of COVID travel restrictions and partly because he was busy shooting his upcoming thrillers Inside Man and The Devil’s Hour in Farnborough, which both star former Time Lords. David Tennant is a vicar in Inside Man, which will land on the BBC and Netflix later this year; Peter Capaldi plays a reclusive nomad in Amazon Prime Video’s The Devil’s Hour, which Moffat and Sue Vertue are producing. All three shoots had to be paused due to positive COVID tests. “I honestly didn’t think we’d get to the end of any of them. There were a lot of challenges, and a lot of the joy, frankly, was taken out of it.” While he waits to see if viewers will fall in love with his take on The Time Traveler’s Wife, Moffat is already working on a follow-up: "I'm in optimism writing the second season right now." Is he a romantic? “I’d like to think so. Are there really people who aren’t? There’s 7.5 billion people in the world - they came from somewhere. I think there’s still a certain amount of enthusiasm for the subject out there.” Loved this Big RT Interview? Check out these… Doctor Strange 2 director Sam Raimi: 'I had a superhero overdose for a while' Sienna Miller and Naomi Scott on Anatomy of a Scandal: 'It asks questions of viewers' Nicola Walker on her 'bittersweet' break-up with The Split The Thief, His Wife and the Canoe's Eddie Marsan: 'It's a story about Anne's redemption' Bill Skarsgård: 'I dare you to watch Clark - once you start, its going to be hard to turn off' The Time Traveler’s Wife begins on HBO on Sunday 15th May, and Sky Atlantic on Monday 16th May. Find out how to sign up for Sky TV here. You can also order the original Time Traveler's Wife book on Amazon. For more, check out our dedicated Sci-Fi page or our full TV Guide. The latest issue of Radio Times magazine is on sale now – subscribe now and get the next 12 issues for only £1. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to the Radio Times podcast with Jane Garvey.
Discover the setting of ITV's detective drama Vera
Brenda Blethyn's DCI often finds herself inspecting the beautiful beaches and wild moorland of the North East.
ITV detective drama Vera, starring Brenda Blethyn as DCI Vera Stanhope, is returning for an eleventh season this year, with an exclusive Vera preview released on RadioTimes.com. Adapted from crime author Ann Cleeves' novels, the series will return us to the wild, rugged landscape of the North East, where the drama series is predominantly set, in addition to the city of Newcastle. Series 11 filmed in various locations, including on Shields Ferry from South Shields to North Shields, Collingwood Monument in Tynemouth and Holy Island. We previously caught up with Margaret Mitchell, the show’s producer, who's as fond of the drama's sweeping Northumberland backdrop as she is of Blethyn's detective. “I think there’s a real appetite to see dramas set in areas other than London,” explains Mitchell. “I absolutely love Northumberland. I think it’s beautiful.” The series also uses Newcastle as a character in the drama. “The backdrop in the series informs the choice of colour palette we use,” explains Mitchell. “Vera’s costume colours and the autumnal tones are influenced by the countryside. There are blues and grays in her overall costume palette. Vera is a very large character and performs in a large, rugged landscape. It’s great to see the countryside and the actors play out their characters.” Read on for producer Margaret Mitchell's five favourite Vera filming locations. 1. Blyth and Whitley Bay The small town of Blyth, south of the river on the east coast, is real Vera territory. “This section of the coastline has these amazing turbines out to sea,” explains Mitchell. “It’s a very angular, metallic world out there with a desolate landscape. It’s quite moody. The turbines are pretty striking with the landscape. It’s harsh coastal countryside”. The Rendezvous Café, nearby Whitley Bay, is also regularly used as a filming location. “The place has distinctive windows”, explains Mitchell, “It’s a timeless area, there’s a big statue just behind the priory where we shot the episode Sandancers [series 2] and that’s a well-known landmark too.” Find B&Bs in Whitley Bay 2. Nose’s Point, Durham Well known locally, this stretch of coastline runs south from Newcastle to Hartlepool. The beaches contain huge rock stacks that have been separated from the mainland and appeared in episode two of this series. “The mainland has broken away and eroded,” says Mitchell, “you’re left with coastline and these big monolithic stacks of rocks that you can walk right up to, just 50 metres away. It’s very dramatic. For the latest news and expert tips on getting the best deals this year, take a look at our Black Friday 2021 and Cyber Monday 2021 guides. 3. Rothbury, Northumberland Recognisable from the Silent Voices episode in series two, this quaint little town was chosen for its natural beauty and river. “This is where we filmed the wild water swimmer,” explains Mitchell, “We arrived very early in the morning, on an October day when it was very misty. The sun was rising and shone through the water – that was particularly beautiful. It’s a great place for walking. When you’re here, you’re completely struck by the expansive land, the light and the skies. You can see the vast panorama of countryside, the light just fills your eyes. It’s incredible.” 4. Edmundbyers, Durham Here visitors will find pure open countryside, wilderness and moorlands as far as the eye can see. “This village is more on the wild side,” says Mitchell, who filmed scenes from episode Young Gods [series 3] here. “We were there on a frosty morning and there was a smattering of snow overnight, it was so bleak and so cold. That was just a minor amount of snow, so in the wintertime the roads must be impassable. But what we got out of it was amazing.” 5. Newcastle city centre This northern town has a strong identity and is a mixture of old and new, and it's where Vera carries out many of her investigations. “The city has got great bridges that span across the river,” says Mitchell. “We have used the Sage building, which is an amazing-looking structure, and the Millennium Bridge in the background of shots, as well as the Victorian buildings in the older parts of Newcastle.” Find hotels and self-catering accommodation in Newcastle This article was first published in 2015 Discover the locations in series six, seven and eight - Kielder Water, St Cuthbert's Cave and the Farne Islands Select Vera episodes are available on the ITV Hub, while series one-nine are available on BritBox. You can also purchase instalments from any series on Amazon Prime Video. Vera season 11 will start on Sunday 29th August. To find out what else is on, check out our TV Guide. You can buy the first of Ann Cleeves' Vera novels here.
Christopher Jefferies found it "impossible" to watch his arrest in ITV drama
The retired teacher vilified by the press after he was arrested on suspicion of murdering his tenant Joanna Yeates is the subject of a two-part ITV drama.
A version of this article was originally published in 2014. Christopher Jefferies couldn't bear to watch his arrest acted out for an ITV drama, he told Radio Times. The Lost Honour of Christopher Jefferies has been written by Peter Morgan – the man behind critically acclaimed Frost/Nixon and The Queen – with W1A actor Jason Watkins (in character above) playing the retired schoolteacher. It dramatises the month after Jefferies was arrested on suspicion of killing landscape artist Joanna Yeates in December 2010, and the shocking way he was subsequently hounded and demonised by the tabloid press. Jefferies was later released without charge and another of his tenants, Dutch engineer Vincent Tabak, was ultimately convicted of Yeates' murder. During filming the director – Roger Michell, a former pupil of Jefferies – invited him on set to watch the arrest scene but the retired schoolteacher found he couldn't watch. "It didn't seem to be to be necessarily the most sensitive thing to invite me to go and see," Jefferies told Radio Times magazine. "There were 13 takes and because my arrest is done in the film exactly as it happened, I found it quite impossible to watch Jason in that scene." Otherwise he says he was dispassionate watching Watkin's replay that traumatic episode in his life. "Although I appear played by a character who looks remarkably like me, or who was made up to look remarkably like me, probably what comes across – but obviously I am not the best person to judge – is that this is somebody who represents or caricatures certain aspects of me, exaggerated and separated, as it were, from the whole, in order to make the point Peter Morgan wanted to make. "So, in a sense, I suppose the writer was using me and what happened to me to say something that he particularly wanted to say about British society." Originally broadcast in 2014, The Lost Honour of Christopher Jefferies is repeated on ITV beginning tonight (Monday, 17th August) at 9pm – check out what else is on with our TV Guide
How to buy tickets for Disney On Ice: Dream Big
Moana, Aladdin, Ariel, Maleficent and Elsa will be touring the UK in 2018
All your favourite Disney characters will be skating into Glasgow, Newcastle, Manchester, Birmingham, Sheffield, Nottingham and London later this year. The hugely popular family show Disney On Ice will return to the UK in September with a brand-new production. Dream Big will be "a collection of inspiring stories" featuring characters from Frozen, Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, Tangled and Moana. The show will premiere in Glasgow and tour the UK, visiting Newcastle, Manchester, Birmingham, Sheffield, Nottingham and London (see below for the full list of dates and venues below). Presale tickets are available from 22 June via Ticketmaster.co.uk. Tickets go on general sale on Friday 29 June at 9am. Buy presale tickets Expect all the magic and adventure of Disney’s tales through figure-skating, fabulous costumes and dazzling set designs, plus plenty of thrilling special effects. Audiences will travel to the kingdom of Arendelle with Anna, Elsa and Olaf, jump into amazing adventures with Aladdin, battle the villain Maleficent (in the form of a fire-breathing dragon) and dive under the sea with headstrong Ariel. View oEmbed on the source website Tour dates in full: 21 to 30 September 2018 - Intu Braehead, Glasgow 2 to 7 October 2018 - Metro Radio Arena, Newcastle 10 to 14 October 2018 - Manchester Arena 19 to 28 October 2018 - Arena Birmingham 14 to 18 November 2018 - Flydsa Arena, Sheffield 21 to 25 November 2018 - Motorpoint Arena, Nottingham 26 December to 6 January 2019 - The O2, London Buy Disney on Ice tickets
11 plays to see this summer - starring Aidan Turner, Vanessa Kirby, Laura Linney and more
Planning a trip to the West End? Check out which TV stars are treading the boards...
