Calder

There are plenty of affordable flights from UK airports and the average temperature in October is 20C

Travel guru Simon Calder has revealed his top pick for an autumn getaway – the delightful seaside town of Cassis in southern France. He highlighted that there are plenty of budget-friendly flights from UK airports and the average October temperature is a pleasant 20C.

Cassis is also ideal for those who enjoy exploring on foot, making it a perfect choice for pensioners seeking an affordable and accessible holiday destination. The travel expert enthused: “I just came back from Côte d’Azur on Friday, and it was absolutely magical, particularly the lovely town of Cassis. Beautiful port, very close to St Tropez. It’s just a gorgeous place, the food is great!”.

“You can even take a bus from Marseille that costs £3 and takes you around one of the greatest drives in the world,” reports the Express.

Travel blogger Sam shared on her blog theblondescout that Cassis was “one of the nicest surprises” during her time living in France.

“This small fishing town is colourful, quaint and next to one of the most extraordinary landscapes I have ever witnessed: the dramatic limestone inlets that make up the Calanques between Cassis and Marseille.”

She further noted that Cassis is a small town, so it is “very walkable and easy to get around”.

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“All of the streets are picture-perfect and have that colourful French Riviera vibe! Our favourite little square was at the bougainvillaea-filled Place Baragnon.”, she said.

Travel expert Simon Calder also recommends the Algarve, in southern Portugal, as a stunning and “very affordable” seaside destination that’s not too busy at this time of year.

BBC drama Shetland is returning to tv screens soon with Ashley Jensen and Alison O’Donnell reprising their roles for series 10.

Fans of BBC’s hit crime drama Shetland are in for a treat as series 10 is set to hit the screens soon. This comes after it was announced some stars from the show are joining the cast of Vigil.

Viewers will see Ashley Jensen and Alison O’Donnell return to their roles as DI Ruth Calder and DS Lorna Tosh McIntosh, who find themselves drawn to a remote village following the chilling murder of an elderly woman.

This week, the BBC unveiled a sneak peek trailer of what’s in store in the upcoming series, hinting at strained loyalties.

The brief clip reveals escalating tensions within the team as a colleague discusses the crime scene that DI Calder and McIntosh were summoned to.

He remarks: “I hear it was pretty bad up there.” To which DI Calder responds: “Yeah, about as bad as it gets.”

While the exact details of the incident aren’t revealed, it seems the victim has met a brutal end, reports the Daily Record.

One distressing scene features an elderly man appearing distraught as he questions: “Who did this to her?”

Another man, seemingly speaking to the DI in a separate scene, points out that the ‘obvious’ suspects will need to be investigated first, to determine their involvement in the crime.

A succession of faces then flash on-screen, implying these individuals could be implicated in the murder.

However, Ruth and Tosh might be barking up the wrong tree as a woman accuses them of seeking a ‘scapegoat’, followed by a shot of a young man breaking down in tears.

Before the teaser trailer concludes, a montage of nail-biting scenes flash on-screen, including people running, a woman being chased and a building exploding.

A synopsis for the series reads: “As Calder and Tosh are drawn to a remote village following the sinister murder of an elderly woman. As they begin to unravel life in this close-knit community, shocking, long-buried secrets rise to the surface with unexpected consequences for all – including the team.

“In the isolated hamlet of Lunniswick, the body of the retired social worker Eadie Tulloch has been out in the elements for a number of days.

“Suspecting the residents are holding back about their relationships with Eadie, Calder and Tosh begin to unravel a complicated web of lies. Worse still, there’s a personal link to the case for one of the team, testing loyalty to the limits.”

Alongside Ashley and Alison returning to their respective characters, viewers will also witness Steven Robertson, Lewis Howden, Steven Miller, Anne Kidd, Conor McCarry, Angus Miller and Eubha Akilade making their comeback to the BBC drama.

Additionally, Samuel Anderson joins the cast for series 10 as the new Procurator Fiscal Matt Blake.

Shetland will return on November 5, with the first nine series currently available to stream on BBC iPlayer.

Simon Calder took to This Morning to reveal an often overlooked destination in Europe that he dubbed ‘absolutely gorgeous’ and a ‘bargain’

Travel expert Simon Calder has been smitten with one particular destination since the 1980s. Now, this hidden gem is finally gaining recognition – yet Simon claims “prices are really back to kinda 1990s levels.”

