Fantastic

Best known as the voice of Love Island, Iain Stirling is trying something completely different as the host of Race Against the Tide

Love Island’s Iain Stirling has stepped away from the villa and onto the sands of Scotland in a bold new series.

Race Against the Tide, which has just launched on BBC Two, sees Stirling take centre stage as host of a distinctive sand sculpture competition.

Prior to the series launch, Stirling said: “Audiences are going to love Race Against the Tide! It’s got everything you could want from a summer show – stunning Scottish scenery, incredible creativity, and, of course, lots of sand puns – you can be shore of that. I can’t wait for everyone to see what our teams create.”

Filmed on St Andrews Beach, the show welcomes seven teams to compete in a race against time, with pairs given just six hours to construct sand sculptures before the incoming tide washes them away. Each duo comprises one professional sculptor and a complete amateur.

The contestants hail from a diverse range of backgrounds, including a leather craftsman, cake decorator, plasterer, stationery designer, carpenter, art teacher and fine art student.

The sculptures are assessed by industry professionals Sadie Clayton and Jamie Wardley, who judge each creation on technical ability, creativity and storytelling, reports the Daily Record.

The debut episode aired on Tuesday (August 18) evening and fans were genuinely impressed, taking to X, formerly Twitter, to share their verdicts.

One viewer enthused: “Watching #RaceAgainstTheTide on # iPlayer. It’s actually quite fun.”

Another added: “#raceagainstthetide – fantastic fun and silly summer television and completely pointless. Great stuff.”

A third delighted viewer chimed in: “Loving #RaceAgainstTheTide with @IainDoesJokes on @ BBC @BBCTwo a great fun new show. Who doesn’t love making sand castles on the beach. This is that x1000! Original idea! Well done.”

However, the programme failed to win everybody over, with one critic posting: “I think this is better viewed on mute #raceagainstthetide.”

Each episode of Race Against the Tide centres on a fresh challenge built around a distinct theme. The opening instalment tasked the contestants with creating a sculpture inspired by the phrase ‘Life’s A Beach’.

When the challenge concluded, Rachel and Athena secured the title of Sand Champions, while Zara and David were eliminated from the competition.

Across the upcoming five episodes, the other couples will be eliminated until one team claims the first Race Against the Tide crown.

Race Against the Tide is available to stream on BBC iPlayer

A week’s stay costs significantly less than many popular European rivals

Many UK households are reconsidering their holiday plans for 2026, with nearly half (47%) of Brits with travel plans deciding to cut back due to soaring flight costs.

Research from the credit card firm Aqua examined the cost of a week’s stay in summer holiday destinations across the UK and Europe to uncover where Brits can stretch their money the furthest this year.

Albania has emerged as the top destination for a summer getaway in 2026, with return flights costing £100 and a week’s stay for two in July coming in at £381.

One British seaside resort also made a notable appearance on the list. Blackpool is the only UK destination to feature in the top 10, landing in ninth place as one of the most budget-friendly summer holiday spots for 2026, boasting the lowest average prices for local attractions (£31) and fuel costs averaging £35.

Things to do in Blackpool

Blackpool offers a wealth of attractions listed on TripAdvisor, among them Sandcastle Waterpark, Blackpool Tower Ballroom and The Blackpool Tower.

It is Blackpool Pleasure Beach, however, that sits at the top of TripAdvisor with a rating of four, based on an impressive 15,000 customer reviews. The amusement and theme park is open seven days a week, with unlimited-ride eTickets available from around £31.50 online for adults (ages 12+) and £22.50 for children, compared to gate prices of up to £50.

Ticket prices at Blackpool Pleasure Beach vary by date, and booking at least seven days in advance can save visitors up to £14 per ticket.

Those who prefer to pay as they go can purchase individual ride tickets starting from £7.

Visitors have been singing the praises of Blackpool Pleasure Beach on TripAdvisor, with one guest writing: “An amazing day on the theme park with amazing rides, all the staff were friendly and helpful, great day all round, would recommend going.”

A second visitor added: “Amazing friendly staff, always happy to help, amazing rides as well, can always have a great day at the Pleasure Beach.”

“We had a fantastic trip to Blackpool Pleasure Beach, which was enjoyed by all ages,” said another. “Our youngest is just a toddler, and our oldest is a teenager, and they both had a great time. There is really something for everyone.”

A fourth guest enthused, “Best day ever today! Jake and Jamie, who work on the Big One, you were right, it doesn’t go upside down! Although we got wetter than we ever would have on Valhalla! All staff were great, and the facilities were too. Can’t wait to come back.”

Rounding off the glowing reviews, one visitor posted: “Great, I had a wonderful time at the amusement park. I am glad I enjoyed all the attractions and entertainment. The atmosphere there was absolutely delightful. It was a pleasure to hear about such positive experiences.”

Meanwhile, at the opposite end of the spectrum, London ranks as the most sought-after staycation destination in the UK. The capital tops the list with steep accommodation costs (£1,133 per week for two adults), affordable meals (£20), and pints (£7).

Yet a number of top attractions, including the British Museum and the National Gallery, are free to enter, which helps to soften the blow on overall expenditure.

Brighton takes second place, with accommodation on the pricier side — the second highest of all destinations analysed (£1,715 a week for two adults). Falmouth, UK, follows closely in third, also driven by some of the steepest accommodation costs (£1,501 a week for two adults).

The top 10 most affordable European destinations for 2026:

1. Albania
2. Prague
3. Porto
4. Madrid
5. Lisbon
6. Costa Del Sol
7. Budapest
8. Tenerife
9. Blackpool
10. Lanzarote