Lots of familiar faces will be strutting their stuff on London's stages this summer. Our roundup also includes a cult teen film that's now a musical, and a great play about Who Wants to be a Millionaire? Book early to avoid disappointment! 1. Aidan Turner is to play a terrorist in The Lieutenant of Inishmore The Poldark star will make his West End debut in black comedy The Lieutenant of Inishmore. Oscar-winning Martin McDonagh’s critically acclaimed satire on terrorism is set in 1993 and tells the story of Mad Padraic, whose beloved cat has been run over on the island of Inishmore. The murder of Wee Thomas the cat sets off a chain of bloody events, which will see Turner swapping that legendary scythe for a cut-throat razor. When? 23 June to 8 September 2018 Where? Noel Coward Theatre, London Book tickets for The Lieutenant of Inishmore 2. Orlando Bloom is a corrupt cop in comic thriller Killer Joe Orlando Bloom plays a cop who moonlights as a part-time contract killer in this dark comic thriller. The Smith family hatches a plan to murder their estranged matriarch for her insurance money. They hire Joe Cooper, police detective and killer-for-hire, but the plan soon flounders... Bloom is joined by Kingsman's Sophie Cookson, Benidorm's Adam Gillen, Neve McIntosh and Steffan Rhodri. Read our review When? 18 May to 18 August 2018 Where? Trafalgar Studios, London Book tickets for Killer Joe 3. The Crown's Vanessa Kirby lets her hair down in a modern Miss Julie Last month Vanessa Kirby won a Bafta for her memorable turn as Princess Margaret in The Crown. In Julie, she plays an even more reckless woman: one of theatre’s unhappiest heroines, Miss Julie. Swedish dramatist August Strindberg’s 1888 play has been transported to 21st century London. Kirby's Julie lives in a mansion with her wealthy businessman father, who fails to show up for his daughter’s decadent birthday party. 130 years after she was created, Strindberg’s heroine still feels painfully relevant, and Kirby’s mesmerising performance will stay with you long after this short play hurtles to its unhappy end. Julie will be broadcast live to cinemas worldwide on 6 September. Check out ntlive.nationaltheatre.org for more details. Read our review When? 31 May to 8 September Where? The National's Lyttelton Theatre, London Book tickets for Julie 4. Andrew Scott goes solo in Sea Wall Sea Wall is a one-man play that was written for Andrew Scott 10 years ago, and is being revived as part of The Old Vic's bicentenary celebrations. Things for Alex are good. He loves his wife, his daughter, his city, his job. But sometimes the force of life can crash against you. Sometimes everything you thought you could always depend on can be taken away. When? Monday 18 June until Saturday 30 June 2018 Where? The Old Vic, London Book tickets for Sea Wall 5. Colin Morgan and Ciarán Hinds tackle Anglo-Irish relations in Translations The National Theatre has dusted off Brian Friel's play set in Ireland after the 1800 Act of Union. The drama plays out in a hedge school (where farm families were taught) in Baile Beag in the early 1900s. Owen, the youngest son of alcoholic headmaster Hugh, returns to his small hometown with two officers of the Royal Engineer. They are mapping the Irish countryside for the first time since the Act of Union has united Great Britain and Ireland. Read our review When? Monday 18 June until Saturday 30 June 2018 Where? The Old Vic, London Book tickets for Translations 6. Laura Linney doubles up in My Name Is Lucy Barton The Big C and Ozark actress makes her West End debut in a deeply moving adaptation of Elizabeth Strout's bestselling novel. Linney plays an author reminiscing about when she was in hospital with a strange illness, a time during which her mother came to visit her and the two women talked properly for the first time in years. The most extraordinary thing about the play is how Linney shifts from Lucy to Lucy’s mother so seamlessly, suddenly becoming an older woman with a deep drawl. My Name is Lucy Barton is 90 minutes of sadness, humour, love and acts of kindness that are almost too much to bear. Read our review When? 2 June to 23 June 2018 Where? The Bridge Theatre, London Book tickets for My Name is Lucy Barton 7. Humans' Emily Berrington revives a radical feminist classic Best known for playing a conscious robot in Humans, Emily Berrington plays a young woman who isn’t supposed to think and feel in Machinal – a cog in the unstoppable capitalist, patriarchal machine. When it was written by American journalist Sophie Treadwell in the 1920s, Machinal was decades ahead of its time and still feels pertinent. Loosely based on a notorious murder case, it’s about a young woman trapped in a loveless marriage who snaps and murders her husband. Read our review When? Until 1 July Where? Almeida Theatre, Islington, London Book tickets for Machinal 8. David Haig wrote and stars in Pressure The weather forecast makes for gripping viewing in David Haig's play Pressure, which transfers to the West End from Park Theatre. It’s June 1944. The wheels of war are rolling and the allied forces are set for the largest seaborne invasion in history. Months of meticulous planning will culminate in a few days when conditions – including the moon and tides – will be just right. But the launch is still not a certainty. For Eisenhower to give the go ahead he needs to know the weather won’t destroy their chances. Read our review When? 7 June to 1 September Where? Ambassadors Theatre, London Book tickets for Pressure 9. Ex-EastEnder Jenna Russell takes a turn in Tony-winning musical Fun Home Starring former EastEnder Jenna Russell (aka Michelle Fowler), this musical version of Alison Bechdel’s graphic novel won five Tony awards (America's answer to the Oliviers). The audience meets Alison at three stages of her life. Memories of her 1970s childhood in a funeral home merge with her college love life and her coming out. Looking back on her complex relationship with her father, Alison finds they had more in common than she ever knew... When? 18 June to 1 September Where? The Young Vic, London Book tickets for Fun Home 10. The King and I transfers from Broadway View oEmbed on the source website Before it was an Oscar-winning film, Rodgers and Hammerstein’s masterpiece was a musical. This production transfers from Broadway where it took America by storm. Set in 1860s Bangkok, it tells the story of the unconventional and tempestuous relationship that develops between the King of Siam and Anna Leonowens, a British schoolteacher, whom the imperious King brings to Siam to tutor his many wives and children. The score includes the classics Getting To Know You, Hello Young Lovers, Shall We Dance, I Have Dreamed, and Something Wonderful. When? 23 June to 29 September 2018 Where? London Palladium Book tickets for The King and I 11. Cult 80s movie Heathers is now a musical Welcome to Westerberg High, where popularity is so very a matter of life and death, and Veronica Sawyer is just another of the nobodies dreaming of a better day... Heathers the Musical stars Carrie Hope Fletcher and is based on the 1988 cult classic Heathers, which starred Winona Ryder and Christian Slater. When Veronica Sawyer is unexpectedly taken under the wings of the three beautiful and impossibly cruel Heathers, her dreams finally start to come true. Until JD turns up, the mysterious teen rebel who teaches her that it might kill to be a nobody, but it’s murder being a somebody… When? 9 June to 4 August 2018 Where? The Other Palace, London Book tickets for Heathers the Musical You can find our theatre reviews at radiotimes.com/going-out/
Chuffing perfect: Peter Snow picks his favourite railway journeys
Whether it's an epic ride through the Canadian Rockies or a steam-powered day in Dorset, the veteran broadcaster loves nothing more than a train trip
Peter Snow is mad about trains – miniature as well as full-sized. “I’ve had a model railway ever since I was a boy,” he says. “They seem to me almost a substitute when you can’t go on a big train. You put your head down close to the rail and look at them chuffing towards you. Wonderful.” In his Channel 4 series Peter’s Great Railway Restoration, a team of enthusiasts will attempt to restore four decaying railway carriages from different periods in history. “These carriages were in an appalling state, mouldering away in people’s gardens,” he says. “One was Queen Victoria’s state coach, which was used as a kind of lean-to. I found it hard to believe that they would manage to restore them.” If all goes to plan, Snow hopes then to fulfil a lifelong dream and drive a steam locomotive. “I’m extremely excited. The idea is that I’ll pull these carriages from Llangollen to Corwen [in north Wales], which is one of the most beautiful lines in the world.” Which begs the question, what other lines does he recommend we ride? 1. Rocking the Rockies The Rocky Mountaineer is a terrific train that runs through the Canadian Rockies, from Banff to Vancouver. My wife [the journalist Ann MacMillan] is Canadian, so we took the family about ten years ago. We were there in July when the lower slopes are green and you get this wonderful variety of colour. The carriages are very comfortable and the train has an observation carriage with a see-through roof, so you get incredible views of snow-capped peaks above your head. We had a marvellous steward called Henry who used to give us a little lecture about what we were passing and the train’s history, and then he’d serve us lunch. The other wonderful thing is the spiral tunnels. You go into a mountain and instead of coming straight out the other side, you go round in two full circles and come out 500 feet lower down. Radio Times offer: Canada's Rocky Mountaineer from Calgary to Vancouver, 9 days from £2,699pp 2. The Taj by train When my children were in their teens, we took them to India and took the train from Delhi down to Agra to see the Taj Mahal. It’s only about 120 miles, but it was a lovely trip. You arrive at the station and it’s complete chaos – hundreds of people milling around on the platform – so you have to fight your way to your coach. We went first class and it’s pretty posh: white tablecloths, lovely breakfast and very nice guards who came along to check how we were getting on. India is so heavily populated that while you rattle along you’re glued to the window looking at all these people in the fields and towns. It’s an extraordinary experience. One day I’d like to do the whole of India – from Mumbai right the way across. Radio Times offer: The Heart of India by Luxury Train, 11 days from £3699pp 3. Paris for lunch The Eurostar is absolutely mind-boggling – the speed it goes, the comfort of it. It’s a triumph of modern technology. Usually I’m taking it to Paris because I’ve got a son there. When I was working for the BBC as a journalist, I would travel to Paris by aeroplane and it was half a day’s work getting there. Travelling by train is so much more pleasant and, unbelievably, it’s faster – two hours and 16 minutes. With [the high-speed] HS2, which I’m a great fan of, it’s going to be quicker to go to most places in England, and even Scotland, by train one day. 4. Dream line in Dorset There are more steam trains now than there were after Beeching in the 60s. There’s a lovely one that goes from Swanage to Norden on the Isle of Purbeck in Dorset. It’s a beautiful line that was ripped up in the 70s and rebuilt by volunteers over 30 years. It runs past Corfe Castle, which was badly destroyed in the Civil War but is still marvellous. Swanage stands in a lovely valley between two ranges of hills and that’s where my parents used to live, so I’ve walked all over those hills. The countryside in Purbeck is gorgeous, absolutely unspoilt. Great Rail Restorations with Peter Snow is on Wednesdays, Channel 4, 8pm Radio Times reader offer Canada's Rocky Mountaineer, 9 days, £2,699pp The magnificent Rocky Mountains are Canada’s crowning glory: home to bears, majestic elk, moose and beaver, with vast forests that seem to go on forever. Opaque lakes of stunning emerald green and turquoise reflect the magnificent scenery like no other place on earth. Carpets of wild flowers bedeck the green meadows spread beneath the towering glaciers - huge expanses of brilliant white ice and snow, contrasting with the muted greys and pinks of the jagged peaks. We stay in Banff, the very heart of the mountains, then travel along a monument to man’s engineering prowess, the ‘road of steel’ that is the great Trans-Canadian railway, on the incredible Rocky Mountaineer train. Crossing high passes, deep ravines and innumerable spectacular bridges, places that can only be seen by rail, the Rocky Mountaineer is acknowledged as the ultimate way to travel through the beautifully rugged terrain of Alberta and British Columbia. Finally, we arrive in Vancouver, nestling beside the immense majesty of the Pacific Ocean, which ranks alongside Sydney, Cape Town and San Francisco as one of the world’s most naturally beautiful panoramas. With its gleaming glass skyscrapers reflected in the azure-blue ocean, Canada’s third largest city is a fascinating and cosmopolitan metropolis encircled by water and mountains. Read the full itinerary and book The Heart of India by Luxury Train, 11 days, from £3699pp From the flawless grandeur of the Taj Mahal and Rajasthan’s mighty fortresses, to the reminders of past glories of the Raj in Delhi, the teeming markets in Jaipur and the shimmering Lake Palace of Udaipur, our luxurious train journey on the Deccan Odyssey encompasses the very best of India. Travelling by train is a superb way to experience the vast, intriguing and surprising country that is India. Immerse yourself in the atmosphere of a bygone age on board the newly refurbished Deccan Odyssey, offering one of the world’s most extraordinary and unique travel experiences. Read the full itinerary and book
