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DRAMATIC Alaskan landscapes, a medieval city on Spain’s north coast and surf beaches in Morocco are among THE places to visit in 2027, according to Lonely Planet.

The experts’ latest book – Best In Travel 2027 – recommends exploring a treasure trove of places off the beaten track.

And that includes unforgettable experiences tipped for 2027, from “flightseeing” in the skies above icy Alaska, to hiking the historic St Cuthbert’s Way from the Scottish borders to Northumberland.

Lisa Minot picks her favourite destinations and experiences from the list.

BEST EXPERIENCES

GO FLIGHTSEEING ALASKA: With just 20 per cent of Alaska accessible by road, taking to the skies in a small plane is one of the best ways to experience its vast wilderness.

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May and June are the best months for the driest, most stable weather, while July and August mean up to 20 hours of daylight and lush landscapes.

WALK ST CUTHBERT’S WAY: Follow this 62-mile pilgrimage from Melrose to Lindisfarne through the wild uplands of the Scottish borders to Northumberland.

You’ll pass through moorlands, by ghostly hill forts and stop at cosy village pubs before visiting Holy Island.

See stcuthbertsway.info.

DIVE THE AEGEAN: Once heavily restricted to protect underwater antiquities from pillaging, you can now discover Poseidon’s underwater world as new legislation and the opening of underwater archaeological sites allows you to explore marine treasures.

Examples include the Peristera shipwreck off the island of Alonissos.

It sank in the 5th century, carrying more than 4,000 wine amphorae (clay jars).

Or visit the Fourni Archipelago, known as the ancient shipwreck capital of the world.

SAIL THE AEOLIAN ISLANDS, ITALY: Island hopping isn’t the reserve of the Greeks.

Sail between these lesser-known islands to discover rugged coastlines, clear waters and Italian traditions.

Set sail from Sicily on the fast ferries that visit all seven islands, but book ahead in summer.

Or join a skippered sailing holiday through UK operators such as Sunsail or Dream Yacht Charter.

EXPLORE KILLARY FJORD, IRELAND: Tucked along Ireland’s Wild Atlantic Way, the Killary Fjord in Co Galway cuts its way ten miles inland towards the village of Leenaun, past steep peaks that change dramatically with the seasons. It’s some of the most dramatic scenery in the country.

BEST PLACES

SWEDISH RIVIERA: After this year’s heatwaves, travellers may be looking for cooler destinations.

The twin towns of Skanor and Falsterbo are connected by a bridge and home to colourful cottages, gardens and an endless coastline.

SIBENIK, CROATIA: This small but lively Adriatic city has colourful festivals and gastronomic delights from fresh Adriatic seafood to truffle pastas.

Explore a labyrinth of steep stone alleyways, hidden plazas and Venetian-era architecture.

The city sits between the coastal towns of Split and Zadar and there are plenty of low-cost flights into both from the UK.

LEON, SPAIN: Northern Spain is having its moment in 2027.

Known for its many bars offering free tapas, Leon combines centuries of history with a lively contemporary spirit.

When you order a wine, cider or beer, expect a substantial plate of local cured beef, cheese and spicy blood sausage.

Best explored by hire car, flying into Santander or Bilbao.

RABAT, MOROCCO: Think all the exotic excitement of Marrakech but without the crowds.

Rabat on Morocco’s coast boasts royal palaces, coastal breezes and clean, palm-lined avenues.

The country’s imperial city still has a great Medina — for haggling over leather goods, spices and rugs — as well as miles of wide, sandy beaches.

There are direct flights from Gatwick and Stansted.

PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND, CANADA: Known as Canada’s food island, the country’s smallest province is known for mussels, oysters and roadside lobster rolls served straight off the fishing boats.

Expect lush hills, white sand beaches and red sandstone cliffs dotted with lighthouses.

Author LM Montgomery set her novel Anne Of Green Gables here, and Netflix’s adaptation, Anne With An E, filmed in the province.

BACKSTREET BOYS are ­returning to the UK next year for a string of huge shows, including a concert at London’s O2 Arena.

Nick Carter, Howie Dorough, AJ McLean, Brian Littrell and Kevin Richardson had been locked in rehearsals at a facility in Bedfordshire for the launch of their concert residency in Dusseldorf, which kicked off on Friday.

But I can reveal the band are in advanced talks to perform their first shows in Blighty since the 2022 DNA World Tour.

A source said: “Backstreet’s back — and they’re coming to London.

“All the details are under lock and key but the residency means the guys are on top form and are ready to head out on tour.

“The concerts will take place next year, with one at London’s O2 Arena which will make up part of the venue’s 20th anniversary celebrations.

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“The lads are beyond excited about this and have been working so hard.”

Earlier this year, Backstreet Boys kicked off their Into The Millennium residency at The Sphere in Las Vegas.

The show is now in ­Germany before more dates in Sin City in December and ­January.

The lads have sold more than 450,000 tickets for the ­residency in Dusseldorf, with fans being treated to a 26-song set list.

As a group, Backstreet Boys dominated Germany in the early days of the band, with fans there catching on early as to what huge stars they would become.

After the residency began, Brian said: “When we talk about this being a homecoming, it’s because Germany is where everything clicked for us.

“It’s where our dream stopped being hypothetical and became something real.

“Coming back for these shows feels full circle.”

After they struck gold, the band went on to become one of the biggest groups in the world, ­selling more than 150million records worldwide and achieving 16 UK Top Ten singles, including No1 hit I Want It That Way in 1999.

As a huge fan, I shall be jumping in the queue for tickets once the show is announced.

Rita can go Anywhere

LIKE me, Rita Ora was a late starter when it came to passing her driving test.

But, aged 35, she’s now finally got her licence and posed proudly with her certificate in front of her Dollar Driving School car in Los Angeles.

The company previously taught stars including model Winnie Harlow how to drive.

See you on the M1, Rita – and feel free to bring your cute four-legged friend along too.

MARIAH HERE TO BRING MORE FESTIVE CHEER

IF you missed out on tickets for Mariah Carey’s upcoming UK Christmas tour dates, I have good news.

I’m told the star is in advanced talks to perform at this year’s Capital Jingle Bell Ball.

My moles tell me the annual event will take place on December 5 and 6 at London’s O2 Arena, with bosses ­working around the clock to secure the US chart queen as a performer.

A source said: “Bosses are still locking in the exact line-up but it’s looking likely Mariah will be a special guest at one of the dates.

“They think she would be an amazing ­addition to the line-up.”

We revealed in July how Mariah was set to return to our shores to play her first run of winter shows here in eight years.

She will begin the gigs on November 27 in Birmingham before concerts in London and Manchester.

Welcome back, Mimi.

We’ve missed you.

It’s heavy petal for Olivia

OLIVIA RODRIGO could be lining up a partnership with Interflora, if the opening night of her Unraveled Tour was anything to go by.

The Drop Dead singer performed in a sea of giant flowers – with 16 gardeners on hand to rearrange the blooms as her US show in Connecticut went on.

As well as singing tracks from her previous two records, Olivia performed nearly every song from No1 album You Seem Pretty Sad For A Girl So In Love.

She repeatedly changed dresses during the 23-song set – and wowed fans when a white frock she was wearing dissolved as “rain” fell on stage, to reveal a bright-red corseted number underneath.

She will bring the show to the UK for a nine-night run at London’s O2 Arena next April.

CELINE’S DOLLED UP FOR XMAS

CELINE DION is being immortalised as a Barbie doll to celebrate her incredible live music comeback.

I can reveal the My Heart Will Go On singer, who is playing a residency in Paris, will have her own limited edition doll released just in time for Christmas.

A source said: “Celine was contacted by Mattel last year and was told bosses were keen to turn her into a collectable Barbie.

“Naturally, she was honoured, and agreed to the partnership straight away.

“The doll will be based on one of her most iconic looks.”

Celine is not the first star to be turned into the famous toy.

In February, Kylie Minogue had a plastic-fantastic makeover, while Marilyn Monroe got her own doll to celebrate what would have been her 100th birthday in August.

POP star Mabel has given birth to her first child, a year on from her wedding to record label executive Preye Crooks.

The singer, who hadn’t revealed she was pregnant, shared a home video on Instagram yesterday of their newborn and was congratulated by fellow artists including Craig David, Fleur East, Tinie Tempah and Ella Eyre.

POP IDOL WILL GOES LIVE AT 25

WILL YOUNG is heading out on tour next year to mark 25 years since he won Pop Idol.

The Evergreen 25th ­Anniversary gigs will see Will, inset, perform with his band.

The shows kick off at ­Manchester’s O2 Apollo on February 20 before other stop-offs include Glasgow, Sheffield, Nottingham, Birmingham, Southend, London and Cardiff.

Will said: “I can’t wait to celebrate with the full band and play Evergreen, as well as all the songs that have come since, from Light My Fire to Leave Right Now.”

X Factor star Olly Murs has also confirmed a string of summer shows for 2027.

His eight-date run will start at Bristol’s Good Times Festival on May 30.

Tickets for Will’s and Olly’s shows go on sale at 10am this Friday.

ONE minute I’m having my morning coffee, the next I’m handed a long stick to fish fresh mangos from the trees for my breakfast.

As I cut into the ripe green fruit, sticky juice seeps down my arm and I frantically try to eat it before it reaches my elbow.

After days of rich prawn curries and French chocolate lava cakes, this health hit is a welcome change. 

The mix of Indian and French culture is what makes a holiday to the African island of Mauritius unique.

Its history is complex. Being uninhabited until 1598, it swapped hands from the Dutch, to the French, and finally the British before its independence in 1968.

Now predominantly Indo-Mauritian, the island is the definition of paradise.

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Soft sandy beaches, coconut trees lining the roads and year-round 30C weather. All the boxes ticked.

And your time in paradise is best spent at Veranda Paul et Virginie Hotel in the north of the island.

The adult-only resort, which underwent a huge renovation in 2024, is named after the tragic French love story of Virginie and Paul. Spoiler: They both die.

I’ve never felt more alive, however, as I enter the hotel to be greeted by Bora Bora-style thatched lobbies, Maldives-esque, over-water restaurants and a Dubai-like infinity pool.

Thankfully, it comes without the high price tag of those destinations, as Mauritius is the affordable luxury alternative.

My out-of-office relaxation is only interrupted by my hourly break into the water to escape the heat. There’s the bright turquoise ocean with snorkelling, paddle boarding and glass-bottom boat tours — all included for guests.

Otherwise, days are spent hopping between the main hotel pool and the infinity pool overlooking the sea.

