TV personality and ‘culture vulture’ Gyles Brandreth: Travels of a lifetime

Gyles Brandreth is a writer, actor and a prolific broadcaster in programmes ranging from the BBC’s The One Show and QI to Have I Got News for You and Just a Minute.

Gyles, a former MP and Oxford scholar, appeared on the BBC One series Holiday of My Lifetime with Len Goodman during which he went back to Broadstairs in Kent to reminisce about a family seaside holiday from 1955. In a previous interview Gyles said Sri Lanka, South Africa and Mexico were among some of his favourite destinations with London his favourite place in the UK. He also said the first thing he does when arriving somewhere new is “change rooms”, adding: “I’m also quite good at walking the streets of the town, finding a coffee shop and writing the first account of the diary”.

As a performer, Gyles has been seen in the West End in Zipp! One Hundred Musicals for Less Than the Price of One at the Duchess Theatre and on tour throughout the UK, including as Lady Bracknell in a new musical version of The Importance of Being Earnest and as Hamlet at the Park Theatre in London.

Travel Talk with Britain’s No.1 travel expert, Simon Calder

As well as being senior travel editor of The Independent, travel guru Simon Calder is an acclaimed TV and radio broadcaster, featuring as the ‘go to’ expert on programmes including BBC Breakfast, Good Morning Britain and both the BBC and ITV News.

Simon’s popular seminar session at the GLTS last year was packed and, as usual, the GTOs attending were very keen to engage and ask questions. He offered visitors valuable advice including details about the Package Travel Directive.

Visitors to this year’s GLT Show enjoyed Simon sharing even more of his knowledge and travel expertise during another topical talk and presentation.

Simon previously commented that the travel industry is “devoted to human happiness” and in an interview with Group Leisure & Travel magazine, he shared his optimism for travel, adding: “We are living at a time when we have the widest horizons of every generation and people have the freedom to go to places.”

Gardener and television presenter, Carol Klein: Britain’s Best Gardens

Celebrity gardener Carol Klein is perhaps best known for being a presenter on Gardeners’ World, which she first appeared on in 1998, becoming a weekly contributor from 2005. At the 2018 Group Leisure & Travel Show, Carol shared her passion for gardens and gardening with visitors, with the intention of inspiring group travel organisers to take their members to brilliant gardens up and down the country.

Originally training as a fine artist, teaching art in schools and colleges, Carol began gardening and running a nursery from her home in Devon, with her hobby eventually becoming her occupation. Her varied television career began with Channel 4’s Garden Party and Real Gardens in 1996 and her own six-part series Wild About the Garden followed soon after. These days Carol remains a much loved expert with the viewing public, and is normally one of the team featured in broadcasts from the RHS Chelsea Flower Show each year.

Other career highlights include her series Life In a Cottage Garden and her part in the BBC’s The Great British Garden Revival, as well as the popular Plant Odysseys for BBC Two. She is also a well-known writer and is featured in various gardening magazines and other media.