My Name is Lucy Barton: Laura Linney is superb in a one-woman play ★★★★
The Big C and Ozark actress makes her West End debut in a deeply moving adaptation of Elizabeth Strout's bestselling novel
As soon as Laura Linney spoke her last word in My Name is Lucy Barton, the entire audience of the Bridge Theatre leapt to their feet and ferociously applauded. It was deserved, with the three-time Oscar nominee and Broadway star pulling off a deeply affecting one-woman play. Linney plays an author reminiscing about when she was in hospital with a strange illness, a time during which her mother came to visit her and the two women talked properly for the first time in years. Linney’s Lucy is shy, nervous and warm as she talks about slivers of memory that came back to her while talking to her estranged mother. As she talks about moments from their brief time together, it becomes clear that that Lucy and her siblings were beaten and neglected as children. Lucy’s time in hospital becomes a bittersweet reunion, where her mother admits some guilt but ultimately walks away at the end with no resolution – no happy, easy ending. Adapted from Elizabeth Strout’s novel of the same name by Rona Munro, the play is a subtle, nuanced story of a difficult childhood and how difficult it is to escape the past, however hard we try – but also how our family will always inform our identity, whether we like it or not. Lucy relieving her hospital memories is compelling not because there are any huge revelations or twists and turns – it’s a quieter play than that – but because Linney plays Lucy with such humanity. One moment she’s full of love for her mother’s strangeness and the next moment brimming with pain and frustration at what she had to endure. The most extraordinary thing about the play is how Linney shifts from Lucy to Lucy’s mother so seamlessly, suddenly becoming an older woman with a deep drawl. My Name is Lucy Barton is 90 minutes of sadness, humour, love and acts of kindness that are almost too much to bear. I’d be amazed if Linney didn’t get standing ovations for her extraordinary monologue every night of the run. My Name is Lucy Barton is at London's Bridge Theatre until 23 June
Machinal review: Humans' Emily Berrington stars in a discomfiting feminist classic ★★★★
Ninety years after it was a hit on Broadway, London's Almeida Theatre has revived a play by an overlooked US playwright - and it still feels radical
Emily Berrington played a conscious robot in the Channel 4 drama Humans. In Machinal, she plays a young woman who isn’t supposed to think and feel – a cog in the unstoppable capitalist, patriarchal machine. When it was written by American journalist Sophie Treadwell in the 1920s, Machinal was decades ahead of its time and still feels astonishingly, and depressingly, pertinent. Loosely based on a notorious murder case, it's about a young woman trapped in a loveless marriage who snaps and murders her husband. (In the 1928 premiere, he was played by Clark Gable making his Broadway debut.) The play is divided into nine disjointed "episodes", beginning with the morning a stenographer's lecherous boss proposes and ending with the day she's sent to the electric chair. Young Woman – the only name she's given in the programme notes – is repulsed by her boss, but marries him because society expects it. On their honeymoon, she shrinks from his touch and hackneyed conversation. When she becomes a mother, she cannot bear the sight of her baby daughter. Speaking in a Brooklyn accent, Berrington looks very fragile on stage – pale, small and extremely nervy. In the opening scene, she twitches and quivers while her workmates hammer a relentless rhythm on their typewriters. When she breaks her silence, her internal monologues are fragments of raw emotion, sort of like jagged poems – in stark contrast to her odious husband’s well oiled platitudes. Director Natalie Abrahami’s production is an assault on the senses. She does away with the interval so the play is squeezed into an intense 90 minutes. The slick scene changes are marked with blinding lights and Berrington recoils from the sound effects that intrude on every scene. Miriam Buether's set design includes a huge slanting mirror that hangs just above the actors, distorting the action and heightening the sense of claustrophobia. Like Treadwell's antiheroine, the audience is on an unstoppable conveyor belt, being swept along to the inexorable denouement. Abrahami sets each scene a decade or so after the last one, presumably to illustrate how little has changed since Machinal premiered on Broadway 90 years ago. Towards the end the modern clothes jar and make the plot seem dated – would a woman in the 80s have felt powerless to divorce her husband, as she claims in court? We can only hope not. Still, this is a powerful, thought-provoking production of a feminist classic that hasn't been performed in the UK for 25 years. See it while you can. Machinal is at London's Almeida Theatre until 1 July Book tickets for Machinal Julie review: The Crown's Vanessa Kirby is devastating
Julie review: The Crown's Vanessa Kirby is devastating ★★★
August Strindberg’s existentialist masterpiece Miss Julie is reimagined in contemporary London
Last month Vanessa Kirby won a Bafta for her mesmerising turn as Princess Margaret in The Crown. In Julie, she plays an even more reckless woman: one of theatre’s unhappiest heroines, Miss Julie. Playwright Polly Stenham has updated Swedish dramatist August Strindberg’s 1888 play and transported his troubled protagonist to 21st century London. Stenham's Julie lives in a mansion with her wealthy businessman father, who fails to show up for his daughter’s decadent birthday party. The play opens on a scene of glitzy hedonism. Upstairs, beautiful young things swig champagne, snort cocaine and writhe to pounding dance music. Downstairs, a woman patiently clears up discarded glasses in an enormous kitchen – Julie’s housekeeper Kristina. As Kristina points out, Kirby’s Julie is “technicolour” – a brilliant butterfly fluttering around the stage in a shimmering skirt and sequinned jacket. By contrast her staff – the only other speaking roles – wear black and white, the age-old uniform of servants. In Stenham’s version, they’re first-generation economic migrants: Kristina is Brazilian (Thalissa Teixeira) and Julie's father’s chauffeur, Jean, is Ghanaian (Eric Kofi Abrefa). Adding race into the mix is a clever move, neatly illustrating how the gap between rich and poor is as vast as it was in Strindberg’s day. Drunk and high and desperately lonely, Julie is on a power trip. She sets about seducing Jean, who is engaged to Kristina but does a poor job of pretending to resist. The night careers out of control as Julie’s demons get the better of her, and the mismatched lovers hatch a half-baked plan to run away. Whether or not you agree with Jean that Julie’s existential crisis is self-indulgent, and she’s just “like any other lazy overgrown woman child”, it’s impossible to take your eyes off Kirby. She doesn’t waste a line as she struts and cowers in that enormous yet claustrophobic box of a kitchen – she’s caustic and pleading by turns, witty and wretched. It’s a virtuoso performance. Director Carrie Cracknell has injected some brilliantly surreal and gruesome moments, yet this production flags under the torrent of words. Eric Kofi Abrefa's Jean isn't given enough backstory and his scenes with Julie fail to take off. In the end, the most insightful, heartbreaking lines come from Kristina, the only character for whom we feel a modicum of sympathy. Teixeira doesn't get many words, but manages to imbue the housekeeper with a quiet dignity in stark contrast to Julie's melodramatic meltdown. “In what you’ve done, you’ve reiterated everything," Kristina chastises her mistress. "In your action is the whole world – of taking and taken.” 130 years after she was created, Strindberg's heroine still feels painfully relevant, and Kirby’s mesmerising performance will stay with you long after this short play hurtles to its tragic end. Julie is at The National’s Lyttleton Theatre until 8 September and will be broadcast live as part of NT Live to cinemas worldwide on 6 September Colin Morgan and Game of Thrones' Ciaran Hinds star in a superb play about Anglo-Irish relations Killer Joe review: Orlando Bloom stars as a corrupt cop Consent review: A brilliantly knotty legal drama 11 plays to see this summer starring TV faces
Schism review, Park Theatre: A love story that packs a punch ★★★★
Athena Stevens' thought-provoking play explores the power dynamics in a destructive relationship
A maths teacher is on the verge of committing suicide when he's rudely interrupted: a teenage girl appears in his lounge, having picked his lock with a hairpin. Katherine is a student at Harrison's school, but he's never taught her because she has cerebral palsy. She's been locked away in special ed classes because the school has equated disability with stupidity. She's broken in to prove she's smart; now she wants him to tutor her and persuade the governors that she should be allowed an education. He does, and so begins the complex relationship at the heart of this thought-provoking two-hander. After Katherine goes away to college, their friendship blossoms into romance – although both try to resist it, for different reasons. Written by and starring Athena Stevens, Schism is a horrifying insight into the frustrations and humiliations of life in a wheelchair: the teachers who won't look you in the eye, or hold the door open so you can go to the loo. The wheels that leave her hands permanently cut and bloody. Stevens gleefully explores the power dynamics of their relationship, and challenges assumptions about disability and its perceived limitations. But above all, this play is about the power of love: how it can destroy as well as nourish. The Park's intimate studio is a fitting space (if at times uncomfortably so) as their love affair unravels. Stevens is brilliant as witty, ferociously ambitious Katherine. Jonathan McGuinness is equally impressive as Harrison who has a convenient habit of recording his innermost thoughts on a tape recorder. The first half is funny and moving by turns, with Stevens displaying impeccable coming timing. The second half takes a darker turn. Stevens isn't afraid to make her audience squirm and her play is all the more powerful for it. Schism is at Park Theatre, Finsbury Park until 9 June Bat Out of Hell review: A thrilling assault on the senses Chicago review: Cuba Gooding Jr turns on the charm Quiz: Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? play is a winner Strictly Ballroom review
How to buy tickets for Anne-Marie's UK tour 2018
Hot on the heels of her debut album, the pop star has announced a UK tour in Manchester, Glasgow, Birmingham and London
Anne-Marie has added three new dates to her UK tour. The Essex singer will headline seven concerts in Manchester, London, Glasgow and Birmingham in November 2018 (dates and venues below). Tickets are on sale now from ticketmaster.co.uk. Buy tickets Her debut album, Speak Your Mind, shot to number three in the Official Albums Chart. The 27-year-old pop singer has already had four hit songs: "Alarm", "Rockabye", "Ciao Adios" and "FRIENDS", a collaboration with Marshmello. She's currently supporting Ed Sheeran's stadium tour, and her latest single is co-written by him. "2002" is a cheeky nod to songs from the early noughties, including Britney Spears' "...Baby One More Time" and "Nelly's Ride With Me" (see the video below). Concert dates and venues: 19 November 2018 – Manchester Academy NEW DATE: 20 November 2018 – Manchester Academy 22 November 2018 – O2 Academy Brixton, London NEW DATE: 23 November 2018 – O2 Academy Brixton, London 25 November 2018 – Barrowland Ballroom, Glasgow 28 November 2018 – O2 Academy Birmingham NEW DATE: 29 November 2018 – O2 Academy Birmingham Buy tickets View oEmbed on the source website
How to buy tickets for Gloria Estefan's musical On Your Feet!