The latter is where I spend every evening in awe of the view when the sun goes down.

As the clouds clear, a vivid pink sunset rips across the sky like a paint splatter, lighting up the water in the same hue.

And the views don’t stop from either of the hotel restaurants.

The main dining spot is Saint Geran, which juts out over the water with 360-degree ocean views.

The menu includes octopus salads, Mauritian arancini and decadent French desserts. I quickly became obsessed with napolitaine, a tiny shortbread biscuit covered in pink icing that I had alongside nearly every cup of coffee.

Make sure to stay put at the resort on Thursdays for the Sunset Vibes nights, with steel drums, cocktails and canapes.

Another big selling point of this gorgeous hotel is that all the bedrooms have either pool or sea views.

My Superior room — the middle option — was spacious and stylish. Think rattan chairs on the balcony, king-size beds and dark walnut furniture, accented with blues and oranges.

Any woes I still had in me were eased at the hotel’s spa, where a 90-minute massage from Aurora left me feeling like a new woman.

If you come to Mauritius with the kids, try the Veranda Grand Baie hotel down the road. This resort has volleyball courts, table tennis and a rotating menu of activities, such as archery and kayaking.

I tested my skills with some Creole lessons, Ravanne drum classes and cooking demonstrations, sweating over an outdoor stove.

Adults wanting some time to themselves also have more choice in the village of Grand Baie (after which the hotel is named).

A short walk or boat ride away, Banana Beach Club is the place to be, with £3 local beers and live music all through the week.

Pop into the Bazar de Grand Baie, a huge indoor market with everything from clothes and shoes to carved wooden dodos and coconut bowls. Just be prepared to haggle hard. If you can pull yourself away, the rest of the north of the island has a lot more to offer outside of the resorts.

The history of Mauritius is best explained at L’Aventure du Sucre, an interactive museum exploring the last 400 years — with sugar and rum tastings to finish off, of course.

Join the locals at Cap Malheureux beach, where heady smells of BBQ-ed meat carry across the shore.

It’s also where you’ll find the famous red-roofed church that features on all the postcards out here.

Or grab a bike and explore the fishing village of Grand Gaube.

Our guide, “King Julian”, showed us around, greeting nearly every person like a local celeb, high-fiving them over the football or holding doors for the elderly churchgoers.

“We don’t have a big life, but it’s a millionaire life,” he tells us as we watch the fishing boats come in underneath another pink sunset.

Despite spending a fraction of that to be there, I certainly felt a million dollars by the end.

Even if just from my daily dose of mangos.

IT’S 10pm on a Sunday and I’m dancing alongside 50 strangers, an Aperol spritz in one hand and a skewered olive in the other.

I’m at La Ciclatera Sotto Il Mare, a bar tucked into the medieval walls of Bari in southern Italy.

This historic port city is the capital of Puglia, sitting in the heel of Italy’s boot on the Adriatic coast.

And it’s that same coastline I’m now gazing at, swaying to Italian tunes the locals know every word to as they dig into shared pizza boxes.

It’s a moment that really captures the city’s vibe, and is just one of many reasons to see it for yourself.

This summer, easyJet started flying to Bari from Manchester, joining its existing routes from Gatwick and Bristol. With a flight time of just under three hours, it’s a fresh alternative to the usual long weekend in Barcelona or Lisbon.

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Until now, Bari has largely been known to Brits as a stepping stone to the more famous corners of Puglia — but it deserves better..

Bari’s real charm lies in its old town, Bari Vecchia, where you can easily lose a whole day.

Its alleys twist between pale stone houses strung with washing lines, past tiny churches and crumbling shopfronts, before opening on to squares packed with restaurants, bars and trendy gelato spots.

Despite being on the coast, Bari isn’t brimming with beaches but there are still sunbathing spots — Pane e Pomodoro is a 30-minute stroll from the centre.

This small stretch of sand is easy to swim from and dotted with bars. It gets very busy at weekends though, so arrive early.

Those after a bit of culture should check out the Basilica di San Nicola, an 11th-century church built to house the remains of Saint Nicholas, the man who inspired Santa Claus.

A few streets away, there’s the 12th-century Castello Svevo, which has a museum and art exhibitions, as well as panoramic vistas from its ramparts.

But the biggest attraction in Bari is the food. It is the birthplace of orecchiette — the “little ears” pasta shape Puglia is famous for — and you’ll find it on most menus.

The best I had was at La Beuat, a modern seafood spot on a tiny square in the Carbonara district.

Every table was full of locals tucking into dishes such as grilled octopus and fiery spaghetti all’assassina — Bari’s signature pasta cooked in a scorching pan until the edges char.

Three courses for two with wine came to around €60 (£50), which is fairly standard for a good quality meal in the old town.

For more traditional vibes, La Cantina dello Zio is a family-run trattoria famous for its orecchiette with turnip tops.

Another favourite was Osteria del Borgo on Piazza Mercantile, one of the old town’s most atmospheric squares.

As I ended every evening with a stomach full of pasta, I was grateful for the short walk back to my hotel, the 4* Movenpick Bari.

Rooms are contemporary and comfortable and breakfast is served on the eighth floor, which has sweeping views of the city and harbour.

Bari is a great base for exploring the Puglia region and Ionian coast, where powder-white sands have earned it the nickname “the Maldives of Italy”.

Hire a car from around £30 per day to reach the more remote areas or let the train take the strain.

Polignano a Mare, the clifftop town famed for its beach carved into the cliffs, is fewer than 30 minutes away from Bari by rail.

Monopoli, with its whitewashed old town and string of turquoise coves, is also well worth an afternoon visit for a swim and plate of pasta by the harbour.

A little further afield is Alberobello, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that is renowned for its trulli (traditional cone-roofed stone huts).

That said, you don’t have to go far. Bari has more than enough charm, food and character to fill a long weekend — especially if you plan your days around what’s on the menu.

SHOWBIZ star Amanda Holden takes it nice and kneesy in a little black dress — as she plots her own wellness empire.

She has filed papers to trademark her name for future use on beauty products and websites.

The Intellectual Property Office application also covers cosmetics and perfumes.

Britain’s Got Talent judge Amanda, 55, is hoping for the same ­success as Hollywood star Gwyneth Paltrow’s £323million Goop brand.

She has previously admitted that her beauty regime before her Heart Radio breakfast show is rather rushed.

The mum of two said: “I get up at 5am . . . and get ready in 20 minutes.

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“I sleep in my lashes and have all my make-up set out.

“I have my outfit laid out and leave my shoes at the door.”

Amanda has been married to record producer Chris Hughes since 2008.

The couple share daughters Lexi and Hollie.

THEY are marking 25 years with a record-breaking anniversary tour.

But despite celebrating a quarter of a century together, Westlife say they have never felt younger — thanks to fans still throwing their bras onto the stage.

Kian Egan, Shane Filan and Nicky Byrne have been inundated with fans throwing their undergarments on to the stage during their gigs at Dublin’s 3Arena.

Speaking to Biz on Sunday’s Emily backstage on Friday night, Kian said: “We have a B-stage where we get quite close to the audience. One bra got thrown up, and before we knew [it], it started growing to ten, 14 . . .  It is a bit of fun, and nostalgic.”

Shane added: “We aren’t leaning into it too much or the stage would be covered!”

The Irish hitmakers are on track to surpass 150 dates on their 25th Anniversary World Tour and completed a record-breaking 13-show residency at the 3Arena last night.

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They head to Aberdeen on Tuesday before playing dates across England, Wales and Scotland for their diehard fans.

Shane said: “We have 150 dates and it is growing. We don’t know how many it is going to be, but it is going to be more than 150 for sure.

“You keep yourself fit, you go to the gym, go for a run or surf — you just want to be in good shape for it. It is a very physical show.

“We aren’t out drinking every night, but we still get to enjoy it. We came off stage on the first night with a few pints of Guinness together. It was a lovely moment.”

The boys were fresh-faced twenty-somethings when they embarked on their first tour, East Meets Westlife, in 2000.

Asked if they feel fitter now, Shane said: “Without a doubt. We are getting older but we feel the same on stage.”

Now on their 15th tour, the band have made sure their hits World Of Our Own and Flying Without Wings still form part of their two-hour set.

“All these people have been with us since day one and now they get to relive these 25 years in one show for two hours,” Shane said.

The band are also keen to get former One Direction singer Niall Horan up on stage with them.

Kian said: “It has never been discussed, but you never know.”

Niall, over to you . . . 

NEW LOOK IS A CARDI BY GUCCI

CARDI B looked ready for winter in her furry white jacket at Milan Fashion Week on Friday.

The American rapper was spotted out in the Italian city, where she proved she’s quite the fashion queen herself.

Cardi teamed the Gucci coat with tights from the same Italian luxury fashion house.

And she shared snaps of her look to her 160million online followers, captioning them: “Lord that new Gucci collection.

“So clean, sickening, sexy and detailed.

“Go ahead, just take my whole wallet.”

If I had Cardi’s money, I’d do the same.

ENGLAND rugby legend James Haskell would love to follow ex-footballer Vinnie Jones into acting in a gangster drama, like Guy Ritchie’s hit Netflix series The Gentlemen.

He told me: “I met Guy once. We didn’t talk about roles but if there was ever the opportunity, I’d 100 per cent do it.”

SINGER TALIA MAR has released her video for track Pyscho On A Couch.

The Stay The Night hitmaker stars in the video as herself and a therapist as she explains her troubles.

Fans can catch Talia at Koko in London on October 6.

If this video is anything to go by, Talia will certainly put on a show.

PALOMA HAS FAITH IN VOICE

PALOMA FAITH is ready to teach contestants on The Voice how to make their own kind of music.

The singer will join Sir Tom Jones as one of the guest mentors as the ITV show’s Battles – in which teammates duet – kick off on October 10.

Delta Goodrem joins Kelly Rowland’s group; Cheryl Tweedy works with WILL.I.AM’s team; and McFly’s Dougie Poynter and Harry Judd assist bandmates Danny Jones and Tom Fletcher.

Next Saturday, viewers get a glimpse of the guests at London’s Alexandra Palace, discussing which acts should make the semi-finals.

A source said: “Watching Cheryl’s return to TV and a glimpse of her role as a coach next series will give fans plenty to look forward to.

“Alongside the experience brought by Paloma, Delta, Dougie and Harry, the Battles will be a series highlight.”

I RAISE my fork to my mouth and lock eyes with Stevie. My heart stops. He’s 6ft, super-muscly and has a cracking set of teeth.

He spends the next hour watching me eat by candlelight, and he’s there again at breakfast the next morning.

