colours

Autumn is the perfect time to explore what’s going on across the UK

Autumn is here, and this season is when the UK truly shines. On a crisp bright day there is nothing more beautiful than a country walk, soaking in the technicolour trees as their leaves change from green to all the red and orange shades of autumn.

The only thing that is better is the promise of a cosy pub at the end with a roaring fire, tucked away on a high street that’s teeming with independent shops. This situation might sound like a utopian dream – but there is one place in the UK where you can enjoy all of this.

If it’s the autumn colour you want, you need to start your day at Stourhead in Wiltshire.

This National Trust home and garden was one of the first grand Palladian style homes built in England, and has been kept beautifully preserved.

The home is set within 2,650 acres of lush English countryside with walking paths criss crossing the land.

There’s a vast lake on the ground and at its shores is a hidden grotto where you can look out over the water and see the bright fiery trees reflecting in the still water.

The gardens are also home to several Roman inspired temples, including temples of Apollo and Flora. Once you have enjoyed the house and the garden and maybe even stopped for a cup of tea in the cafe, you can head to the charming town of Mere.

The town is just a 15 minute drive from the property, and is a quiet haven away from the hustle and bustle of city life.

Mere is an historic town nestled beneath the South West Wiltshire Downs and close to the borders of Somerset and Dorset.

The charming high street has florists, antique stores and tea rooms, perfect for a weekend wander. There’s also a selection of pubs to choose from – and the oldest is one of the best.

The George Inn, located at the Square in Mere is the town’s oldest pub and dates back to the 16th century.

The main bar has a large, roaring log fire with cosy seating and the menu serves up classic pub food, perfect for warming up after a chilly autumn walk.

The Gentleman actress Jasmine Blackborow appeared on Sunday Brunch to promote the second season and conversation quickly turned to her co-star Maya Jama

One of Maya Jama’s The Gentleman co-star’s has revealed what the Love Island host was really like behind the scenes.

The presenter has has made her major scripted acting debut in the second series of Guy Ritchie’s comedy-drama Netflix’s The Gentleman as Aisha, a gangster’s moll and the wife of Prince Amir bin Abdullah al-Hadidi (Amra Mallassi).

She makes appearances during key moments of the season, notably featured in Episode 1 and Episode 4 and it has been reported that Maya will return for season three.

Actress Jasmine Blackborow, who plays Lady Charlotte “Charly” Horniman, the younger sister of the protagonist Eddie Horniman in The Gentleman, appeared on Sunday Brunch on September 6 so promote the show.

Conversation turned to Maya joining the cast with hosts Simon Rimmer and Tim Lovejoy keen to find out what the Celebrity Traitors was like when the cameras stopped rolling.

Jasmine said: “She was absolutely gorgeous on set and she was nervous because she’s not done this before. She was there running her lines again and again and when she did it she was just such a pro.”

Maya, who has been the host of Love Island since 2023, previously opened up about joining cast of the hit Netflix series and say director Guy made her feel comfortable while filming.

Speaking to Variety, she said: “He’s really kind and nice. He doesn’t feel as intimidating as you’d think, being who he is. He’s very personable and he would be like ‘yeah, you’re doing well’, and reassure me, which was really nice.

“He’s just really involved and kind of a genius to watch, because everyone’s practicing their lines and then he says something that’s way better than the original. You just feel like you’re in the presence of greatness.”

Hugh Bonneville and Michele Morrone are among other names joining season two of The Gentlemen, which is based on Guy’s film of the same name and explores the criminal underbelly of high society Britain.

The first series of The Gentleman premiered with an audience of 3.5 million and secured a place as one of UK’s most-watched TV shows of 2024.

The only other acting experience that 32-year-old Maya has had was in a brief cameo role for Katherine Ryan’s The Duchess on Netflix six years ago.

Speaking about the role at the time, Maya said: “I did the tiniest little cameo in a Netflix series called The Duchess” referring to her appearance as a dental nurse.

“But it was like one day filming, whereas this was my first one where I had to properly learn lines and be on set for a few days. But I was so, so excited because I loved the series.”

The Gentleman is now streaming on Netflix