The hit Broadway musical is coming to the West End for a limited run - here's everything you need to know
Everybody, gather 'round now, let your body feel the heat... Yes, Gloria Estefan's irresistible Cuban rhythms are coming to the West End. Her hit Broadway musical On Your Feet! will arrive at the London Coliseum next year. Buy presale tickets Winner of 26 Grammy awards, Estefan is the queen of Latin pop and has sold over 100 million records worldwide. Here's everything you need to know about On Your Feet! What's it about? On Your Feet! charts Gloria’s rise to super-stardom, from her humble beginnings in Cuba, to the streets of Miami, to hitting the big time. It's also about her intense love affair with her husband Emilio, who was a founding member of the Miami Sound Machine, who created a brand new Latin crossover sound – fusing infectious Cuban rhythms with American pop and disco. Does it include her greatest hits? Expect to hear "Rhythm Is Gonna Get You", "Conga", "Get On Your Feet", "Don’t Want To Lose You Now" and "1-2-3", and of course Estefan's show-stopping "Coming Out of the Dark" performance at the 1991 Grammy Awards. When is it? It will have a limited run from 14 June 2019 at one of the West End's grandest theatres, the London Coliseum, which is usually home to the English National Opera. How much are tickets? Tickets start at £23 plus booking fee. Presale tickets are available now from ticketmaster.co.uk Buy presale tickets Who's starring? The cast hasn't been announced yet, but there are big-hitters behind the scenes. On Your Feet! is directed by two-time Tony Award winner Jerry Mitchell (Kinky Boots, Legally Blonde), with choreography by Olivier winner Sergio Trujillo (Jersey Boys) and book by Oscar winner Alexander Dinelaris (Birdman). What can I dance to right now? Check out the teaser video below. View oEmbed on the source website
How to buy tickets for Jason Manford's "Muddle Class" tour
Don't miss out on his first stand-up tour in years - now extended into 2019
Earlier this month Jason Manford embarked on his first stand-up tour in years. "Muddle Class" is about his realisation that he’s no longer working-class; he's middle-class – and very confused about it. If you missed out on tickets, or the tour wasn't due to go to a venue near you, good news: he's just announced a raft of new dates in 2019 (you can find the full list of 2018 and 2019 dates below). Tickets go on sale on Thursday 17 May at 10am. Buy tickets “Somebody said to me on my Facebook fan page, ‘it’s been ages since you’ve toured’,” Manford explained when announcing the show last year. “I thought ‘no way, it was last year wasn’t it? Anyway, long story short, they were right, it was years ago! I just got fooled cos I’ve been on tour doing musicals and the last tour is repeated on Dave ja Vu 13 times a day! "So I’ve been putting some stuff together, looking at my life and how it’s changed over the years, how the world has changed and how my parents haven’t changed a bit!" The new dates kick off in Norwich in January and end in Richmond, London, in early April. Tickets for the new dates and remaining tickets for the 2018 dates are available from ticketmaster.co.uk New 2019 dates: 17 January 2019 – Theatre Royal, Norwich 18 January 2019 – Theatre Royal, Norwich 23 January 2019 – Bath Halls, Scunthorpe 24 January 2019 – Victoria Hall, Halifax 25 January 2019 – Empire, Sunderland 26 January 2019 – Alhambra Theatre, Bradford 30 January 2019 – Hawth Theatre, Crawley 31 January 2019 – Central Theatre, Chatham 1 February 2019 – Forum, Bath 2 February 2019 – Hexagon, Reading 6 February 2019 – Derngate Theatre, Northampton 7 February 2019 – Anvil, Basingstoke 8 February 2019 – G Live, Guildford 9 February 2019 – Oasis, Swindon 13 February 2019 – Storey House, Chester 14 February 2019 – Storey House, Chester 15 February 2019 – Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry 16 February 2019 – De Montfort Hall, Leicester 27 February 2019 – Queens Theatre, Barnstaple 28 February 2019 – Playhouse Theatre, Weston-Super-Mare 2 March 2019 – Cliff Pavilion, Southend 3 March 2019 – Rose Theatre, Kingston 7 March 2019 – Charter Hall, Colchester 8 March 2019 – Palladium, London 9 March 2019 – Town Hall, Dudley 14 March 2019 – Pavilion Theatre, Rhyl 15 March 2019 – Leisure Centre, Kendal 20 March 2019 – Corn Exchange, Cambridge 21 March 2019 – Arena Theatre, St Albans 22 March 2019 – Alhambra Theatre, Dunfermline 23 March 2019 – Music Hall, Aberdeen 28 March 2019 – Grand Theatre, Blackpool 29 March 2019 – Barbican, York 30 March 2019 – Town Hall, Middlesborough 31 March 2019 – Milton Keynes Theatre, Milton Keynes 2 April 2019 – Victoria Hall, Stoke 3 April 2019 – Waterside, Aylesbury 4 April 2019 – Richmond Theatre, London Buy tickets to new dates 2018 dates: 16 May 2018 – White Rock Theatre, Hastings 17 May 2018 – Colosseum, Watford 18 May 2018 – Leas Cliff Hall, Folkestone 23 May 2018 – Hexagon Theatre, Reading 24 May 2018 – Royal and Derngate, Northampton 25 May 2018 – Victoria hall, Stoke-On-Trent 26 May 2018 – Philharmonic Hall, Liverpool 13 June 2018 – City Hall, Hull 14 June 2018 – King George’s Hall, Blackburn 15 June 2018 – O2 Apollo, Manchester 16 June 2018 – O2 Apollo, Manchester 20 June 2018 – Guild Hall, Preston 21 June 2018 – Royal Concert Hall, Nottingham 22 June 2018 – Apollo, Manchester 23 June 2018 – Apollo, Manchester 5 July 2018 – Floral Pavilion Theatre, Merseyside 6 July 2018 – Town Hall, Middlesborough 7 July 2018 – William Aston Hall, Wrexham 8 July 2018 – Hippodrome, Bristol 11 July 2018 – Arts and Leisure Centre, Stevenage 12 July 2018 – The Anvil, Basingstoke 13 July 2018 – Grand Theatre, Swansea 14 July 2018 – Grand Theatre, Swansea 15 July 2018 – Empire, Liverpool 18 July 2018 – Pavillion, Rhyl 19 July 2018 – William Aston Hall, Wrexham 20 July 2018 – Arena Birmingham, Birmingham 21 July 2018 – Empire, Sunderland 25 July 2018 – Arena, St Albans 26 July 2018 – Central Theatre, Chatham 27 July 2018 – Civic, Guildford 28 July 2018 – Venue Cymru, Llandudno 30 July 2018 – Regal Theatre, Redruth 31 July 2018 – Regal Theatre, Redruth 1 August 2018 – Pavilions, Plymouth 2 August 2018 – Riverside Leisure Centre, Exeter 3 August 2018 – Wellsprings Leisure Centre, Taunton 4 August 2018 – Wellsprings Leisure Centre, Taunton 6 August 2018 – Playhouse Theatre, Weston-Super-Mare 7 August 2018 – Illfracombe Landmark Theatre, Illfracombe 8 August 2018 – The Queens Theatre, Barnstaple 11 September 2018 – Gaiety Ayr, Ayr 12 September 2018 – Grand Hall, Kilmarnock 13 September 2018 – Concert Hall, Falkirk 14 September 2018 – Concert Hall, Perth 15 September 2018 – Caird Hall, Dundee 22 September 2018 – Ulster Hall, Belfast 23 September 2018 – Ulster Hall, Belfast 24 September 2018 – Waterfront Hall Auditorium, Belfast 3 October 2018 – Town Hall, Dudley 4 October 2018 – Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry 5 October 2018 – Barbican, York 6 October 2018 – Barbican, York 10 October 2018 – Churchill Theatre, Bromley 11 October 2018 – Corn Exchange, Cambridge 12 October 2018 – Charter Hall, Colchester 13 October 2018 – New Theatre, Wimbledon 17 October 2018 – Marlowe Theatre, Canterbury 18 October 2018 – Cliffs Pavillion, Southend 19 October 2018 – Guildhall, Portsmouth 20 October 2018 – Guildhall, Portsmouth 31 October 2018 – Eden Court Theatre, Inverness 1 November 2018 – Eden Court Theatre, Inverness 3 November 2018 – Alhambra, Dunfermline 4 November 2018 – His Majesty’s Theatre, Aberdeen 7 November 2018 – Plaza, Stockport 8 November 2018 – Waterside, Aylesbury 9 November 2018 – Storyhouse, Chester 10 November 2018 – City Hall, Sheffield 12 November 2018 – Mayflower Theatre, Southampton 14 November 2018 – Floral Pavilion, New Brighton 15 November 2018 – Sands Centre, Carlisle 16 November 2018 – Town Hall, Middlesborough 17 November 2018 – Dome, Doncaster 21 November 2018 – Swan, High Wycombe 22 November 2018 – De Montfort Hall, Leicester 23 November 2018 – Oasis, Swindon 24 November 2018 – Arena, Derby 25 November 2018 – Milton Keynes Theatre, Milton Keynes 27 November 2018 – Aldersley Leisure Village, Wolverhampton 28 November 2018 – Spa Pavilion, Scarborough 29 November 2018 – First Direct Arena, Leeds 30 November 2018 – Manchester Arena, Manchester 1 December 2018 – Motorpoint Arena, Cardiff 5 December 2018 – Regent Theatre, Ipswich 6 December 2018 – Assembly Hall, Worthing 7 December 2018 – BIC, Bournemouth 8 December 2018 – Brighton Centre, Brighton 12 December 2018 – Shanklin Theatre, Isle of Wight 13 December 2018 – Gordon Craig Theatre, Stevenage 19 December 2018 – Metro Radio Arena, Newcastle Upon Tyne Buy Jason Manford tickets View oEmbed on the source website
How to buy tickets to Ed Sheeran's UK tour 2018 - extra tickets released Friday 11 May
It's not too late to nab a ticket for Sheeran's sold-out UK concerts
New tickets for Ed Sheeran's sold-out stadium tour will be released on Friday 11 May. Production holds will be released for every night of the UK leg of his tour, which begins on 24 May. Buy tickets The tour kicks off with four concerts in Manchester, and will see him playing to over a million people around the country. When tickets went on sale last July, they sold out in minutes. As well as old-favourites, Sheeran will be playing songs from his most recent album, Divide, which was 2017's biggest-selling album. Here's everything you need to know to bag one of those tickets. When are tickets on sale? Production holds will be available from 10am on Friday 11 May through ticketmaster.co.uk How can I maximise my chances? Bookmark this link now. Before the tickets go on sale, log into your ticketmaster.co.uk account beforehand, checking you know the password and that it's the correct billing and delivery address. When the tickets go on sale, stick to one browser window and don't refresh your screen or you'll use your place in the virtual queue. What are the dates and venues? 24 May 2018 – Etihad Stadium, Manchester 25 May 2018 – Etihad Stadium, Manchester 26 May 2018 – Etihad Stadium, Manchester 27 May 2018 – Etihad Stadium, Manchester 1 June 2018 – Hampden Park, Glasgow 2 June 2018 – Hampden Park, Glasgow 3 June 2018 – Hampden Park, Glasgow 8 June 2018 – St James’ Park, Newcastle 9 June 2018 – St James’ Park, Newcastle 10 June 2018 – St James’ Park, Newcastle 14 June 2018 – Wembley Stadium, London 15 June 2018 – Wembley Stadium, London 16 June 2018 – Wembley Stadium, London 17 June 2018 – Wembley Stadium, London 21 June 2018 – Principality Stadium, Cardiff 22 June 2018 – Principality Stadium, Cardiff 23 June 2018 – Principality Stadium, Cardiff 24 June 2018 – Principality Stadium, Cardiff Anything else? Keep an eye on @TicketmasterUK on Twitter. Any updates will be announced there first. View oEmbed on the source website
Life and Fate review: A brutal, beautifully performed Soviet masterpiece ★★★★
A rare chance to see one of Russia's best theatre companies performing Vasily Grossman's banned novel