But far from being my husband or an admirer, Stevie is a blacktip reef shark simply enjoying his natural habitat at Oblu Xperience Ailafushi — a four-star resort on a tropical island in Male Atoll of the Maldives.

The country is known as the world’s most romantic honeymoon hotspot, but I was there to check out its wilder side,

Of course, this included dining at Only Blu, the largest underwater restaurant in Asia.

Sitting 22ft below sea level, it’s a way to enjoy the diverse ocean life, without getting your feet (or hair) wet.

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It’s not included in Ailafushi’s all-inclusive “Fushi” plan, but it’s well worth splashing out on (prices start from £95 per person).

I was just inches away from blue powder surgeonfish, humbug damselfish and dozens of parrotfish as I tucked into my decadent five-course meal — though I did feel slightly guilty as I stuffed forkfuls of the “reef catch of the day” into my mouth. I hoped I wasn’t eating any of their brothers or sisters!

As several sharks swam by, including the one I nicknamed Stevie, “oohs” and “aahs” spread like a Mexican wave.

This kind of restaurant could be gimmicky. But the food — which included pistachio scallops, tuna poke bowls and decadent chocolate desserts — was genuinely delicious.

Just a 20-minute complimentary speedboat ride from Male airport, Ailafushi is a more affordable choice than many Maldives resorts, with all-inclusive packages starting at £160 per person per night.

But for the comparatively bargain price (most four-star resorts average at £300), you don’t miss out on the luxury.

My over-water villa was stunning — exactly what you picture when you think of a Maldivian suite, with an outdoor shower, private sundeck and stairs that drop you straight into the pale blue Indian Ocean.

Each night, I drifted off to the soothing sound of the waves beneath my floorboards. And every morning, I threw off my pyjamas and jumped directly into them.

It was the same at Ailafushi’s more upmarket five-star sister hotel, Oblu Select at Sangeli, where there’s even a window in the floor for 24-hour ocean life viewing.

But if the idea of sleeping and showering above sharks and stingrays gives you the creeps, both resorts offer beach houses and family suites far enough from the shore to put your mind at ease.

You should get out on the water, though, if your fears allow. Especially as guests can pick up a snorkel and fins to use for free throughout their stay.

I’ve never seen such amazing sea life, with reef sharks, unicorn fish, eagle rays and turtles just feet away.

Like many reefs around the world, the coral is sadly bleached. But there were so many fish displaying vivid colours, it was like being inside a Windows screensaver.

If you’d rather stay above the waves, though, there’s still plenty to see and do on dry land and boat.

Guests can book local island excursions, fishing trips and moonlight cruises.

My favourite was the sunset dolphin cruise. They might be wild animals, but they certainly put on a show, leaping in the air and gliding along the side of the boat.

At one stage, there were so many gasps and pointed fingers, it felt like I was watching a fireworks display. Guests also have access to free pedalos, kayaks and stand-up paddle boards.

And both resorts also have their own spas, ELE|NA Ayur — perfect for while your partner, kids or hungover pals are napping.

At Sangeli, where guests get a free 45-minute treatment for every four nights they stay, a stress-buster massage melted away the tension I built up during the 14-hour journey to get there from London Heathrow via Dubai.

Equally dreamy was the full-body Balinese treatment at Ailafushi, where prices start at $50.

Life is equally indulgent at the more peaceful Sangeli.

Alongside couples’ massages and intimate dinners, there’s a phenomenal free kids’ club with puppet making, cupcake decorating, palm leaf crafts and scavenger hunts.

There’s also a slide that plops you directly into the sea — fun for all ages. I howled with laughter as I sped round the tight bends before crashing into the gentle waves at the bottom.

If you’re feeling energetic — or simply want to work up an appetite for your next meal at one of each resort’s four restaurants — try the over-water gym with one of the best views in the world.

You could also attempt a sunrise yoga class, if you haven’t had too many of the hotel’s unlimited cocktails the night before.

By this point, you’ve probably seen plenty of fish from your villa, perhaps snorkelled with several and spotted them during a boat trip. So why not try catching a couple on a sunset line-fishing trip?

Whether you’re a seasoned fisherman or, like me, have never picked up a rod in your life, it’s the perfect way to spend an early evening.

And you might surprise yourself. I went in thinking I’d have no luck at all, but ten minutes before our time was up, I felt a hard tug on my line and eventually reeled in a giant remora.

I squealed with delight (and perhaps a little fear) as it flapped about in front of my face. But I quickly threw him back into the shimmering water.

Despite being a Muslim country where alcohol is all but banned, booze is freely available at all tourist resorts.

They also take international holidays incredibly seriously.

I’m told Christmas is an extravagant affair with Santa Claus arriving on a flyboard or parasail before descending to the beach with gifts.

I was there for Halloween and they did not hold back — think eyeball cupcakes, a terrifying haunted house, and dark red cocktails served in blood bags.

Four waiters dressed as zombies even carried a “body” in a coffin through the restaurant at dinner.

Yes, it costs more to get there (return flights start at £785 with Emirates) than Ibiza and your hotel will be a little more expensive, but you’ll barely spend a thing once your feet hit the white sands. And truly, it’s worth it.

Forget the White Isle — make the Maldives your next trip.

KEEN to get that winter sun break locked in? Holidaymakers on a budget should set their sights on Africa.

A new report released today by the Winter Sun Holidays Costs Barometer from The Post Office Travel Money reveals that Cape Town in South Africa, and Mombasa in Kenya, offer the best value for money for people seeking a sun-drenched winter break.

To calculate which destination gives travellers more bang for their buck, the research considered the average costs of eight essential holiday items in 24 popular long-haul and short-haul destinations.

Items included a cup of filter coffee, a bottle of beer or lager, a can or bottle of cola, a glass of wine, a 1.5l bottle of water, suncream, insect repellent and a three-course evening meal for two with house wine.

The overall cost for all of the above came to just £58.24 in Cape Town, making it the most affordable destination on the list.

According to the Post Office, prices in the South African hotspot have fallen by 9.7 per cent in the last six months, which will have a hugely beneficial impact on tourists.

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Tiny ‘Bali of Europe’ town with stunning beaches, €3 cocktails and £20 flights

A three-course dinner with wine was shown to be cheaper here than anywhere else on the list, totalling £39.26 on average.

Despite its reputation for excellent wineries, Tokyo pipped Cape Town to the post for budget vino with a glass costing just £2.53 in Japan’s capital, on average, compared with £3.24 in Cape Town.

Tokyo came in third place overall on the affordability scale with a total barometer cost of £66.76, beaten by Mombasa, in second place, with an overall price tag of £63.66.

Prices haven’t dropped dramatically in this Kenyan city, but the rise of sterling against the Kenyan shilling does mean that you will now pay slightly less than when the country was last surveyed by the Post Office in March this year.

Coming in fourth place on the winter sun budget chart is Colombo in Sri Lanka, where a basket of all eight holiday essentials added up to £74.79, getting on for £20 more than the cheapest spot of Cape Town.

And be sure to ditch the wine and opt for beer instead, as a glass of red, white or rose will set you back £6.60 on average — over double the cost of a glass of wine in any of the previously named locations.

A bottle of beer, on the other hand, costs just £2.47.

Phuket in Thailand closely followed Colombo in fifth place with an overall barometer cost of £76.39 and cheap beer at £2.09 a bottle.

Of course, for the top five spots, the trade off for spending little while in the destination is shelling out for pricier flights to get there.

But remember that holidaymakers will be rewarded with better odds of sunshine and higher temperatures in these long-haul locations.

Those looking to stay a little closer to home still have budget-friendly options, however, including Portugal’s Algarve which came in sixth place overall.

While the total cost of all holiday items came to a slightly steeper £82.35, coffee-drinkers won’t be complaining as this is the cheapest destination to grab yourself a cuppa (£1.27 on average).

TAYLOR SWIFT appears to have changed tack with her songwriting now she’s married to Travis Kelce.

On her new longer version of 2025 LP The Life Of A Showgirl she seems to have started detailing friends’ failed loves instead of her own.

Fans are convinced one new track, Patient Zero, is about Joe Jonas, her ex-boyfriend and the now former husband of her pal Sophie Turner.

Taylor sings on the track, her new single: “If you wanna party with somebody who might know about the Devil on his shoulder under his halo . . .  When the toxins take their hold, you’d rather die than let it go.

“But if you’re sick of him, I got you, I was Patient Zero. I’ve been there, felt the reeling, done the healing, said the curses and prayers when the fever turns a dreamer into a pathetic ghost.”

Taylor has revealed that the track resulted from a get- together with friends where one of them told how she had been contacted by an ex’s new girlfriend, asking if she had had the same experiences with the guy.

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She added: “And everyone in our group just immediately started saying, ‘Oh, I’ve been through that too’.

“And I thought to myself, ‘If this has happened to all of us, it’s such an interesting angle on humanity and on relationships.

“And I wonder if I could write something from the perspective of getting this phone call, and really only from the perspective and the side of the phone call of the ex who’s been through it before.”

The extended album also includes an open apology to one of Taylor’s exes, who most fans are sure is Tom Hiddleston.

Their two-month romance played out very publicly in 2016, when the Night Manager actor became a laughing stock after wearing an “I heart TS” T-shirt.

On Pink Clouding, Taylor sings: “Years later, I still wonder how to tell you sorry.

“I didn’t wanna let you down. So I left you up there on a pink cloud.”

She adds: “I hope you realised my kind of trouble wasn’t worth it and the way I treated you, you never deserved it.

“And I swear to God, to this day, I wake up scared that I left scars on a good person.

“And I gave you zero reason to believe it. So be it. But it didn’t mean nothing. Just ’cause I could leave it.

“I hope you landed safely on the ground. And I hope you’re so happy now.”

Tom definitely is, but I’m not so sure Joe will feel the same, now he is trending all over social media again.

FLO LOOKS SHRED HOT

FLORENCE PUGH looks like she’s ready to go to a disco in this fabulous silver gown on the cover of Vanity Fair.

The Dune actress wore the backless dress with a futuristic headpiece for the mag cover.

During the chat, Florence broke her silence on her romance with Peaky Blinders actor Finn Cole, who I revealed in September 2024 she was dating.

Florence said: “I don’t want to be a secret, but I also don’t want everything to be divulged.

“The important thing is that we’re happy, and I feel solid and safe and sturdy. And that’s worth its weight in gold in our lives.”

MANIFEST’S TURKISH DELIGHTS

VIRAL Turkish girlband Manifest are taking over the UK after landing in London to meet their fans.