Albania is emerging as a must-visit tourism hotspot, but as Simon revealed on ITV’s This Morning in a segment last year, he’s been championing it long before it became trendy. It comes as Wizz Air launches budget £20 flights to the country.

Speaking to presenters Ben Shepherd and Cat Deeley from his accommodation in Durres, Albania, Simon explained he had arrived the previous evening.

He said: “The sun has come out, it’s absolutely gorgeous and it’s one of the most historic and beautiful cities in Albania.”

Beyond its stunning scenery, Simon highlighted Albania’s “incredible bargains”, reports the Express.

A pizza and pint will set you back roughly £6, whilst his coach journey from the airport to his accommodation – spanning 30 miles – would have cost merely a couple of quid; had he not missed the final departure.

The country currently has sunny weather forecast for the next couple of weeks, with highs between 26-28C daily, allowing you to enjoy the summer for longer.

Simon also claimed Albania’s residents are amongst the most hospitable and warm-hearted you’ll encounter anywhere.

He revealed that once locals realised he’d missed his transport, they immediately rallied around to assist him in securing a taxi – even advising him on fair pricing to prevent any potential overcharging.

He noted that Albania currently sits outside the mainstream package holiday market, though he anticipates tour operators will catch on within the coming years.

Direct flights to Albania depart daily from key UK airports – and with this slice of paradise merely three hours away, it deserves a spot on your travel wishlist. If, like Simon, you fancy staying in Durres, then there’s plenty to keep you occupied.

Durres boasts a colossal Roman amphitheatre featuring preserved mosaics that visitors can explore and marvel at.

TripAdvisor gives this attraction top marks, with one reviewer calling it essential viewing.

One holidaymaker shared: “This place is absolutely wonderful. I noticed that a lot of people take pictures from the outside and do not wish to spend 200 lek which is little less then £2 to go and see it inside. I think it’s their loss and they choose not to support further recovery of this beautiful place.”

But if lounging on the beach is more your cup of tea, then Durres delivers on that front too – it’s packed with stretches of pristine white sand and sparkling turquoise waters.

Following a busy day of sightseeing, you’ll have built up quite an appetite, so why not sample some of Durres’s freshly caught seafood?

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Squid, fish and octopus are all on offer and taste incredible thanks to being so freshly hauled in and prepared.

Another mouth-watering speciality is Japrak – minced meat and rice wrapped in vine leaves and slow-cooked to create rich, hearty flavours.

A record 1.26m television audience for Bath’s victory, combined with demand outstripping supply for the 82,000 tickets, suggests the Premiership is nurturing new fans.

There has been big growth in engaging supporters between the ages of 18-34, while Red Bull’s reported interest in buying Newcastle Falcons would tie in perfectly with a parallel aim of attracting youth-orientated brands.

It is a brief Calder has worked to before.

Before he arrived in rugby, he was the commercial director for the Hundred, the neon-spattered, slog-heavy cricket format that launched in 2021 and raised more than £500m with the sale of its franchise sides earlier this year.

That was revolution. In rugby, Calder is aiming for evolution.

“With the Hundred, we were clear that a distinctly new approach was going to be critical to get to the next generation,” he says.

“When I did research on the Hundred though I looked at rugby clubs and how they compared in terms of appeal to younger audiences and they actually performed pretty well.

“There are some strong brands in there – be it Harlequins or Leicester Tigers or others – with legacy and awareness of those identities.

“So I think we’re starting from a different level with rugby.”

The rebrand will include more behind-the-scenes content from the league’s bright, young things and more intelligent highlights, with dramatic moments, such as shuddering hits, try-saving tackles and interactions between players, included alongside the scores.

Some of the strategy is more mundane than the marketing, but just as important.

“The first time people come to rugby grounds, we have got to make them welcome,” says Calder.

“We’ve got to point out where everything is, to make sure there’s enough toilets for women, that the facilities are clean and the rest of it.

“Rugby is probably a little bit behind where some sports are, but that’s a massive focus for us.

“We’ve invested in gathering match day experience scores from fans and match day experience training with the clubs.”