When Vasily Grossman attempted to publish Life and Fate in the late 50s, the novel was banned and his typewriter was confiscated by KGB agents. Fortunately, Grossman had taken the precaution of sending a copy to to an acquaintance which was smuggled out of the Soviet Union and published in Switzerland in 1980, 16 years after the author's death. His sweeping epic is now hailed as a 20th-century War and Peace and Lev Dodin's adaptation arrives in the West End for the first time, performed by the Maly Theatre Company of St Petersburg with English surtitles. Life and Fate centres on Jewish scientist Viktor Shtrum (Sergey Kuryshev) who's buffeted by the humdrum privations and horrors of life in Moscow during the Second World War – evacuation, rationing, missing relatives, disappeared colleagues. But his biggest concern is his research into nuclear physics, which is compromised by growing anti-Semitism. It opens with a monologue by Viktor's mother (Tatiana Shestakova) describing her ignominious fate: forsaken by her neighbour and forced into a ghetto by Hitler's men. Her words are threaded throughout the play – her last heartbreaking letter to her preoccupied son. During the first half, the action moves between the Shtrum's drab flat in Moscow, a Nazi POW camp and a Soviet gulag where the hollow-faced inmates of fascism and communism debate. The similarities between the totalitarian regimes are clear, especially when the prisoners shuffle into identical lines and are ordered to sing. Amid the bleakness there are moments of tenderness and lust, dancing and humour. Kuryshev is wonderful as world-weary Viktor, wry and jovial. Ironically, one of the funniest scenes is a surprise phone call from Stalin, which prompts Viktor to dance as only a desperate man can. He's one of the lucky ones, but his conscience does not get off so lightly. A clever set allows the director to do away with scene changes and layer the scenes on top of one another, giving a sense of scale to the horrors rippling across the continent. The characters are mere pawns in Stalin and Hitler's brutal games. Inevitably with surtitles, the dialogue is trimmed, but nothing is lost in translation thanks to Dodin's ingenious choreography and arresting performances all-round. At nearly three and a half hours, this production doesn't pander to its audience; it's a serious adaptation that does justice to Grossman's masterpiece. It's also a rare chance to see the Maly Company proving why they're Russia's finest ensemble. Life and Fate is at Royal Theatre Haymarket, London until Sunday 20 May. The Maly Drama Theatre of St Petersburg are also performing Uncle Vanya at Royal Theatre Haymarket Book tickets for Life and Fate Bat Out of Hell review: A thrilling assault on the senses Chicago review: Cuba Gooding Jr turns on the charm Quiz: Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? play is a winner Strictly Ballroom review
How to buy tickets for Proms in the Park 2018
Gladys Knight, Joseph Calleja and Michael Ball will be at this year's musical extravaganza in Hyde Park
Tickets for the BBC's Proms in the Park, the al fresco finale to Proms season go on sale today. Buy tickets Here's everything you need to know about this year's event, from the line-up to picnics. It always sells out so book early to avoid disappointment. When is it? Saturday 8 September Where is it? Hyde Park, London Who's performing? Soul grande dame Gladys Knight, Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter Josh Groban, tenor Joseph Calleja, Vegas favourite Matt Goss, Lisa Stansfield, 100 members of the Rock Choir, and of course the BBC Concert who will be leading a sing-along conducted by Richard Balcombe. Michael Ball returns as host. How much are tickets? £48.20 (£45 plus a £3.20 booking free) You can also buy VIP tickets for £449 which gets you access to an exclusive terrace with views of the stage, a three-course meal served with fine wines and a complimentary bar. Tickets are available now from ticketmaster.co.uk Book tickets What time does it start? The gates open at 3pm and the music starts at 5pm. The concert will finish at around 10.30pm. Can I take a picnic? You can but there's a limit to how much wine you can bring in and certain items are prohibited. There will also be street food vendors, bars and drinking water dispensers. You can pre-order a gourmet picnic when you buy your ticket.
The Writer review: Romola Garai stars in a furious attack on sexism and the male gaze ★★★
Ella Hickson’s new work is a bold and vivid explosion of anger
Ella Hickson’s new play is a multi-layered polemic on the modern state of sexual politics. Submitted to the theatre three days before the Harvey Weinstein story broke, it is a prescient drama within a drama within a drama. It starts with a 24-year-old woman (played uncompromisingly by Lara Rossi) heading back into a theatre to retrieve her bag before she is quizzed by the show’s unnamed director (played by Samuel West). Rossi’s character expresses her distaste for theatre’s general failure to tackle important issues of the day, while he makes it clear that the medium needs to be commercial to survive. It then transpires that this odiously smug man had encouraged this woman, who he doesn’t recognise, six years before and asked her to submit some written work to him. And had then tried to seduce her. Her denunciation of the play she has just seen – “old men saying fascinating things about time and history while women in hot pants lean over desks"– is thus given considerably more punch. If that all sounds slightly self-involved and self-referential, that’s because it is. The lively opening exchange is then dissected in an audience Q&A with insightful questions asked by what turns out to be actors playing theatregoers. It transpires that this opening section is in fact a piece written by Romola Garai's writer, an overly nervous woman who, like Rossi’s character, has ambitions to make theatre something that matters and will change the world. Next we meet the earlier play’s "real" director played by Michael Gould– an even more clunkingly unwoke figure who really doesn’t get anything about sexism and racism. Garai's writer is seen as an unhappy girlfriend mulling over a film offer. Her suit-wearing boyfriend, again played by West (below), wants her to take the money – a cool £40,000. He spends all day in a job he hates selling football boots. Why can’t she just bend her principles and make their lives easier? But in lines Garai delivers with feeling and power, her character makes it clear she wants to write mythic stories that transform the world. Like all the men in the play, the boyfriend doesn’t get it. It’s a strange play which packs in passion and seriousness, and its fascinating structure gives it the power to surprise. But I wouldn’t call it subtle. There's a last section in particular could stretch the patience of audiences. In a dreamlike reality Garai's character then embarks on a same-sex relationship with Rossi's character – both characters literally taking the plunge and swimming to a jungle paradise where they consummate their union. We then head to modern day London featuring the pair as a female same-sex couple in apparent domestic happiness. It's not clear whether the ending is meant to symbolise some kind of advancement or resolution: is this a lesbian relationship being portrayed honestly and faithfully – or just the ending the dodgy director was looking for? And as one of the audience members says in the opening salvo, there are many kinds of power structures, many kinds of perceived victimhood. Why didn’t the opening section reference the fact that Rossi is mixed race, one of the fictional punters asks? It’s a good question. And is this production, written by a privately-educated playwright in the heart of north London, simply part of the same corrupted structural morass? Maybe we’ll discover in Hickson’s next play. Because she’s certainly a writer to watch. The Writer is at the Almeida Theatre London until 26 May
"Why don’t we call it Potato?" Katherine Parkinson on new film The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society
The IT Crowd actress talks The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society and her crush on co-star Lily James
"I said, why don’t we call it Potato?” jokes Katherine Parkinson on the subject of her latest project’s, ahem, distinctive title. “I’d love to have Potato on my CV!” The title might be a tongue-twister – and, yes, they did consider changing it – but the film is a class act. Playing out against a bucolic backdrop, The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society is a story of romance and resistance amid the horrors of Nazi occupation on the Channel Islands. A handsome, tear-jerking drama, it’s based on the posthumously published bestseller by American author Mary Ann Shaffer that was completed by her niece, Annie Barrows, after her death. Joining Parkinson in the stellar ensemble are Lily James, Penelope Wilton, Jessica Brown Findlay, Michiel Huisman, Matthew Goode and Tom Courtenay. View oEmbed on the source website Lily James on the new Mamma Mia film Channel 4's Humans gets a third season Discover the delights of Guernsey With Mike Newell (Four Weddings and a Funeral, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire) in the director’s chair, the film stars James as successful writer Juliet Ashton, who is disenchanted with the post-war London party scene as she struggles for creative inspiration. On striking up a correspondence with Guernsey farmer Huisman, she is drawn to the islandbased book club of the title, while in flashback some closely guarded secrets are gradually surrendered to the island’s occupying force. As an islander who provides homemade gin and a shoulder for James to cry on, Parkinson is the comic relief – the member of the society who’s dreaming of her Heathcliff while getting pie-eyed off her own supply. London-born, Oxford-educated Parkinson is rapidly becoming one of the most beloved faces on the small screen, as the Bafta-winning star of The IT Crowd, Doc Martin and Humans – for which she’s now completed filming a third series. The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society (in cinemas from Friday 20 April… yes, why don’t we call it Potato) kicks off a string of film roles for Parkinson, including highly anticipated Marie Curie biopic with Rosamund Pike. Speaking to Radio Times from a sunny Georgia where she’s shooting another film, How to Sell a War for Rudolph Herzog (son of Werner), she’s warm and witty – and happy to talk love and literature. Parkinson was invited on board for Potato after Newell saw her in Dead Funny in the West End. With comedy, tragedy and romance all playing a strong part in the script, she relished the opportunity to mix things up. “The more well-realised a script, the more likelihood of it having both comic and dramatic elements. It should have, shouldn’t it?” she says. “Something like Humans, it was quite difficult to add humour to, but they did find some nice dry bits in the new series.” However, nothing prepared her for Potato’s darker material. “I was just stunned with how little I knew about the occupation of the Channel Islands,” she says. “Filming scenes with the Nazis coming down the road… it really sent shivers down your spine.” So, what was it like working with such an esteemed cast? “Lily is easy to fall in love with and I had to sort of have a crush on her. But for me, getting to work with Penelope Wilton was amazing because she’s one of my favourite actresses and extremely good company. She really made me laugh.” Shaffer’s novel might still be on her bedside table waiting to be read, but making Potato did inspire in Parkinson a fresh passion for literature. “It was while I was doing the film that I started to read for pleasure. My children [Dora and Gwendolyn with her husband, actor Harry Peacock] are five and three, and I’ve just started to get that slight sense of having a life back and not being exhausted every night.” Asked to name a favourite… book, not child… she plumps for Jane Eyre, which she only got around to recently. “I know I’m coming late to the party but I was so moved by it,” she says. Making her way through the classics, just as they do in the film, was something Parkinson could finally share with her ex-English teacher mum. “My mum knew so much I thought I’m not going to even go there and now we’ve been able to chat about books, particularly Jane Eyre as she used to teach it.” If Parkinson’s is technically the “best-friend” role, as the story unfolds we see a woman of substance behind the selfless support and humour, and her affection for her character is obvious. “Isola represents the independent survival spirit of lots of women in those circumstances. She makes gin and various tinctures and cures, and has made a good living for herself.” And, despite the poignancy to the scene where Isola confesses to Juliet that she’s never known real love, the actress sees the power of reading a little differently. “It serves to show how living vicariously through literature doesn’t necessarily have to be a sad thing,” she says. “I think when you’re really into a book, it’s not an imaginary consolation, it’s a real one. You can know romance through literature, and that is knowing romance.” The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society will be released in cinemas on 20th April