The band hosted a VIP boat party on the Thames with Bizarre hanging out with them as they took in the sights of the capital, complete with Union Jack umbrellas.

During the boat ride, the girls treated us to an exclusive first performance of their as-yet-to-be-named debut English single.

They were also filming a Netflix documentary special, with Bizarre’s Jack set to make a cameo.

They will headline their first UK show next month, skipping smaller venues to headline at OVO Arena Wembley.

From what we have seen of Manifest so far, I’m sure it will be one to remember.

DUA’S SUCH A SWEETIE

IF you like a tucking into the occasional tube of Smarties, this picture of Dua Lipa will hit the sweet spot.

The singer posed in a top that looked like it was made up of hundreds of the sugar-covered chocs. tied together with string.

Dua has been hard at work on a new record, the follow-up to her No1 album Radical Optimism which came out two years ago.

Fans should expect an announcement some time next year.

DOLLY’S LAST DUET WITH U2

DOLLY PARTON’s final vocal performance is being released as a duet with Bono on U2’s first album in nine years.

The Irish band have announced Carnaval de Luz will be out on November 12.

It includes Torn, which Dolly started before handing it over to U2 to work on, with the help of Snow Patrol’s Johnny McDaid.

Bono told Rolling Stone: “When she got ill, she got out of her bed to sing this song. And you can hear that. I can’t even listen to it now. She sang her heart out, and I cannot believe that’s an 80-year-old woman.”

Bono said it came about after Dolly, who died last month, turned down an Irish folk-themed side project he was working on.

Brian Eno, Ryan Tedder, Martin Garrix have also been involved in the album.

ELTON JOHN is opening the Apple Music Hall at Battersea Power Station in London on Monday.

Tickets go on sale at 9am the same day at applemusichall.com.

The opening series for the 600-capacity venue will also include Charli XCX, Chase & Status, Burna Boy, Arlo Parks and Troye Sivan.

Sets will later be available to watch on Apple Music.

ROBBIE: I ASKED TO JOIN OASIS

ROBBIE WILLIAMS asked Noel Gallagher if he could join Oasis after the band split in 2009.

On stage in Bogota, Colombia, where he is on tour, Robbie said: “I am a massive Oasis fan, so two years after they broke up I thought, ‘I’ll phone Noel Gallagher’.

“I phoned Noel and said, ‘Noel, you need a new lead singer. Let it be me’. He laughed and put the phone down. That was the last time I spoke to Noel and it makes me sad.”

Given the beef between Robbie, Noel and Liam over the years, I think it was probably a wise move.

Rob, above with Liam at Glasto in 1995, will be hoping he can get tickets for next year’s reunion tour.

I’ve still not had my code for ticket sales this weekend and the wait is killing me.

NOTHING But Thieves have spent the past decade playing arenas and huge festivals around the world.

But it’s been coming home to play to smaller crowds that’s reminded them just how far they’ve come.

On Saturday, the Essex band played three gigs in three countries to celebrate the forthcoming release of their fifth studio album, Stray Dogs.

“Sweaty and close enough to see everybody’s faces,” is how frontman Conor Mason described the final gig of the day at Camden’s Underworld following earlier gigs in Netherlands and Belgium.

“In London, there was nowhere to hide. You can feel every flaw, every moment of tension.

“The whole day was about letting a little chaos back in and seeing what survives when we take it back to the bigger rooms.”

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The whirlwind day followed the band’s homecoming show at Chinnerys in Southend earlier in the month, which reminded the five-piece of the journey they have been on.

“When you see that in your home town, it’s quite bizarre,” says Mason. “It makes you appreciate how far we’ve come.”

For guitarist Joe Langridge-Brown, it led to a moment of reflection outside the venue, right on Southend’s seafront. “I was just looking out at the estuary at one point, thinking, ‘This is f***ing mental’,” he says.

I meet Mason and Langridge-Brown in their East London local where they are enjoying a quiet day at home before the new album is released.

Taking a sip from his pint, Langridge-Brown says that whenever they started working on previous albums, they always asked each each other what Nothing But Thieves actually sound like.

But on this new album, the band deliberately tried to capture their live sound rather than making a record and then figuring out how to play it live.

Guitarist/lyricist Langridge-Brown says: “Every record, we’ve always been trying to reinvent ourselves.

“But I feel like we’ve answered the question — I know what we are in 2026.

“I feel like now we’ve done it with this album. It’s like a foundational reset.

“In a way, it’s not going back to roots. It’s figuring out what they always were.”

That confidence extended to the studio, with guitarist and keyboardist Dom Craik taking the lead on production while the band retained creative control.

“Dom produced the record, but we controlled the record,” says Langridge-Brown.

“If you’ve written a record that is meant to sum up how you sound live, no one knows how we sound better than we do at this point.”

With Stray Dogs, Mason and Langridge-Brown said they also wanted to rebel against the short attention spans of their fans.

Mason says: “You’re told all the time by your label and just by the world that if you don’t make something within the first five seconds that someone’s going to love, they’ll move on to the next thing.

“We’ve made something specifically quite slow in moments and intentionally long-form.

“If people want to get it, they have to sit and really listen to it.

“That’s how you listen to albums. Like the first time you listen to [Pink Floyd’s] The Dark Side Of The Moon, it was from start to finish.”

“Not that it’s as good as that record,” interjects Langridge-Brown. “I just want to get that clear for everyone.

“I don’t want people to only listen to a song for five seconds — it’s our job to try and buck this trend.”

He continues: “This is definitely the best quality of work we’ve created. There’s a lot of attention to detail on this record.

“When you listen to it, it runs as a Nothing But Thieves show — the track list is a set list. We’ve taken crowd noise from our own shows and put it within the record.”

That attention to detail was also important for the album’s lyrics, with the band turning their focus closer to home rather than looking at the wider world.

“Moral Panic and Dead Club City were both very outward-looking,” Langridge-Brown says.

“With Moral Panic, I was basically studying Twitter and seeing this moral panic, this fear and anxiety spread.

“Then Dead Club City was almost the continuation of it, looking to the future.

“So this was, like, ‘OK, let’s not look outwards for now. Let’s look inwards and see what’s in our world and what we’ve created’ — on a bit more of a personal level.”

The first song written for the album was the intense, heavy-guitar title track.

“Stray Dogs was the first song and the lyrics were great,” he continues. “We were like, ‘This feels right. This feels like where we’re heading’.”

Elsewhere on the album, the band push that experimentation in different directions. On Baby Kool (Evelyn), they deliberately throw different sounds together.

“It’s got a glam verse and then it goes into this really grungy Sonic Youth chorus,” says Langridge-Brown.

“Those two worlds don’t naturally mix, but sometimes that’s where the magic is.”

Other standouts include the cinematic Death In The Backseat, the experimental #5 (Dehumanised) and the emotionally vulnerable If You Don’t Have Someone To Love.

AI.Jesus tackles their unease about artificial intelligence and what it could mean for humanity and creativity.

While Testosterone turns its attention to masculinity, with one of its lyrics inspired by a drunken comment Langridge-Brown overheard at a wedding.

Mason says: “I don’t think we are able to be fully macho, and I wouldn’t want to be.”

A Different Kind Of Happiness brings the record to a close, completing an album deliberately structured like a live show, with Stray Dogs opening the “set” and A Different Kind of Happiness as the finale.

The album was also the first to be written in one focused period rather than while on tour.

“We wrote the whole record in the building across the road and we’d have a drink in here after work,” says Mason. Langridge-Brown adds: “This record was very different in that we wrote it in a five-month period once all the touring was finished. We’d never done that before.

“It was always written on the road before — on the back of a tour bus or in between tours.

“But the touring got so huge and so extensive that we just couldn’t give it the time it needed.

“We’ve written about pack mentality in a negative way before, so I’d say this was probably more about community and the pack in a positive light.

“I think Stray Dogs really sums up what we do and who we are — our world, our crew and the fans. We have our own lives and when we meet up, we make a load of noise together.”

The band’s relationship with their fans comes with a huge sense of responsibility on stage.

“People pay a lot of good money to come and see us,” says Mason.

“If we’re not up to scratch, we make sure we are. It’s important.”

For the singer, this means taking care of his voice, which is central to the band’s sound.

He says: “Early on, I used to go out all the time with the boys and I just ruined my voice.

“A producer gave me a slap on the wrist so now, on tour, I treat myself like an athlete. I look after my body and get as much sleep as I can.

“I’m also classically trained so I look after my voice on stage for that hour-and-a-half.”

“He sounds amazing,” Langridge-Brown adds. “On that last tour, he sounded the best he has in years, which is great.

“The central thread running through all our music is Conor’s voice. As a writer, it’s amazing to have that to write for.”

Despite the success of their previous albums — Dead Club City gave them their first No1 in 2023 — chart positions have never dictated what Nothing But Thieves write.

“We never went out to chase a No1 record,” says Langridge-Brown. And Mason adds: “It wasn’t an intention and it wasn’t that commercial. We just write what we want to write.”

In February, Nothing But Thieves will head out on their biggest ever UK arena tour, returning to The O2 six years after their first headline show at the venue.

“The next day, we were, like, ‘What now?’,” says Mason. “I just want to wake up to my job every day in my life and be, like, ‘This is awesome’.

“There’s a lot of people that don’t get to do this so I feel very privileged.” And with five albums now behind them, the band have enough material to be more creative with their live set, building different moods throughout a show.

Stray Dogs also reflects a band increasingly secure in who they are.

That growing sense of self has been personal for Mason, who says that his thirties have changed his outlook on life.

“I had my 30th birthday and it was almost like the next day, I said to myself, ‘It’s time to grow up now’.

“I want to live my life with real gratitude for what I have and presence for what I have.

“I want to just be who I am as a man here and now and enjoy this.

“That was a really big shift for me.”

The band members all grew up together and while things have changed over the years, their friendship has remained a constant.

“We’re constantly evolving,” says Mason.

Langridge-Brown adds: “If you look at the lyrics throughout our career, change is mentioned a lot. It’s just something that we’re drawn to.

“There can be a bit of an identity crisis, but we are grounded as a band because we were mates first.

“And with success you don’t want to lose that.” Mason adds: “You hear a lot of horror stories about bands who break up almost every album, and it’s just, like, ‘How the hell do they function?’.

“The personal relationships and the working relationships were so, so integral to keep alive and to nurture, and that’s been a real foundation for us.”

That closeness continues away from the band. Four of the five still live within roughly a mile of each other and they still socialise regularly.

“You need to come off tour and have some time to yourself,” says Mason.

