Special guests and celebrities

Enjoy crafting classes on board with Julie Peasgood and the ‘Supercrafters’ with projects that could include mosaics, book bouquets, frames and jewellery.

Julie has a multi-faceted career as an actress in three of UK’s top soaps: Emmerdale, Brookside and Hollyoaks, and is also a TV presenter, award-winning author, and events host.

Celebrity chef, presenter and cookery book author Phil Vickery has been part of the This Morning family for over 20 years. Phil began his career as a Commis Chef at The Burlington Hotel in Folkestone and worked his way up the ranks to become Head Chef at The Castle Hotel in Taunton, where he won a Michelin star.

Phil’s first television appearance came after he was invited to fill in for Keith Floyd on the Breakfast Programme and since then he has appeared on Ready Steady Cook, Phil Vickery’s Pudding Club and Save Money, Good Diet for which Phil also wrote an accompanying cook book.

Phil is also a leading authority on gluten-free products and the National Food Ambassador for Coeliac UK, plus food for a diabetic diet. He has written 17 books on many subjects from pork to game, to desserts, food for diabetics and more.

Phil will give a culinary demonstration and take part in a Q&A on board.

Shaun Wallace is known for being one of the Chasers on ITV’s quiz show The Chase, where he has the nicknames The Dark Destroyer, The Barrister and The Legal Eagle. In 2004 he won Mastermind, with his specialist subject being FA Cup Finals, and in 2012 was ranked 286th in the World Quizzing Championships. He has been a Barrister since 1986 and has worked on some relatively high-profile cases. He is a senior criminal defence advocate.

A word from Mr Motivator, “The greatest gift that you can give yourself, your work colleagues, family and friends is an independent healthier and fitter you. It starts right now, join in my safe, effective and fun class, where the music and the attitude lifts your spirits and equips you with that feel good factor. So come and be motivated. Each class is different and there will be an exercise clinic on selected days where you can ask your fitness and mobility questions. See you there.”

Mandy Hickson has over 30 years’ experience within aviation. She joined the Royal Air Force in 1994 and flew the Tornado GR4 on the front line, where she operated in hostile environments, including patrolling the ‘No Fly’ zone over Iraq. Since leaving the RAF Mandy has served as an Aviation Ambassador for the Department for Transport and is an Ambassador for the Girl Guides.

Mandy is now a highly demanded keynote speaker, where she talks with humour and great passion to inspire those around her. She has been invited to share her insights with some of the world’s most successful organisations, where she describes the strategies and behaviours that can be adopted when the stakes are at their highest.

Diane is a former Fingerprint Expert and Crime Scene Examiner with 30 years of experience assisting the Police in crime investigation. She is a captivating public speaker who also delivers fun and informative crime-themed activities, which give participants the chance to take on the role of a CSI.

Enjoy immersive workshops and get to grips with crime scene examination as you don your CSI suit and powder items looking for fingerprints to compare against the “suspect’s” fingerprints. Through talks and demonstrations you will gain a deeper understanding of the science behind crime scene investigation and how forensic evidence helps crack cases.

Claire Sweeney was born to entertain. She began singing in clubs at just 14 and has gone on to enjoy a successful career in the entertainment business. Claire has appeared in many television programmes, from Brookside to Benidorm, but she is first and foremost a singer. Her voice and stage presence are ideal for musicals, and she has starred in many West End shows and musical theatre, including Chicago, Legally Blonde, Hairspray, and more. Claire is currently playing the part of Cassie, in ITV’s award-winning soap, Coronation Street. Claire will sing some of her favourite songs from the musicals and more during a 45-minute performance in The Playhouse, as well as taking part in a Q&A.

Clare is professionally trained in ceramics and sculpture and has a Fine Art degree. She co-founded a successful business designing ranges of bone china for some of the world’s most prestigious retail outlets including Liberty, Harrods, Harvey Nichols, Nordstrom, Henri Bendel, Bergdorf Goodman, M&S and Macy’s NY. Clare’s career has also diversified into broader design work including retail, commercial and educational environments. Look forward to pottery workshops during your cruise.

After years of working in corporate marketing, Steven finally plucked up the courage to enter Channel 4’s eighth series of The Great British Bake Off. With a dream to just make it through the first week, he finished as runner-up in the final, collecting three Star Bakers and several Hollywood Handshakes along the way. Steven has given live demonstrations at food festivals and runs the ProCook Cookery School. He has presented his own radio show, reported on London’s bakeries on ITV London News, and regularly appears as a talking head. Steven went back into the tent in 2019 to win the Great New Year’s Bake Off, and in 2021, he launched his podcast, Feed My Curiosity.