The Good Karma Hospital: Amanda Redman, Neil Morrissey and Phyllis Logan on their favourite places in Sri Lanka
When they weren't filming, the cast went whale and elephant-spotting and visited tea plantations
The sun-drenched ITV drama The Good Karma Hospital is set in southern India, but it's actually filmed in Sri Lanka. We asked Amanda Redman, Amrita Acharia and the rest of the cast about their favourite places on the beautiful island they called home for three months. Our guide to Sri Lanka - from beautiful beaches to tea plantations to ancient temples Neil Morrissey on Unawatuna “At the southern tip of Sri Lanka, the beach is beautiful during the day and has everything: sun, sea, great surfing, snorkelling and scuba diving. But in the evening, it really comes alive: outside every restaurant there’s a table with mountains of fresh fish, prawns, squid – the best tuna I’ve ever eaten. And if you venture behind the beach into the hustle of the town you can find The Good Karma Hospital, although when we’re not filming it’s actually a teacher training college.” Best-rated hotels in Unawatuna ...and Galle Fort “A beautiful old Dutch fort town, now full of little hotels, restaurants and shops. It’s a really pretty place to have a wander and a meal. Early morning or early evening is best because you will sweat! And if you get hungry, go to Lucky Fort – this little restaurant is a must. Order the curry of the day, it’s normally chicken or fish, and with it you get a big bowl of rice and ten smaller vegetarian dishes depending on what the chef, Lucky, has got from the market, each one individually spiced.” Phyllis Logan on whale-watching in Mirissa “This trip means you have to make a very early start, but it’s completely worth it. We were on the jetty ready to get on the boat for 5.30am and set off soon after. We could still see the coastline when we saw our first blue whale. They didn’t leap out of the water like you see them do in nature films, but they breached the surface and we saw them squirt water out of their blowholes and flick their tails into the air before they disappeared into the ocean again. It was amazing. And afterwards we were back on land in time for a breakfast of hoppers, which is the classic Sri Lankan dish of bowl-shaped pancakes made with rice flour and coconut milk.” ...and Colombo “A world away from the relaxed beaches, Sri Lanka’s capital Colombo is mayhem,” says Logan. “It’s thronging with people, motorbikes, tuk-tuks, cars, vans – it’s pure bedlam! And the market there is a sight to behold. There are rows and rows of stalls and each one is for a different thing – from electrical goods, to underpants, to the most amazing fruits and vegetables. You wouldn’t want to shop there every day but it was a great experience. I bought my husband a lungi, which is like a man’s sari that ties at the waist – he hasn’t worn it yet!” View oEmbed on the source website Philip Jackson on Kandy “When my wife came to visit, we did a big road trip up to Kandy, which is the old capital city. Word of warning: the driving habits are mad! It’s completely anarchic, so I would recommend getting a driver. Kandy is up in the hills, where we saw local dancing, the Buddha’s tooth in a temple and drove through the mountains to a tea plantation, where there are tea plants as far as the eye can see, with women dotted among them picking just the tips.” Amrita Acharia on Ella “I got to ride in the driver’s cabin on a beautiful train journey through the south-eastern mountains from Badulla to Ella, and stayed in a small independent tea plantation high in the hills. Having been on the beach for three months, it was so refreshing to be surrounded by greenery. From there, we went into the jungle and saw monkeys and snakes, which I loved.” Amanda Redman on Udawalawe National Park “You can’t visit Sri Lanka without going to see the elephants. I’d recommend seeing them in the wild – we went to Udawalawe National Park. Elephants are the most majestic of creatures and there are dozens of them roaming around – whole herds of mothers with babies and huge males standing off alone.” The Good Karma Hospital returns to ITV later this year Find cheap flights to Sri Lanka Compare best-rated hotels in Unawatuna Follow in the footsteps of The Durrells and discover Corfu's unspoilt north-east coast Our guide to Sri Lanka - from tea plantations to beautiful beaches to Buddhist shrines
The Durrells' Alexis Georgoulis on his favourite corners of Corfu: "All Corfiots are crazy"
When he has a day off from filming, the actor who plays Spiros heads to the beach with his guitar
Where’s your favourite place on Corfu? Sidari Beach, on the northwest coast of the island, for the astonishing sunsets and scenery. And I love to drive up to Kaiser’s Throne – a panoramic viewpoint on a cliff in central Corfu. Is filming The Durrells as idyllic as it looks – or does it get hot and sticky? We shoot a little before or after the tourist season when the weather is perfect. I prefer spring, when the wildflowers blossom. Also, the actors and crew are like one big family now, so it doesn’t feel like work. How do you spend your days off? I wake up early and go to one of the small, private coves by Glyfada Beach on the west coast. I stay there the whole day until late at night – swimming, playing my guitar and hanging out with friends. Compare flight and hotel packages to Corfu Find cheap flights to Corfu Discover Corfu's north-east coast Have the locals welcomed you? Look, all Corfiots are crazy. I haven’t met a Corfiot who is normal. They’re very fun people, always making jokes, and their culture is very different from the rest of Greece. I’ve made a lot of good friends there. Different how? They are very into music. All Corfiots can play an instrument, and all of them sing as well, especially when they’re drunk! They even speak differently, with a singsong intonation. Do they have any culinary specialities? Like everywhere in Greece, they have great taste in food. The most famous dish is bourdetto – a spicy tomato stew made with scorpion fish, or sometimes you can find it with octopus. And to wash it down? They have very nice wines and a digestif that can only be found on Corfu – a sweet, orange-coloured kumquat liqueur. Bourdetto is very nice with a glass of raki or tsipouro, a Greek brandy. Where’s your favourite place for lunch? Marina’s Tavern in Spilia, the old Jewish neighbourhood in Corfu Town. Marina serves Corfiot recipes and even a simple salad is delicious because she sources her ingredients from local gardens, so the tomatoes are very ugly but taste beautiful. Do Corfiots dine late? Greeks don’t think it’s late. If someone says, “Let’s go to dinner at 10 o’clock”, we ask: “Why so early?” It’s a Mediterranean thing: you don’t go out to eat because you’re hungry, this is not your first goal – it’s to have fun, to socialise. How else can we Brits fit in? Live for the moment. Go to the market and have fun haggling. Go to small tavernas and become friends with the owner or waiter. Stay up all night dancing and flirting, find a nice place to watch the sunrise and breakfast on the beach. How do you spend your holidays? I travel a lot, so I’m always in hotels surrounded by people and I really miss listening to silence. When I have a week off, I like to put my tent up in a forest or by the beach and just listen to silence and the music of nature. If the Durrells decided to relocate, which other Greek islands should they explore? Corfu is very green, so they should go to Paros because the scenery is totally different, with elegant villages painted white and blue. It’s lively but it’s not a party island like Mykonos. And Milos is magical – very quiet and unbelievably beautiful. The Durrells is on Sundays on ITV at 8pm Top 10 Corfu hotels Compare flights to Corfu Cheap flight and hotel packages The unspoilt Corfu of My Family and Other Animals still exists, says Lee Durrell
Troy: Fall of a City - where was the ancient city of Troy?
Fancy a trip to Troy? You'll need to book a flight to Turkey or South Africa...
BBC1's new Saturday-night drama retells the legendary story of the fall of Troy – but it was a real place, too. Here's where to find it. Where was Troy? It was in modern-day Turkey – in the northwest of the Anatolian peninsula, which makes up 95% of Turkey's land mass. Anatolia is also known as Asiatic Turkey and used to be called Asia Minor in late Classical antiquity. The Anatolian peninsula is the westernmost limb of Asia, and is bounded by the Black Sea to the north, the Mediterranean sea to the south and the Aegean sea to the west. View oEmbed on the source website Does anything remain of the city? Yes, there's an archaeological site that's believed to be the remains of Troy – it's modern name is Hisarlik. It was first excavated by an English archaeologist called Frank Calvert and a German called Heinrich Schliemann in the 1860s, who discovered several cities had been built there in succession, creating an artificial hill. Best places to visit in Turkey Find cheap flights to Turkey Where was Troy: Fall of a City filmed? Like a lot of TV dramas, Troy: Fall of a City was made in South Africa. "For the palace interiors we were in a studio in an industrial area on the edge of Cape Town which could not feel more different to ancient Troy," explains Frances O'Connor who plays the Queen of Troy, Hecuba. "The moment you enter them though you are transported back – you are fully immersed into this world because the production design is just amazing. The sets are huge but the little details have not been neglected. You feel the reality of being in that world and you could see why people would want to take this city." "The exterior sets were shot out in the wine country of Cape Town against the backdrop of the mountains," says O'Connor. "Being there, it didn’t even look real – it's such a huge, sweeping landscape that instantly gives our series a mythical backdrop. In front of this they built so much of the city of Troy and filled it with supporting artists. It created a sense of reality that really helped us actors and I’m sure it will look spectacular." Actor Tom Weston-Jones on why he loved filming in South Africa Tory: Fall of a City is on Saturdays on BBC1 Exclusive reader offer: Join Alfie Boe and Katherine Jenkins on a music cruise - £100 off Compare top hotels in Cape Town Find cheap flights to Cape Town