“But we still meet for gigs, trips to the pub, football and Wimbledon,” adds Langridge-Brown

“We went and watched Queens Of The Stone Age together the other day and our wives and partners are friends as well.

“It’s still quite tight-knit in that way.”

As our chat comes to an end, it’s clear that enduring friendship has kept the band together, but it hasn’t dulled their ambition.

“Stray Dogs is definitely the best album we’ve made, but I don’t think we’ve made our classic album yet,” says Langridge-Brown.

“That’s kind of the aim still — there’s more in the tank.” 

Mason agrees: “I’m really excited to further press this process. We’re not done yet.” 

Nothing But Thieves 

Stray Dogs 

★★★★☆

MADONNA is an expensive Material Girl – flogging a square of pink fabric for £40. 

The Queen of Pop, 68, posed in a pink veil on the cover of her No1 album Confessions II and is now selling replica versions on her online store. 

The item is described as a 58-inch sheer pink veil, with a “custom Madonna graphic tag” in the corner. 

However, fans are also being charged £5.54 in shipping fees on top of the £40 cost. 

One fan joked: “Madonna really said, ‘Why buy sheer pink voile for $3.99 a yard when you can buy it from me for $45 with a tiny tag sewn on it?’” 

Another fan account for the star wrote: “That’s a lot for a piece of fabric #Madonna.” 

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The item is among a raft of new merchandise, including a £40 rhinestone drinks tumbler, £40 tote bag, £35 water bottle and £7 pencil set. 

Madonna will tomorrow release a remix of her track Danceteria featuring Charli xcx, 34, months after an online spat. 

They fell out in April when Charli gave an interview to Vogue and quoted a line from her track Rock Music, in which she sings: “The dance floor is dead, so now we’re making rock music”. 

But Madonna, who had just launched the campaign for her dance-inspired album Confessions II, clapped back in an Instagram post in which she wrote: “If your dance floor feels dead, maybe you’re playing the wrong music.” 

They made amends when they were photographed at Paris Fashion Week in June and then hosted a club night together. 

It is now hoped they will perform their track together for the first time at the MTV Video Music Awards in Los Angeles on Sunday night. 

With 11 nominations, Madonna is the frontrunner to win big at the event  

She will open the show – her first performance at the ceremony since 2003 when she famously kissed Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera on stage during a mash-up of her songs Like A Virgin and Hollywood. 

Sources in the US said she is likely to be joined by multiple guests although exact details of her set are being kept under wraps. 

Charli, who is nominated for four awards including Best Pop and Best Long Form Video, will be in the US at the same time as she is currently on a tour across North America. 

However, she played in Boston on the east coast last night (THURS) and is due to perform in Washington on Monday. 

Snoop Dogg, 54, will host the ceremony, which will be available to watch on streaming service Paramount+ and from 9pm on MTV on Monday. 

CENTRAL Cee and Yasmin Hadlow’s romance has ramped up a notch – as insiders tell me he’s going all out to make her his girlfriend.

Just weeks after revealing he fell for Yasmin, 23, after watching her cracking on inside the Love Island villa, the Sprinter star, 28, is using every tool in his armoury to get her interested.

And the first is his bank balance.

Onlookers spotted the London-born rapper, real name Oakley Caesar-Su, in a very select part of Harrods on Friday with Yasmin, where he was overheard telling her: “Buy whatever you want.”

An onlooker said: “Cench seems he knows how to treat the ladies and Yasmin is no exception.

“Before they went on a date to his party at 77 London, he had organised a shopping experience for her.

“He had it all arranged to go to the private area of the store and told her to spend whatever she wanted and he’d pick up the bill.

“Cench wanted Yasmin to choose whatever she wanted for the date and more.

“She absolutely loved it. It seemed like no one had ever done anything like that for her before.

“You could tell he’s really into her because he was happy to spend thousands on her to make her feel special.

“They’re not officially dating but it seems like Cench was making a heavy play for her to want to see him as boyfriend material.”

We first revealed they were hooking up last week, after Yasmin was seen on a date with the Cee.

He made a move on Yasmin earlier this summer while she was still dating her villa co-star Tommy Stagg.

When asked if he had a celebrity crush, on 60 Seconds With Missy, Cench replied: “I do have one, I’ve got one I’m sure. Yasmin from Love Island.”

Helpfully, Yasmin and Tommy split not long after flying back from Mallorca – and Cee made his move.

Confirming their break up, Yasmin said: “Me and Tommy aren’t together anymore.

“It ended up being… It was just a lot to adjust to on the outside.

“We just ended up saying that we’ve got a lot going on. Our lives essentially weren’t aligning on the outside, but we’re still friends.”

Insiders said it was still early days between the pair but admitted Cee was smitten.

“He’s acting like he’s won the jackpot,” a source told me.

“Cench really fell for Yasmin after seeing her on the show and then on social media.

“Now he’s managed to get her on a date he is going all out to show Yasmin how special he thinks she is.

“It’s early days between them but Cench is absolutely mad for Yasmin.”

I CRASHED Kim Kardashian’s ultra-exclusive VIP launch of her London Skims store in a £35.99 knock-off jumpsuit – and ended up sipping dirty martinis with the A-list.

Arriving at the top-secret Regent Street bash in the pouring rain after a long day at work, I was armed with nothing but a mission and the confidence to somehow convince everyone I was wearing Kim’s Skims brand.

Amazingly, it worked.

In fact, I’d bought my entire outfit, a £35.99 Bershka gym jumpsuit, on the way there — and everyone believed it was one of Kim’s £116 creations.

And, after a humbling 30 minutes in the rain, I blagged my way inside at 7.40pm on Friday.

A couple of months ago I trekked down to an MPS Body and Paint car garage in Kent to recreate Kim’s Met Gala outfit.

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Now I’d gone one step further and found myself inside her crazy world — with the crowds parting like the Red Sea as the 5ft 2in brunette bombshell stepped inside.

Security assumed I had been there from the start and began backing everyone else up behind me.

Before I knew it, I was apparently first in line for a selfie with Kim — and I certainly wasn’t about to correct them.

Kim, 45, looked incredible in a custom leather Ludovic de Saint Sernin gown and, despite my unconvincing Skims impersonation, told me: “It’s lovely to meet you, you look amazing.”

Sadly, I later heard her parrot that to every other person she met in the plush new shop, so alas the compliment wasn’t just rolled out for me.

Famed for her selfie taking, and as one of the most photographed women in the world, it came as little surprise that Kim takes this very seriously.

And as I stepped forward for my snap, I was almost blinded as one of her assistants suddenly held up a huge dazzling torch over our faces.

But after a day at work and a trek through the rain, I have never been more grateful for good lighting.

Kim had three outfit changes throughout the night and I’d already experienced one of them from the front row.

Earlier, I found myself at the front of a queue for the loo when Kim was suddenly escorted ahead of everyone.

In what felt like the longest wardrobe change in history, at least ten people were left waiting cross-legged before she eventually emerged in the same dress.

Kim later fully committed to the change and slipped into a brown leather corset and a floor-length skirt.

Her third and final look of the night was a tight-fitting, nude two-piece which drew gasps of appreciation from the seven people glued to her side at all times.

As well as two burly security guards — and her lighting flunky of course — she spent the evening with Ludovic, the man who had designed her gown, Tracy Romulus Nguyen — chief communications officer of Skims — and two other assistants who were on hand to bat away anyone trying to get more than Kim’s pre-planned compliment out of her mouth.

Three immaculate bars were dotted around the store, serving gorgeous cocktails in translucent and nude shades to match Kim’s three looks.

Staff floated around with the prettiest — and tiniest — canapes I’d ever seen, from tuna tartare to miniature potatoes smothered in caviar.

I feared I’d be starving by the end of the night, but thankfully the microscopic morsels of food were eventually replaced with much more substantial burgers and fries.

I also made good use of the bar, sipping dirty martinis with celebs including Emma Grede, Rochelle Humes, Love Island’s Lorenzo Alessi and rapper Central Cee.

Kim’s famous hairdresser and current Strictly contestant Chris Appleton was also never far from her side, checking up on her hair throughout the evening and constantly patting down stray flyaways.

Just under two hours later, Kim was whisked away to an afterparty, held in lavish private members. club Maison Estelle. She used a secret lift to escape the 200 fans who had gathered outside.

My exit was a little more down to earth and, naturally, I got my hands on two Skims goody bags before jumping on the Northern Line home.

Inside one of them was an unreleased branded tracksuit worth £220, which some cheeky party-goers have since put on eBay for almost double the price.

Given how much of an upgrade it was from my Bershka number, I’ll be holding onto mine.

TEAM GB stars Katarina Johnson-Thompson and Keely Hodgkinson looked on track for fashion golds at Burberry’s London Fashion Week event yesterday. 

Daring heptathlete Katarina, 33, wore nothing under her blazer while 800m hero Keely, 24, teamed a silk shirt with velvet flares. 

They rubbed shoulders at the bash, held at Chelsea College of Arts, with models including Iris Law, 25, and Lila Moss, 23.  

Iris opted for a denim two-piece while Lila wore a sparkling tweed minidress.  

Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, 39, teamed a black Burberry mac with a £6,900 price tag, with a diamond necklace. 

She arrived with action hero husband Jason Statham, 59, before taking her place on the front row for the runway show. 

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Actress Jodie-Turner Smith, 40, turned heads in a purple all-leather outfit with long boots.  

Also at the do — which coincided with Burberry celebrating its 170th anniversary — were Romeo Beckham, 24, and girlfriend Kim Turnbull. 

Kim, 25, is a rising star of the catwalk and was sent Burberry items to show off including a £1,295 handbag and £1,460 cropped trench coat.                

Runner Keely recently put on a leggy display as she celebrated her 400m win at Athlos.

The Team GB star dominated her race as she caught people’s attention in a black catsuit. 

Hodgkinson, 24, celebrated her victory at a glitzy hotel in London.

She took to Instagram to share a post in which she could be seen wearing a mini-skirt and a pink top.

SHE has faced a tough few years, but standing centre stage in a pop-up stadium built and named in her honour, Shakira has well and truly nailed her big comeback. 

Nearly quarter of a century after her debut UK hit Whenever Wherever, she is about to embark on a sold-out residency in Madrid.

Over 21 nights, she will perform for more than 600,000 fans after pulling off one of the most impressive career revivals ever.

The concerts are the finale to her 127-date Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran World Tour — the highest-grossing Latin tour of all time, and the fifth most lucrative female tour in history.

And Shakira herself is enjoying it just as much as her rapidly- expanding fan base.

