Celebrity guests and experts

Horticulturalist Anne Swithinbank’s fascination with plants and nature began at a young age and led her to study for her Kew Diploma in Horticulture. For over 30 years she has been a regular panellist on Radio 4’s Gardeners’ Question Time, and she continues to write for Amateur Gardening magazine. Anne will give two on-board talks.

Nick is a television presenter, company director and former public relations consultant. He was educated at Clongowes Wood College in Ireland and moved to London in the 1960s to join a PR consultancy as a trainee. Within six years he had joined the board and eventually became the company’s sole shareholder. In 1983, Nick’s PR consultancy added the Amstrad Group, founded by Alan Sugar, to its client list and Nick became responsible for the media handling and promotion of all his expanding activities. In 1998 Nick sold his PR consultancy, but continued to represent Lord Sugar’s interests and those of the Secretariat of HH the Aga Khan, another long-term client, until his retirement in 2004, when he moved to France. However, having become good friends with Lord Sugar, Nick was persuaded to join him as his on-screen advisor on BBC One’s The Apprentice. Nick’s other television credits include Countdown, BBC’s Bake Off and The Pilgrimage.

Oz Clarke is one of the world’s leading wine experts, whose formidable reputation is based on his extensive wine knowledge and abundant enthusiasm. His passion for the subject dates from his student days at Oxford University, where he won tasting competitions at an early age. Since then his tasting skills have won him an international reputation, and he is acknowledged as having one of the finest palates of anyone writing about wine today. Oz’s frequent television and radio appearances are broadcast around the world.

Before wine took over his life in 1984, Oz was a full-time actor and singer, appearing in West End hit shows such as ‘Evita’, ‘Sweeney Todd’ and ‘The Mitford Girls’, and touring with the Royal Shakespeare Company. Oz will entertain you with two on-board talks during your cruise.

Sean Wilson, known for his 21 years starring as Martin Platt in popular soap opera Coronation Street, joins this cruise to talk about his career and his passion for cheese, and to give two cheese tasting workshops. Sean has worked in Michelin-starred restaurants and has created his own range of multi-award winning Lancashire cheeses supplied through his Artisan Farm Cheese Company. Sean has appeared on a variety of programmes from Dancing on ice to Celebrity Masterchef and has had his own Channel 5 series, ‘The Great Northern Cookbook’.

After leaving school Wayne went on to become a specialist in the restoration of historic and listed buildings. He has run an art gallery for over two decades and is an independent consultant. Though Wayne specialises in Art Deco, Art Nouveau and the Applied Arts he also has a general knowledge with over 30 years’ experience. In 2015 Wayne became a specialist on the BBC’s Antiques Roadshow. One of the things that Wayne would dearly love to find on the Antiques Roadshow would be a bronze panther by the sculptor Rembrant Bugatti. During your cruise Wayne will give two on-board talks.

With 40 years as a professional horticulturalist, of which 25 have been on national television across hundreds of popular television shows, David inspires gardeners and non-gardeners alike with his passion and enthusiasm for both plants and wildlife right on our doorstep. As a Fellow of the London Colleges of Horticulture, Fellow of the Warwickshire Colleges of Horticulture and a Chartered Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Horticulture, he is one of the UK’s most respected and decorated horticulture and nature experts and is a patron/ambassador for many charitable organisations. During your cruise David will give two informative talks on how nature can help physical and mental wellbeing.

With a multi-faceted career as an actress in three of UK’s top soaps Emmerdale, Brookside and Hollyoaks, Julie is also a television presenter, award-winning author and events host. While on board, you can enjoy inspiring craft workshops with Julie and her team.

Linda Hollingshead is a celebrated artist, whose passion for painting and travel has taken her across the world. She has led workshops in the Australian Outback and India, and painted in countries such as Japan and Italy. She works across various mediums, including watercolour, acrylic, ink, and collage. With over 30 years of experience, Linda mentors artists and is known for her relaxed courses, painting holidays, and workshops.

Martin and Karen bring a wealth of experience and a passion for photography. Martin, former CEO of the British Institute of Professional Photography, has spent his career capturing incredible images and mentoring photographers worldwide. Karen, an award-winning photographer with 20 years of experience, has worked with top brands.

Enjoy two fun and engaging sessions on board, designed to help you take and edit stunning photos, with no complicated gear required. Learn expert tips to compose and capture images effortlessly on your phone and discover how to enhance your photos using simple editing tools already built into your phone.

Performing on board will be professional dance couple, Ryno and Elena Van den Bergh, who will give three performances and dance classes.