The Durrells: The unspoilt Corfu of My Family and Other Animals still exists
Gerald Durrell's widow Lee returns to Corfu every year and heads for the island's north-east corner
Every May, conservationist Gerald Durrell’s widow, Lee, returns to Corfu. She’s joined by naturalists, botanists, entomologists and Durrell devotees, and they spend a week retracing the footsteps of her late husband: picnicking by the “lake of lilies”, exploring Corfu Town and examining the island’s flora and fauna. The Greek island that Gerald put on the map has changed dramatically since his memoir My Family and Other Animals was published in 1956, and he knew he only had himself to blame. View oEmbed on the source website “Gerry and his first wife went back to Corfu in the 70s,” recalls Lee, “and he was complaining mightily about how tourism was changing the place. Somebody said: ‘It’s your fault, Gerry. You wrote such a popular book about Corfu.’ He was mortified, of course.” In later life Gerald became known as a presenter of TV wildlife programmes, but he got to know Corfu through living there with his family (including his married brother Lawrence, who later wrote The Alexandria Quartet) from 1935 to 1939. Milo Parker as young Gerald in ITV's adaptation From the age of ten, when Gerald and his family arrived on the island, he developed a deep interest in the local plants and wildlife. His love affair with the place was lifelong and it’s easy to see why. The island, as seen in ITV’s drama The Durrells, looks idyllic – from the crystal-clear Ionian Sea and sun-baked olive groves to the wildlife scuttling into every scene. “Gerry always said that if he had the gift of Merlin, he would give every child the kind of childhood he had in Corfu,” says Lee. Compare flight and hotel packages to Corfu Find cheap flights to Corfu Follow in the footsteps of The Durrells and discover Corfu's unspoilt north-east coast As honorary director of the Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust since Gerald’s death in 1995, Lee makes the annual trip because it’s still possible to escape the package holidayers and find the island Gerald recalled in his Corfu trilogy. Her favourite time of year is spring, when wildflowers carpet the hills: “If there’s a second series, I hope they are able to shoot in the spring because I’ve never seen wildflowers as beautiful.” The “Garden of the Gods” (the title of the final book of the trilogy) owes its lushness to the Venetians. They ruled from the 14th to late-18th century and planted the olive trees that are still yielding fruit today. (The British governed the island from 1815 to 1864, which is why Corfiots play cricket and eat turkey at Christmas.) Nowadays, the north coast is lined with hotels, but in spring you can still find the sand lilies that inspired young Gerald to rechristen the Durrells’ favourite picnicking spot, Lake Antiniotissa on Agios Spyridon beach, the “lake of lilies”. Lee always seeks them out. “We have a little ceremony where we all gather some of their seeds and throw them into the sea, hoping they’ll help to re-establish this endangered species.” Gerald and Lee Durrell with Spook the barn owl But if you really want to feel that you and the lizards have Corfu to yourselves, walk and swim the four miles from Agios Stephanos to Avlaki in the north-east of the island – one of the few remaining stretches of undeveloped coastline. Lee also recommends exploring the mountainous interior, which is like a different isle in a different era. The hills and valleys dense with cypresses north of Barbati were Gerald’s playground and their fauna are best admired via its ancient paths. In later life, he contented himself with a scenic drive and secluded tipple. “He didn’t like to walk very far so we’d drive right up into the mountains and go to the little tavernas.” The three Venetian mansions that the Durrell family rented in the 1930s were all on the outskirts of Corfu Town. The “Strawberry-Pink Villa” was knocked down in the 50s (the replacement bears little resemblance bar its colour), an Athens businessman owns the “Snow-White Villa”, while the “Daffodil-Yellow Villa” still belongs to the same Corfiot family. Lee takes her party for lunch at the excellent taverna in the “White House” in the waterfront village of Kalami. This former fisherman’s cottage is where Lawrence and his wife Nancy (who is not mentioned in My Family and Other Animals) lived and where he wrote his poetic book about Corfu, Prospero’s Cell. No tour of the Durrells’ island would be complete without a day strolling around Corfu Town. Arguably the most beautiful city in Greece, the historic centre is actually Venetian and a Unesco World Heritage site. Keep an eye out for Mon Repos on the southern outskirts – this elegant mansion was Prince Philip’s birthplace, which is why so many Corfiots are called Philip or Philippina. These days it’s an archaeological museum and has a cameo in the ITV adaptation as the home of Leslie Caron’s mischievous Countess Mavrodaki. Corfu Town As you get lost in the town’s maze of narrow paved lanes, look out for the old house of Gerald’s mentor and friend Theo, which is marked with a plaque. Sadly the little bar where Gerald’s brother, Lawrence, and Theo used to knock back glasses of ouzo is long gone, but there are shady tavernas along with upmarket shops. In 2006, the park next to the medieval Old Fortress (which offers panoramic views from its battlements) was renamed “Bosketto Durrell” and is home to busts of Lawrence and Gerald. What would Lee’s late husband have made of the tribute? “He was a very humble man,” she says, “modest and a bit shy – I think he’d be pleased as anything.” This article was first published in April 2016. For information about Gerald Durrell Week, go to: geralddurrellscorfu.org. Cheap flight and hotel packages to Corfu Compare flights to Corfu Discover Corfu's unspoilt north-east coast
Discover the surprising home of Jamestown - Budapest
Actress Naomi Battrick tells us about her favourite haunts in Hungary's cool capital
The period drama Jamestown is about the settlers who established the first British colony in America. Today its wind-beaten remains lie in Virginia, but the show is filmed on the outskirts of Budapest. “The production company bought a field with a stunning lake and built an exact copy of Jamestown,” says Naomi Battrick, who plays an upper-class Englishwoman with a dark secret. “They even grew the tobacco plantations. They had to chop it all down and burn it after filming because Hungary has strict tobacco laws.” The cast and crew lived in Budapest for five months while making the first two series, and Battrick cannot recommend her temporary home highly enough. “I’ve completely fallen in love with Budapest and the Hungarian people. I can’t wait to go back if we do a third series.” In the meantime, she’s enrolled at a language school in London. “It’s a very accommodating city for non-Hungarian speakers – everybody speaks English – but I’d love to learn the language because I find it so beautiful.” Here are her favourite spots in the capital. Compare flights to Budapest Compare top Budapest hotels Exclusive reader offer: Join Alfie Boe and Katherine Jenkins on a music cruise - £100 off One city, two personalities “We stayed in the old Jewish quarter in Pest (the capital was originally two cities, Buda and Pest). It’s like Soho-cum-Shoreditch – lively at night and good fun,” says Battrick. “If you’re after peace and quiet, I’d suggest staying across the river in Obuda, the city’s oldest district. One weekend we hired a villa in the Buda Hills, where locals go to hike and picnic. If budget isn’t an issue, book a room at the fabulous Corinthia (corinthia.com). Apparently, it’s the hotel that the film The Grand Budapest Hotel was based on. See the sights “One of my favourite things is to climb up to the Freedom Statue on the Buda side. It’s a huge statue of a woman holding a leaf. The walk up the hill is lovely, the views are fantastic and then you can sit and watch the river traffic. I try to do it once every week. It’s quite a stomp to the top of the Citadella, a 19th-century fortress on Gellert Hill, but the views are worth it. “The Hungarian National Gallery is in beautiful Buda Castle. There’s usually a good exhibition. It’s wonderful wandering around the grand buildings. The Robert Capa Contemporary Photography Centre has a fascinating permanent installation about the Hungarian photojournalist. Capa’s photographs spanned a huge period but came to a harsh halt when he stepped on a mine. The House of Terror is an incredible museum about Hungary’s communist and fascist regimes in the 20th century – cleverly designed and sobering. “Szechenyi is the largest of Budapest’s thermal baths and probably the most popular with tourists. It can get crowded at weekends but it’s still beautiful and lots of fun. I also love Gellert Baths, which are in a landmark art nouveau hotel. On Margit Island, there’s a water park with lots of different cafés, bars and water slides.” Dine out on a dime “Eating out costs half the price of London and you’re spoilt for choice in terms of the quantity and quality of restaurants. Hungarian wine is good value and exceptional. The waiting staff always know exactly where it’s come from and are happy to tell you a lot about it. “Deryne Bistro is a beautiful Hungarian/French bakery and bistro in Buda, which has been going for over a century (bistroderyne.com). In Pest, Koleves on Kazinczy Street is a charming restaurant that serves hearty Hungarian dishes like goulash and catfish soup. It’s a student favourite but chilled in the day – you can even relax in hammocks in the courtyard. Cirkusz café (cirkuszbp.hu) also does gorgeous food and brunches before 4pm. “But my favourite restaurant is the best Italian I’ve ever been to – Pomo D’oro (pomodorobudapest.com). I always have the sensational ‘priest choker’ pasta: pork ragu flambéed with brandy and parmesan at the table. I’m also very fond of the popular snack langos – deep-fried bread smothered in sour cream, garlic and cheese. It’s a heart attack on a plate! Try it at Karavan, a street-food court also on Kazinczy Street. Drink in the atmosphere “The Jewish district is famous for its ruin bars – abandoned buildings that have been turned into really cool bars with lots of exposed brickwork, mismatched furniture and fairy lights. The original is Szimpla Kert (en.szimpla.hu), an old factory where you can sit in an old Trabant car or a room wallpapered with TVs. I prefer the less touristy Anker’t on Paulay Ede Street, which has live jazz and amazing burgers.” Jamestown is on Sky 1 on Fridays at 9pm Wondering what's left of Jamestown? We went to Williamsburg, Virginia to find out Cheap flights to Budapest Top hotels in Budapest Compare flights and hotel packages
Reader offer: Join Alfie Boe and Katherine Jenkins on a music cruise - £100 off
Set sail with Alfie Boe, Katherine Jenkins, Wynne Evans, Ruthie Henshall and Julian Lloyd Webber for a festival of the performing arts at sea!