In an exclusive chat, the Colombian superstar — who, despite her age-defying looks, turns 50 in February — said: “I feel more secure and more confident than ever; so much more than when I was in my 20s, which is something I never would have believed or expected.”

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She added of her pop renaissance: “I’ve never been more in love with my career, so I’m grateful to still be able to do what I do and just know that people are connecting to that.”

This year has been a game-changer for Shakira. Her World Cup anthem with Burna Boy, Dai Dai, topped charts globally and became one of the biggest hits of 2026 so far.

The video has had more than 1billion views since May, contributing to her becoming the most-watched female artist on YouTube.

The same month, she performed to over 2million people in a single night on Copacabana Beach in Rio De Janeiro — one of the highest- attended concerts ever.

But in Dai Dai, she sings: “You’ve been this brave all along, what broke you once made you strong.”

It is a reflection of her last few years, when life was challenging.

Shakira’s 2017 album, El Dorado, was not received as well as expected, and five years later came her highly-publicised split from Spanish footballer Gerard Pique.

The couple, who never wed but have sons Milan, 13, and Sasha, 11, announced their separation after 11 years together in a public statement.

He was alleged to have moved on with another woman while they were together, although he has not spoken about the circumstances.

Things were made worse when Shakira was dragged into court by Spanish authorities over a tax dispute, in which she claimed she had not spent enough time in the country to pay the taxes they said she owed.

In 2023, she settled on one case of tax evasion, forking out €14.5million in unpaid taxes plus interest, a €7.3million fine and a €432,000 payment to waive a suspended three-year prison sentence.

At the time, things were looking bleak. But she started to turn it around, funnelling her anger into her music, which attracted a whole new generation of fans.

Then in May, a Spanish court ordered the country’s tax authority to refund €55million of taxes, ruling that the cash was improperly collected during the dispute.

Her epic, two-and-a-half hour concert tells the story of a wronged woman who comes out the other side.

At one point in the show, during song TQG,she is seen trying to reprogramme men’s behaviour.

Later, she is depicted as a lone wolf protecting her cubs, and then duets with her sons, who appear on screens for the track Acrostico.

The message is clear as she tells the crowd: “Love is beautiful. But self-love is more beautiful.”

The gig features a set of some 25 songs, more than a dozen extravagant costumes, fireworks, flamethrowers, twerking and Shakira on the drums and guitar.

It is a triumphant moment of celebration and, during her carnival-inspired, multi-coloured performance of Waka Waka (This Time For Africa), she beams from ear to ear.

Shakira hopes her concerts leave fans, especially women, optimistic about the world, as that’s certainly how she feels after the ordeal she has gone through in recent years.

She told me: “I hope women walk away feeling empowered and excited about what’s ahead of them, knowing that they are the ones who decide how to tell their story and what they want to take away from everything life throws at them.

“It’s been such a revelation to realise that the worst I ever imagined could happen . . . and that I can still find this level of happiness again.”

In Madrid, as well as the temporary stadium built in her honour, there is an entire 30-hectare village of attractions based on the Hips Don’t Lie singer.

And she’s bound to rake it in as there are high-profile sponsorships, including a museum about Shakira in partnership with Amazon.

A whole Disney area inspired by the star’s voice role in Zootropolis 2 is another key attraction, along with a library, in partnership with Penguin, promoting authors from South America.

During the residency, hotel bookings in Madrid are up 15 per cent from 2025, while Ryanair added 225,000 seats on flights to the hotspot ahead of the shows, which are generating hundreds of millions for the city’s economy.

Shakira, who has sold 100million records during her career, has now relocated from Spain to Miami with her sons to start afresh — and she is flying high.

She proved as much on the global stage when an estimated 1.5billion footie fans watched her perform at the inaugural World Cup halftime show in July.

And although she sang alongside acts including Madonna, BTS and Justin Bieber, it was Shakira who stole the spotlight.

Her success is a testament to her grit and temerity, with music insiders revealing she is hands-on with every detail of her career.

A source said: “Shakira has worked harder than anybody for this comeback — it’s taken blood, sweat and tears.

“There have been sleepless nights, relentless workouts and a back-breaking schedule, but she loves it and wants to prove to other women what is possible. She pulled an all-nighter with her band last Wednesday just to rehearse for the show in Madrid, not finishing until 8.30am.

“This is very serious to her. She wants to stay at the top for years to come.”

Shakira also teamed up with another in-demand pop star, Zara Larsson, earlier this summer for a remix of her song Eurosummer.

And last week, she released a collaboration called Agua with fellow Colombian star Maluma.

Now, all eyes are on what’s next for Shak, who has barely stopped in her quest to win back her superstardom.

As for a 13th studio album and future collaborations, she teased: “I’ve definitely chatted with a few people recently who would be really fun and unexpected, but I won’t ruin the surprises . . . ”

Although her tour is coming to an end, Shakira shows no signs of slowing down.

She has hinted that she wants to return to the UK, where she has not performed since 2018.

On the prospect of headlining Glastonbury, where she sang on the Pyramid Stage in 2010, she has said: “It’s such an iconic place to perform.

I’d love to go back to England and perform at Glastonbury.

“That would be like the cherry on top for this amazing year I’ve been having.”

As for a break? I wouldn’t count on it. She said: “I take days here and there to rest, but as long as I still have energy and inspiration, I love to stay working.”

AS Cruise Week draws to a close today, we’ve been highlighting the best deals and giving you inspiration for your next trip.

But what if you’re yet to step onboard?

We asked cruise experts for top tips for first-timers.

Scott Sanders, cruise director of Marella Cruises, TUI’s UK line, says: “One of the biggest mistakes I see is guests sticking to what they know and not trying something new.

“Whether it’s a dance class, a quiz or one of our West End-style shows, some of the best holiday memories come from stepping outside your comfort zone.”

Scott also encourages guests to make staff aware of any special occasions.

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“If you’re celebrating a birthday, anniversary or another milestone, let us know,” he said. “We love helping guests mark those special moments and making their holiday even more memorable.

“And take time to chat to cabin stewards, as they often have some really good tips on ports of call on your sailings or the best places on the ship for a quiet drink or sundowner cocktails.”

Scott also advises familiarising yourself with the ship before embarking.

“Many guests spend their first day trying to work out where everything is.

“Watching an official ship tour or browsing guest videos online before your cruise can help you get your bearings before you even step on board.”

Finally, Scott says to check your phone.

“I always remind guests to switch their phones to airplane mode when we’re at sea and use the onboard wifi instead. It can save people from unexpected roaming charges when they get home.”

Bob McGowan, chief experience officer at Ambassador Cruise Line, has some advice for packing the essentials.

He says: “Always carry the essentials on your person when travelling to your destination (even if that is your cabin). Aside from passport, wallet and personal items, a change of clothes, medication, toothbrush and toiletries are worth packing in hand luggage, as you may arrive to your cabin ahead of the rest of your luggage.

“Handy items to bring on your first cruise include a backpack – great for a big day out enjoying any onshore excursions – and a small evening bag for carrying a few essentials when on the move around the ship.”

He adds: “Seasickness tablets or sea bands are a must. While most first-time cruisers find their sea legs soon after setting sail, if you’re prone to motion sickness it’s better to be safe than sorry.”

And he’s got advice for choosing your cabin, too.

“If you like to have plenty of downtime relaxing in the privacy of your cabin, you may prefer to book one with a balcony to ensure you can make the most of the weather and scenery.

“But if you plan on spending the sailing out-and-about socialising and enjoying all the fantastic experiences on offer, an inside cabin could be better suited and will be a more affordable option.

“If you or a fellow traveller suffers from the occasional bout of seasickness, choosing a lower level midship cabin offers a more stable position, so could be the best choice.”

“WHO sang Bat Out Of Hell? Was it: A, Meatballs; B, Tom Jones; C . . . ?”

“A!” shouts my partner Sophie, and I duly push the button.

Speed, you see, is key to this quiz.

But, then again, so is the right answer.

We are aboard Tui’s Aria for its Dutch Delta Discovery sailing, taking in the waterways and canals of the Netherlands and Belgium.

And the quiz we are playing, where each team has a handset to record and time their answers, is just a small part of the nightly entertainment.

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Other fun includes cabaret, themed dance nights and musical bingo. And one of the joys is how laid-back it all is compared to the more glitzy shows of the huge ocean-going liners.

But while Aria, one of Tui’s quaint ships designed specially for river waterways, was significantly smaller than any ocean liner, it wasn’t less comfy.

With 96 cabins and enough room for 200 passengers, it feels spacious throughout.

There are two main communal areas: the bright Observatory Bar & Lounge on deck three, with floor-to-ceiling windows, and Verdastro restaurant below for plentiful breakfasts, lunches and dinners.

There is also a pool, covered at night to become the Reflections Italian restaurant.

The main package is Full Board Plus, which includes three meals a day and selected drinks, including wine and beer, with lunch and dinner.

And although you may not have a choice of restaurant every night, the changing menu covered all tastes, with elegant dishes of beef wellington, artichoke souffle and a fresh catch of the day.

Our cabin was large, with plenty of storage and huge glass doors from which to watch the river banks pass by. A daily joy was throwing back the curtains to see what port we had woken up in.

We began our six-night journey in Amsterdam then stopped in Rotterdam, Veere, Ghent and Antwerp before circling back to our starting point. Our favourite was perhaps Rotterdam, the Netherlands’ second city.

It’s built along the river and 99 per cent of the buildings on the north bank were flattened in 15 minutes during a World War Two bombing raid.

It was rebuilt from the Fifties onward and is known for its unusual architecture.

One example is the Cube House development, an eccentric array of 38 bright yellow, cube-shaped houses connected together at stark angles in the sky.

They look like they would be awkward to live in. But don’t just ponder on it from the outside. If you want to find out what it’s like inside, you can tour one for 3.50 euro — and it’s great value.

Aside from the architecture, a major reason Rotterdam delighted Sophie and me was because it was one of the two times we took advantage of the daily guided trips put on by Tui.

The trip was actually a 20-minute taxi boat ride away in Kinderdijk, home to 19 historic windmills from the 1700s.

Now, I knew the Netherlands was famous for windmills, but I was surprised to learn their purpose was not for grinding wheat — but as an ingenious water-management system.

With much of the country reclaimed from marshland, and below sea level, it is prone to flooding when heavy rains swell rivers and overwhelm drainage ditches.

To get round this, the windmills had huge wheels with paddles to scoop out the water from ditches and chuck it into a storage reservoir, which could then be let out into the rivers and sea.

But this aside, they are easy on the eye and it all feels so very Dutch.

If outdoor time is a big selling point for you, then you’ll love Veere in Zeeland (the next call on our trip), which is the region of islands and peninsulas that make up the west of the Netherlands.

If you feel energetic, I’d recommend hiring bikes for a scoot around the very flat landscape. There are lots of cycle lanes, which take you through gorgeous nature reserves and past vast lakes.

You can reward your efforts at the next port of call, Ghent in Belgium, as you sample beer, sausage and cheese on another Tui tour.

Ghent is a medieval gem with cobbled streets lined by fascinating, old-world buildings. It was so easy to immerse ourselves that we almost missed the boat before it set sail.

There’s no need to panic if you struggle to remember those daily timings, though. Tui’s own Navigate app will keep you up to date with the schedule and you can also use it to check menus or book trips.

With our cruise nearing an end, it was back to Amsterdam, a city renowned for its canals and laidback cafes.

You can’t run out of things to do but, in our short time, we opted to visit the Anne Frank Museum. Make sure you book it as soon as you pay for the cruise as you have to reserve weeks in advance.

The secret annex that hid Anne and her family from the Nazis is accessed through a doorway concealed by a movable bookcase. It is a sombre experience climbing into the hideout but a powerful reminder of one of history’s greatest terrors.

It left us feeling even more grateful for the evening feast we were about to tuck into back on board Aria.

A cheeseboard was a definite — I just wonder if they have any Meatloaf.

FROM Art Deco architecture and superstar football to incredible Cuban sandwiches and sizzling nightlife, Miami packs a serious punch for a short stay. 

For Brits, it’s often combined with cruises from the Florida city’s port, making it the perfect start or end to a Caribbean cruise this winter.

The weather remains gorgeous throughout our colder months, with temperatures still in the mid to high 20s.

For first-timers, a stay on Miami Beach puts you right at the centre of the very best of this captivating city.

ARE THESE STREETS MADE FOR WALKING? It’s America — so no, the car remains king. But that’s not to say there aren’t walkable districts.

South Beach and Mid Beach excel with their paved Beachwalk and pedestrianised Lincoln Road is a shoppers’ paradise with all the popular brands and a host of cafes and restaurants offering al fresco dining.

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In trendy Wynwood you can easily explore on foot to take in street art, galleries, boutiques and a buzzing nightlife scene.

ANYTHING FOR THE BUCKET LIST? Learn all about the huge Cuban influence on Miami on a food and drink tour of Little Havana with Miami Culinary Tours.

Over two and a half hours, you’ll stroll the streets learning how Cuban exiles transformed the city’s flavours and culture.

Among my favourites were the Cuban sandwich stuffed with roasted pork, ham, swiss cheese and pickles at Old’s Havana Cuban Bar & Cocina, washed down with a perfect mojito and the crispy beef empanadas from El Pub.

But the tour also features stops at a traditional Cuban cigar shop and Domino Park to watch the locals play fast-paced games.

Another must is a stroll along South Beach’s Ocean Drive to admire the gorgeous Art Deco buildings — book a guided walk through getyourguide.com to bring the history to life.

And football fans won’t want to miss a match at Nu Stadium — home to Inter Miami CF, co-owned by David Beckham and famous for signing Lionel Messi.

WHERE SHOULD I EAT? Award- winning Austin chef Tyson Cole brings his very modern take on Japanese cuisine to Miami with not one but two restaurants, each offering a vast variety of unusual sushi, sashimi and nigiri paired with quirky flavours from citrus to smoke.

Uchi in Wynwood leans into the citrus while sister restaurant Uchiko is all about char and open-flame cooking. The vast menus can be a bit overwhelming but the brilliant staff will guide you and the quality is outstanding. Visit during the daily Happy Hours to enjoy it for a fraction of the price.

I FANCY A DRINK: Of course, for the in-crowd and those with deep pockets, there are plenty of stunning cocktail joints and seriously cool hotel bars on South Beach — including MILA just off Lincoln Road and the Matador Bar at the Miami Beach Edition.

But for those of us with smaller bank balances, taking advantage of happy hours is a great way to save. Sweet Liberty in Collins Park in Mid Beach has a popular happy hour from 4pm to 7pm with cocktails from £7.40 and craft beers from £4.50. Cafe La Trova in Little Havana sees waiters formally serving up Cuban daiquiris and mojitos.

Or head to Veza Sur Brewing Co. & Cerveceria La Tropical in Wynwood for an outdoor beer garden with pints from £5.20.

WHERE SHOULD I STAY? For all the benefits of South Beach without the crowds, stay at gorgeous Art Deco gem, The Palms Hotel and Spa.

Just ten minutes by car from Ocean Drive and Wynwood, the hotel’s lush gardens feature a pool and tiki bar plus plenty of loungers.

You can stroll onto the stunning white sands where even more loungers and shades await.

The hotel has a great focus on sustainability — you can pick up a bucket on the beach to help tidy up and be rewarded with a free gelato.

The light and airy rooms have an understated, tropical vibe and the ocean views are stunning.            

STANDING on the deck with an Aperol spritz in hand and watching the beautiful Sicilian city of Messina fade into the distance, I feel like I am living the dream.

And indeed we pretty much have been since me, my husband Alistair and our 15-year-old twins Riley and Harris set off from the port of Barcelona on a seven-night Mediterranean cruise.

As first-time cruisers, from the moment we step on to NCL’s 2,100-room, 18-deck Norwegian Epic – which underwent a massive refurb last year – it is brilliant fun.

Having checked on to the ship, we head to deck 15, with its two pools and three waterslides, to wait for our luggage to be delivered to our balcony state cabins.

Here, we take a peek at our fellow passengers – an eclectic mix of young and old from America, Canada, the UK and everywhere in between – as we settle on sunloungers with drinks and enjoy the live music, while waiting to depart.

Leaving Barcelona, we pass another ship and everyone cheers and waves to our fellow cruisers.

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The party atmosphere makes for the most lovely holiday vibe.

All decked out

With so much to do on the ship, you could never be bored.

There are 16 restaurants, including brilliant inclusive eateries such as the buffet Garden Cafe and the waiter-serviced Manhattan Room and Spice restaurants, plus seven speciality options, which we can dine at as part of our free-at-sea package.

For our first night we opt for Shanghai’s Noodle Bar, which we talk about for days afterwards.

There, we tuck into starters including sushi and spare ribs before mains of black pepper beef with broccoli, melt-in-the-mouth snapper, chicken and prawn chow mein, and egg fried rice, all washed down with sake for me and Alistair.

Our cabins have super-comfy twin beds pulled together into doubles, a sofa, shower and toilet, as well as tonnes of storage space and a TV.

We barely feel the boat move as we fall into a deep sleep, waking the next day in Marseille, where we decide to spend our first full day exploring the ship’s decks from top to bottom, taking advantage of enjoying the attractions while most guests are on shore.

Riley and Harris are delighted to find a Starbucks, while I love the serene Mandara Spa with its 50 different treatments, and we all gasp at the huge gym.

There is also teenage club Entourage, as well as Epic Theatre, where evening shows take place.

We particularly enjoy Red, White & British – a show of covers from Brit artists through the decades.

Plus, there’s a video arcade centre and a huge casino, as well as countless bars.

Exploring done, we head to the pool to test the water slides, including the 200ft bowl slide.

Excursions – which start from £37 per person – can be booked via the NCL app pre-departure or on board, and save you having to find your own way around new destinations.

However, our second stop is Villefranche-sur-Mer, a pastel-coloured coastal town where the shingle beach is just a stroll from where we disembark the ship’s tender, making a beach day a no-brainer.

Afterwards, we hit the town’s cobbled backstreets and pretty shops, marvelling at the handmade jewellery in Jour De Plage and eclectic clothes in cute Le Shopping De Nat on Rue de l’Église.

The station, with regular trains to nearby Nice and Monaco, is a stone’s throw away though, and many of our fellow cruisers set off to explore those cities instead.

Pisa The Action

That evening, we try Cagney’s Steakhouse, where we feast on jumbo shrimp cocktail or lobster bisque, followed by ribeye and fillet steaks served with a choice of sides – we love the parmesan truffle fries.

For dessert, the seven-layer chocolate cake is divine.

Our first excursion of the week is the following day when we arrive at Italy’s Livorno and take a coach to see the Leaning Tower of Pisa in all its glory.

Close by, we happen upon amazing pizzeria Santa Maria, where an extra-large pepperoni pizza costs £16.50 and feeds Alistair, Harris and me, while Riley plumps for a focaccia sandwich with mozzarella, £7 (Ristorantesantamaria.com).

The day ends with a trip to the historic seaside town of Viarregio, where we cool off with a dip in the crystal-clear water.

Opting to go it alone in Messina – as the port is located right in the city – we pop into the stunning Messina Cathedral, home to the world’s biggest, most complex astronomical clock, which stands 60m tall inside its bell tower.

Feeling suitably cultured, we then grab a taxi to Capo Peloro, a beautiful beach on Sicily’s north-eastern tip, where the Tyrrhenian and Ionian seas meet.

Just Our Vibe

Back on the ship, both teens decide to chill in their rooms, so Alistair and I grab the opportunity to head to Vibe Club, an oasis of adults-only calm on the 18th deck with four-poster sunbeds and a hot tub, where we sip cocktails as we say our goodbyes to Messina.

Dinner that night at the Teppanyaki is our stand-out meal of the week.

We feast like kings on miso soup and seaweed salad, and marvel as the chefs sing songs, catch eggs for the fried rice in their hats and cook up a storm.

My steak-and-prawn combo is delicious, as is the sake-based wasabi cocktail I wash it down with.

We finish the night at our favourite bar, Shaker’s Martini Bar, where I’ve developed a taste for the Dirty Martinis, and my whole gang love their nightly live music.

Our last full day cruising is spent on the stunning Amalfi Coast, where our excursion takes us past Mount Vesuvius and to the Phlegraean Peninsula, so we can snorkel above the Roman resort of Baia, with its marvellous mosaics that now lie submerged up to 13 metres below the sea, before relaxing on the golden sands.

It’s an Italian bank holiday, and at the nearby beach club dozens are drinking prosecco, eating whitebait cooked in a huge metal vat of oil and dancing to their hearts’ content.

This couldn’t be a more fitting end to our cruise – pulling up in the port of Civitavecchia, near Rome, the next morning, we’ve laughed, danced, eaten, drunk and experienced some of the most beautiful places in the world.

TV host Jeff Brazier admits he has made too many mistakes bringing up sons Bobby and Freddy.