We are giving Radio Times readers the opportunity to join Alfie Boe, Katherine Jenkins and 28 world-class performers for a festival of performing arts aboard the cruise ship Celebrity Silhouette. The Bravo Cruise will set sail across the English Channel from 19 to 26 May 2018, heading south in the sunshine. Not only do passengers enjoy all the accoutrements of a cruise holiday, they get to enjoy a 7-day music and performing arts festival. The usual price is £1,099pp for a twin-share cabin – but we are offering Radio Times readers an exclusive £100pp discount. (Scroll down for details of how to claim your exclusive discount). View oEmbed on the source website There will be stellar performances from the headliners: Alfie Boe, Katherine Jenkins, Wynne Evans, Ruthie Henshall, Mirusia, The Celtic Tenors, Julian Lloyd Webber, The National Symphony Orchestra, Jonathan Welch and The Bravo Choir, and conductors Anthony Inglis and Guy Noble. There'll also be artist meet-and-greets and a passenger choir made up of guests who join to rehearse throughout the week, singing together in a stunning closing show. The music on Bravo spans genres from jazz, swing, chamber, classical, orchestral and choral, to name a just a few. There is also the opportunity to join an exclusive tour of The Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, with its unique architectural design, rotating exhibitions and static gallery. Book now (type "Radio Times" in the Special Requests section for your £100 discount) Alfie Boe and Katherine Jenkins tell us what they'll be performing and share their packing tips The itinerary The Bravo cruise departs from Southampton on the 19 May 2018 for a week at sea, sailing to Bilbao in Spain, where guests have the opportunity to alight at the port and visit places of interest, including a private tour of the Guggenheim Museum. From there she sails to Vigo in Spain, where there'll be another opportunity to alight for a day of sightseeing; and then on to Cherbourg in France, where guests can enjoy the 1000-yacht marina, the historic port and the beautiful countryside. Informative, unique excursions are arranged at each location. Guests will return to Southampton on 26 May. Introducing the ship – the Celebrity Silhouette The Celebrity Silhouette offers impeccable on-board service, classic design and world-class cuisine with over 29 menu selections and dining styles in a variety of restaurants, cafes and bars. There's a fitness centre, swimming pools, solariums, spas and relaxation centres, a wine cellar, children's clubs, a range of luxury cabins, entertainment areas and retail outlets. The ship's unique features include an outdoor Lawn Club & Grill, providing opportunities to relax, eat, drink and socialise in the fresh air. There's also space to unwind in The Alcoves –a cabana-styled haven offering culinary adventures, an art studio, an avant-garde treehouse, glass-blowing and sweeping veranda views enhancing 85% of her staterooms. And that's not all: Free cabin upgrades (Inside to Oceanview, Oceanview to Balcony, Balcony to Concierge) 50% single supplement on Oceanview categories and above Win a Sky Suite upgrade – all Oceanview and above bookings will go into a prize draw How to claim your exclusive discount For the exclusive £100 discount, call 01926 497811, quoting "Radio Times". You can also book through www.bravocruise.co.uk. Simply type "Radio Times" in the Special Requests section and select "Radio Times" from the dropdown box asking how you heard about the cruise. The reservations team will make the booking and contact you for payment – applying the £100 discount. Book now Read our Q&A with Alfie Boe and Katherine Jenkins about the Bravo Cruise. For more information about the performers, the itinerary and the cabins: bravocruise.co.uk/2018
Alan Titchmarsh's top National Trust days out
The presenter likes to set up his easel at Corfe Castle in Dorset and go for a scenic amble along the Cornish coast
In Secrets of the National Trust, Alan Titchmarsh explores the houses, landscapes and coastline looked after by the conservation charity. From the magnificence of a French Renaissance-style château built by Baron Ferdinand de Rothschild to a ‘Capability’ Brown masterpiece, the Channel 5 series travels the length and breadth of the UK, delving into the nation’s history. Here he tells us about three of his favourite days out, from Churchill's country home in Kent to a rugged beach in Cornwall. A night in Agatha Christie's Devonshire holiday home - Greenway Find a National Trust holiday cottage Best for history: Chartwell, Kent "It’s fashionable to knock Sir Winston Churchill, but he was a fascinating man — the most influential Briton of the 20th century — and so Chartwell, his country home, is of enormous interest. When you go to his studio and see his paints, or his bathroom, or the dining room where his wife Clemmie threw a bowl of spinach at him, you get a real feeling of what the man was like off-duty. For more information: nationaltrust.org.uk/chartwell Best for walkers: Porthcurno, Cornwall "The National Trust has some wonderful walks. There’s a lovely two- to three-hour walk from Sennen Cove to Porthcurno and back — though it’s overrun with Poldark fans! It’s fantastic for wildlife, surf crashing on rocks and tiny sheltered coves. In the evening, return to the outdoor Minack Theatre, which overlooks the ocean. Above it is the most beautiful sloping garden." For more information: nationaltrust.org.uk/sennen-to-penberth Best for artists: Corfe Castle, Dorset "Corfe Castle sits on this knoll, and you can see it from the road. It’s just so statuesque. You could park your easel and draw it from 100 different angles. I think you could spend a week there and not paint the same view twice." For more information: nationaltrust.org.uk/corfe-castle Secrets of the National Trust with Alan Titchmarsh is on Tuesdays on Channel 5, 9pm Browse the National Trust's hundreds of historic cottages NT holiday cottages near Hardwick Hall in Derbyshire - star of Secrets of the National Trust
Douglas Henshall: "When you go somewhere like Shetland, you realise what quiet sounds like"
When he's not playing Detective Inspector Jimmy Perez, Henshall likes to explore Shetland on foot
What do you enjoy most about filming on Shetland? The peace and quiet. Living in London you forget how much sensory violence is done to you. When you go somewhere like Shetland, you realise what quiet sounds like. Did Shetlanders have any reservations about letting the BBC film there? There had been a TV crew before us who were very patronising so people were understandably wary. Once they realised we weren’t trying to show them as crazy highlanders, they took to us and now they can’t do enough for you. Can you recommend somewhere to stay? The Scalloway Hotel is fantastic. That’s where I stay. Peter and Caroline who run the place are fantastic, the rooms are great, the food is really good. Scalloway is really nice and quite picturesque. If you want somewhere more secluded or if you’ve got a family, then the Sumburgh Head Lighthouse is spectacular. It’s a self-catering place and it’s got the best equipped kitchen I’ve ever seen. Find cheap flights to the Shetland Isles Compare hotels in Scalloway Exclusive reader offer: Join Alfie Boe and Katherine Jenkins on a music cruise - £100 off How do you spend your downtime? Walking. I’ve been going there for six years and I keep discovering new nooks and crannies. I’d recommend St Ninian’s Isle – it’s connected to the mainland by an amazing tombolo beach and the cliffs feel like the edge of the world. Have you visited many Scottish isles? Loads. I think my favourite place in the whole of Scotland is Skye. There’s nowhere like it. It was part of a volcano that erupted and has been edging its way over from America for millennia. That’s why the Black Cuillin mountains look like the dark side of the moon. Edinburgh or Glasgow? Glasgow. I grew up in Barrhead, on the outskirts – the centre is only 15 minutes away. All my best memories are around Glasgow, that’s where I started working in the theatre and became an adult. How would you spend a Saturday in Glasgow? I would walk through the Necropolis, go to the Citizens Theatre and eat at Mother India, which is a Glasgow institution. Glasgow’s restaurant scene has exploded in recent years – do you have a favourite? Ox and Finch is probably my favourite restaurant in Britain. The staff are really enthusiastic about what they’re doing. It’s not fancy-schmancy – it’s just very clever. Compare Glasgow hotels Where else is close to your heart? I have such warm memories of days out to the seaside town of Largs as a kid. We’d go to the amusements, go to Nardini’s for knickerbocker glories, go out on a little wooden boat, walk along the front, eat fish and chips and then go home. Where next? I really want to cycle the North Coast 500 – the road that loops around the far north of Scotland. It goes through the majestic, intimidating mountains of Wester Ross, which get closer and closer and closer and closer until they’re right on top of you. Shetland is on Tuesdays on BBC1 at 9pm Flights to Shetland Top Shetland Isles hotels Win a luxury two-night hotel stay
Endeavour: On the trail of Morse's Oxford
Michael Hodges follows Colin Dexter’s famous sleuth to the dreaming spires and murder scenes
Few detectives have such a hold on the national imagination as Endeavour Morse, the curmudgeonly middle-aged police inspector who lives for real ale and classical music. He wasn’t always middle-aged of course and the younger version, as played by Shaun Evans, is about to return to our screens in the fourth series of Endeavour, charting the young detective’s progress through early 1960s Oxford. Thanks to Endeavour, and Lewis and Inspector Morse before it, the city has become a byword for murderous academia and old-fashioned pubs, so Michael Hodges booked into the sleuth’s favourite hotel, The Randolph, and went looking for Morse... Exclusive reader offer: Join Alfie Boe and Katherine Jenkins on a music cruise - £100 off The White Horse Morse, in both his younger and older incarnations, liked alehouses and Oxford city centre is home to many establishments the swigging detective favoured. You could visit The King’s Arms, The Eagle and Child, The Bear Inn, The White Horse and The Lamb and Flag, where his younger self, Endeavour, took a ruminative pint with a beautiful but murderous opera singer in the series’ successful pilot. If you’re inclined to start a Morse city pub-crawl then the pretty much unchanged White Horse has been used as a location by Morse, Lewis and Endeavour. Crucially for devotees of the thirsty yet traditionally minded detective you can still get your bitter in a pint jug with a handle, just as Morse does in The Dead of Jericho. Sheldonian Theatre If you reverse the route and end your Morse pub crawl at The White Horse, then cross the road – carefully – to the Sheldonian Theatre, central to the classic Morse episode Twilight of the Gods and shortly to be seen again in series four of Endeavour. The producers of the lauded spin-off have been keen to follow in the footsteps of Morse, not least in pubs (see the White Horse), and the Endeavour production crew turned the interior of this Grade I-listed 17th-century theatre into a 1960s dance hall. Endeavour has also reused other city centre locations for its own purposes, turning a former philosophy faculty on Merton Street into the fictional Wessex Bank for a hold up. Macdonald Randolph Hotel Directly across the street from the Ashmolean stands the imposing Randolph Hotel (as it's commonly known). An Oxford landmark, the 5-star Randolph is a grand Victorian institution with a massive central neo-gothic central staircase that reeks of murder and intrigue (it is also a very good hotel). No surprise it was a favourite of the fictional detective, who drank here so often there is an official Morse bar (pictured below). Morse came here to complete The Times crossword puzzle, take a glass of whisky and, occasionally, make Lewis buy him a pint after a day’s sleuthing, and it’s where the pair have their first drink of the episode in The Wolvercote Tongue. After Morse’s demise, the fictional Lewis continued to use the bar named after his fictional boss. In Whom the Gods Would Destroy, Lewis and Hathaway come here to interview a witness in the dining room, which looks out onto the Martyrs’ Memorial on Beaumont Street, where Kenneth Cranham, playing the killer Professor Cedric Downes, lectured tourists at the beginning of, again, The Wolvercote Tongue. Book the Macdonald Randolph Hotel Win a two-night hotel stay in a UK destination of your choice Bodleian Library Cross Broad Street from the Sheldonian and enter the Bodleian Library, possibly one of the most filmed locations in the UK (The Golden Compass, The History Boys and the X-Men series were all shot here). Morse and Endeavour have both made use of the early 16th century building and Lewis and Hathaway have visited, notebook in hand, several times, interviewing Professor Gold amid the thronged shelves of the library and being confronted with a murder in the basement in Whom the Gods Would Destroy. Radcliffe Square Morse, Lewis and Endeavour have all used this exquisite square behind the University Church of St Mary the Virgin (it has a cameo in at least two episodes of Morse, The Silent World of Nicholas Quinn and The Daughters of Cain), as did the movies The Golden Compass and Young Sherlock Holmes. Only five minutes walk from the Bodleian, Radcliffe Square is dominated by the Radcliffe Camera (pictured below), a remarkable rotunda that houses a university library. The Endeavour film crew once parked a vintage 1960s bus right in front of the Camera. Sadly the library is closed to the general public; however there is nothing to stop you joining the scholars in the excellent organic Vaults and Garden café at the rear of St Mary’s, another Morse and Lewis location where Hathaway was poisoned in The Gift of Promise. Usually the food is very good. Bridge of Sighs Oxford’s Bridge of Sighs is an apparently ancient structure modelled on the 16th century Rialto Bridge in Venice but actually completed in 1914. Wander under the covered walkway linking two quadrangles of Hertford College, and you’ll be following Inspector Lewis and Sergeant Hathaway, who have both been filmed by the world-famous bridge. Expect to see the bridge again in series four of Endeavour, as Shaun Evans and the crew were seen filming here last summer. And, if you have a Morse-like need to top up your beer levels, one of his favourite pubs, The Turf Tavern, is just around the corner. The Ashmolean Museum Founded in 1683, the Ashmolean is one of the most important museums in the world and has long been a favourite Morse location. The museum’s Anglo-Saxon artefact collection is central to the first episode of the second series of Inspector Morse (and perhaps the greatest ever episode), The Wolvercote Tongue, and the museum featured in the first ever episode of Lewis, when Inspector Lewis and Sergeant Hathaway come here to look at ancient Greek coins. They returned for The Point of Vanishing, this time to seek out the oil painting The Hunt in the Forest, the stunning 1470 Italian renaissance masterpiece by Paulo Uccello. It's still there, and still stunning. Christ Church College If you had to pick one college to visit from Oxford’s 44 then this is the one, coming complete with quads, an outstanding medieval cathedral, word-class art gallery and a great hall used as the model for the dining hall in the Harry Potter films. Christ Church Meadow – the parkland crossed by the rivers Thames and Cherwell (Lewis and Hathaway have been known to canoe along the Cherwell) – is ideal for a picnic if you are here in spring or summer. See if you can decide which park bench looking onto Christchurch college Shaun Evans chose to look troubled and pensive on in the first ever episode of Endeavour. Endeavour is on ITV on Sundays at 8pm Book Morse's favourite hotel - the Macdonald Randolph Hotel Win a two-night hotel