He became a single dad after his ex, Big Brother star Jade Goody, died from cervical cancer in 2009 aged just 27.

Jeff — who has since had years of therapy — believes that if model Bobby, 23, and Race Across The World star Freddy, 21, had been raised by the man he is today, they may have escaped some of the trauma, turmoil and family fallouts.

He told the Sun on Sunday: “You always look back with hindsight and feel like, ‘If only I was the version of myself I am today 20 years ago, how much of a better experience of me they would have had’.

“Maybe that might have eliminated some of the bumps in the road we’ve had . . .  you look at the things you could have done better.”

Those “bumps” have at times proved particularly painful for Freddy, with much of the family tension centred around his close bond with his maternal grandmother Jackiey Budden, 69.

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Jeff has always considered Jade’s mum to be a bad influence on the boys.

And Freddy, who has been to rehab, been sectioned and suffered manic episodes, has previously claimed Jackiey got him “hooked” on cannabis.

Things got so bad that last year, a concerned Jeff started legal proceedings in a bid to keep Jackiey away from his son.

Yet despite their clashes, Jeff and Freddy have always found their way back to each other — most recently in March following the arrival of Freddy’s daughter Isla with his on-off girlfriend Holly Swinburn.

Jeff, 47, says: “Thanks to all the mistakes and all the lessons and the learnings along the way, I get to love Isla with a sense of confidence.

“The strength of connection you can have with a grandchild is really special.

“With Isla, it just feels ­natural, effortless and easy, and there’s no ­complications around it.”

Jeff can often be seen on This Morning, has worked with The One Show and TNT Sports and now fronts the Let’s Save Water campaign, urging families to make small changes to help tackle Britain’s shortage after the hot summer.

But the TV star admits he has struggled since his sons moved out of the family home in Essex.

“When they left, I went through nine months of what felt like ­absolute grief,” he admits.

“It’s not just the absence of your children. It’s more the grieving of the role that you played, that you got really comfortable playing.

“It felt like a slow relinquishing of control and responsibility, to the point where you feel redundant.

“Life is a lot quieter right now — the peace can be deafening — but there’s also part of you that’s, like, ‘Shouldn’t I be doing something for someone somewhere?’ ”

Jeff’s home is also quieter following the end of his seven-year ­marriage to PR executive Kate Dwyer last year.

Yet Jeff, who first found fame on reality show Shipwrecked in 2001, is learning to embrace this new chapter and finally put himself first.

He is also discovering how to play again so that he can be the best grandfather possible.

It was Freddy, who suffers from ADHD, who first told him he needed to loosen up, while they filmed Celebrity Race Across The World in 2024.

Jeff, who spent much of his ­childhood in foster care, said: “He ­basically hit the nail on the head.

“As a child, I probably didn’t play that much, or feel safe to play. I’m trying to undo that.”

In a bid to become more playful, Jeff has even signed up to wrestle strangers after discovering the ­unusual kind of therapy at a ­spiritual festival.

“The more you do it, the more you free something up and heal something,” he says.

“Obviously, no one’s allowed to hurt anyone. But to go and enjoy retreats like that, you’re basically taking your inner child with you.

“That’s where I hope I will be in ten years — running a retreat on a renovated farm in the countryside.

“I would still be exercising and showing up for people, and I’d be looking after numerous grand- children and feel all the love.”

Could that future also include finding love again?

“I hope so,” he says. “Yeah, I believe that will happen to me.”

DEEP in the forest, I’m watching tiny, rare frogs swimming and croaking (more of a weird squeak, really) in a flooded chamber at ancient Roman city, Bouthroton.

This is not what I expected in “the Maldives of Europe”.

Apparently someone, somewhere posted online a couple of years ago that Albania has some fabulous beaches with turquoise water like the Indian Ocean paradise islands, and the nickname stuck.

I’d long been intrigued by what was a communist totalitarian state until the mid-Nineties and had thought of it more as “the North Korea of Europe”!

So when I was on holiday in nearby Corfu, and discovered full-day tours operated, I jumped at the chance to see for myself.

The good-value trips are run by Tui-owned Musement and mine started at 7.30am with a 30-minute coach transfer from the hotel to the port, then a 75-minute ferry across to beach resort Sarandë in Albania, a coach pick-up there and a few hours of guided sightseeing.

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After a coffee pitstop, the coach headed south to the uncrowded, unspoilt Butrint archaeological site and its surrounding national park.

I’d heard of Butrint’s large lake but was not aware of its history, with human habitation here dating back thousands of years.

However, this visit took my group back to a “mere” 800 BC and the Unesco-listed ruins of Bouthroton founded by Greeks and taken over by Romans.

There’s a lot of walking on rough tracks in the forest and a fair few steps, so trainers are best.

Enthusiastic guide Lindita was a mine of information about the ancient forum, amphitheatre, public baths, aqueduct and almost 3,200ft of encircling walls, up to 23ft high.

A 4th-century earthquake affected sea levels, and the city was finally abandoned in the Middle Ages, with high tides causing flooding – but creating a habitat for those noisy little Greek water frogs and cute terrapins.

On to the adjacent national park, with Lindita explaining about the lake (actually a lagoon), which is linked to the sea by a 1.6-mile channel.

The rich birdlife includes the magnificently-named short-toed snake eagle while the mussels in the lake are hailed as Europe’s best.

Before the ferry back to Corfu, we had a brief photo stop at Sarandë’s Lëkurësi Castle – on an 800ft hill with outstanding views – and time for a chilled Albanian beer at a seafront bar.

The downside? It’s a 12 hour-plus day, with an agonising 2hr 10min journey back from the port to my hotel as other guests were dropped off. Still, I saw a lot of Corfu.

And while my included lunch was OK, I’ve never been on any excursion where water is not provided.

On the bus back to Sarandë – and from the ferry – I did spot some lovely beaches, but is Albania “the Maldives of Europe”? Hmm, not atoll. And there is a huge amount of unsightly hotel construction around Sarande and nearby Ksamil.

But the trip is an enjoyable, insightful taste of Albania and I’d definitely think about a holiday there. Maybe I’d even get to see a short-toed snake eagle.

Albania day trip from Crete, from £67pp plus port tax of 20Euros pp.

VISITING one of Portugal’s top golfing regions without an ounce of experience of the game was certainly a nerve-racking move.  

But I needn’t have worried. 

The Algarve is so much more than a golfer’s paradise — but it’s also the perfect place to learn.  

With a nature park that’s home to a 37-mile lagoon and salt marshes frequented by flamingos, otters and Mediterranean chameleons — plus breathtaking island beaches reminiscent of the Caribbean — this beauty spot is a haven for anyone seeking R&R. 

I was staying at the 4H Magnolia Hotel in Quinta do Lago, a lavish complex tucked away within the Ria Formosa Nature Park that features four hotels and a private villa estate spread across 2,000 acres. 

While the complex may be luxury, the price tag needn’t be. The Magnolia, one of the entry-level hotels, is affordable yet stylish and oozes retro glamour with its Palm Springs theme.  

AND RELAX

I stayed at the countryside spa hotel loved by WAGs with £50pp rooms

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Is this village the most autumnal English destination EVER?

A bright pink, neon ‘Welcome’ sign sits above the entrance, which is flanked by two cactus plants. Outside you’ll find a pool around which palm trees and stripey yellow sun loungers are dotted. Inside, the rooms are light, airy and unfussy.  

Staying here means you’ll also get access to the same shared facilities as the fancier hotels within Quinta do Lago, like the 5H Conrad.

This includes a gigantic lake with an inflatable obstacle course and watersports galore, plus a beach boardwalk that leads you straight down to the turquoise sea.

While golf is far from the only activity available to guests, the three championship courses are undoubtedly a big selling point to many.  

The legendary South Course has hosted the Portuguese Open eight times and each of the pristine fairways is backed by wildflowers and umbrella pines — pretty hard to resist. 

So it wasn’t long until I found myself at the driving range, picking up a club for the first time.  

Confronted with pyramids of perfectly-stacked golf balls, I wondered how many I would get through before I made a decent shot.  

But a beginner’s lesson from coach Callum had me swinging like a pro in no time, with simple drills and explanations that I could take away with me.  

If golf isn’t your sport, though, you can also try your hand at tennis, cycling, padel and Pilates. 

Many of these activities are at The Campus, which looks more like a glam beach club.  

It has a flawless football pitch on one side, and a patchwork of blue and orange sports courts on another.  

These grounds have been run on by elite athletes, including Chelsea and Everton footballers, during warm weather training camps, so you can be sure that the facilities here are top-notch. 

But despite its championship status and the reel of famous faces that have visited, I soon came to understand that Quinta do Lago is a place to relax and try new things, not one where you’re expected to step up to the plate and perform. 

If your aching muscles need soothing, then head to the wellness centre, which offers a sauna, steam room and plunge pool.  

There’s also Dano’s Sports Bar, a chillout spot where you can order wings and beers then sink back into a beanbag to catch a game on the big screen. 

I fuelled up on Caesar salad and bites of pizza before trying my hand at padel, which is basically tennis’s cooler, younger sibling. It’s a lot less strenuous and makes for easy rallies — ideal for beginners. 

My days at Quinta soon fell into a relaxed routine: wake up, spend the morning and afternoon trying new sports, go for a dip, then relax with dinner and cocktails. 

To fuel the body for all that sport, guests can pick from 14 dining spots spread across the resort and available to all guests. 

For an unbeatable breakfast, Pure backs on to the eighth hole of the North Golf Course and serves up freshly-squeezed juice and protein pancakes on a sun terrace shaded by pines.  

For lunch by the lake, stroll over to The Shack, where you can grab bites such as burgers and crispy fish tacos.  

And for a classy evening meal, I recommend Casa do Lago or Bovino — the former offers delicious fish from local markets, while the latter serves up juicy steaks and bold Portuguese red wines to match. 

Looking for the perfect way to end your night? Follow the boardwalk to its end to find Gigi’s, a cocktail bar that will happily shake up anything you like, and enjoy views of birds dipping down into the marshland. 

I left Quinta do Lago with not just a golden tan, but some muscle definition that I hadn’t seen in a while (a pleasant change from the usual extra holiday pounds) and a newfound love for golf — if you can’t beat them, join them. 

Holidays here feel like a health retreat that is actually fun and the exercise feels easy. There’s zero pressure to be perfect.  

Whether you want to spend your days down at the driving range, sipping cocktails by the beach or trying to master the splits in Pilates, this Portuguese playground is the place to do so.  

Who knew breaking a sweat could feel so incredibly glamorous?