BEFORE hotfooting it to the Scottish Highlands for The Celebrity Traitors, Richard E Grant went on a different journey.
He combined classical literature with holidaying alone on Channel 4 show, A Very Modern Odyssey.
Sign up for the TV newsletter
Thank you!
Richard E Grant combined classical literature with holidaying alone on Channel 4 show, A Very Modern Odyssey Credit: Getty
Richard is going to find his next job a little harder – and it will involve him being surrounded by 20 people on Celebrity Traitors Credit: BBC
Richard, who has had to readjust his life after Joan Washington, his wife of 35 years, died in 2021, retraces the steps of Homer’s classical hero Odysseus.
Ahead of Christopher Nolan’s film The Odyssey being released this summer, he will retrace the various spots featured in the story in modern Europe.
It will take Richard to Turkey, Malta, Sicily and Corfu retracing the steps of Homer’s heroes and the various creatures they encountered along the way.
He teased the project only last week on his Instagram, saying: “It’s an incredible privilege of my job that I get to travel to places and meet experts in their field that I’d never normally come across in civilian life and I’m paid to do this! Lucky, lucky begger!”
walford wonder
EastEnders fans go wild as they spot Zack Morris in hit US medical drama
WHODUNNIT?
Corrie’s killer won’t be revealed until summer – as ITV soap kicks off whodunnit
The Withnail and I star’s wife Joan Washington, who he’d been with for 38 years, succumbed to lung cancer at the age of 74.
And like many people who lose a partner, he started to adjust to experiencing certain things alone for the first time – and actually starting to enjoy flying solo.
Speaking at the World Travel Market in London, he discussed what it was like, saying: “I eat dinner on my own everywhere, in my own country here, so I’m just used to it.
“And I think it’s easier. I’ve met other widows, as opposed to widowers, who said that as a woman, they find it much more challenging to be on their own, because they either get harassed and pitied or it’s just a whole different issue, whereas for a man, in my experience, it’s very easy.”
However, Richard is going to find his next job a little harder – and it will involve him being surrounded by 20 people on Celebrity Traitors.
I bet he’ll be wishing he was still on the Med when the Scottish drizzle and midges descend.
EMMERDALE’s Laura Norton is teaching co-star Mike Parr British Sign Language as the soap marks Deaf Awareness Week.
Laura, whose two kids suffer from hearing loss, said: “I was thrilled when the idea came up.
“I’m hopeful these videos, although a bit of fun, might encourage people to think about learning to sign too.”
MIRIAM IN £570k CAMEO
Miriam Margolyes has netted half a million from Cameo Credit: AFP
MIRIAM MARGOLYES has netted half a million pounds from fan site Cameo – but says she’s giving life advice rather than just recording birthday messages.
The Graham Norton Show favourite says the number of requests for her to record personalised quips is rising.
Miriam told the Romesh Ranganathan Show podcast: “I’ve made £570,000 at the last count, that’s for the whole shebang since I joined Cameo.
“I try not to spend more than a couple of hours on it every day because life is for living but people are asking for it.
“People are asking for less birthday messages and they are looking more for advice and what I call pep talks . . . it’s difficult because they don’t give you enough information to know if you’re giving them useful information.
“I’m very grateful to Cameo because I can spend rather more freely than I would have done otherwise.”
SERIOUS ISSUE FOR JACK
Big Boys creator Jack Rooke isn’t joking when he says there’s a big problem with comedy shows Credit: Getty
BIG Boys creator Jack Rooke isn’t joking when he says there’s a big problem with comedy shows.
The Bafta-winning writer behind the hit Channel 4 show says: “It’s really challenging to make comedy in the UK at the moment,” he said.
“I think it’s because it’s devalued against drama, and gets less spend.”
Even though Big Boys is up for a Memorable Moment Bafta, Jack says he wants to see more silly stuff.
Recalling Only Fools And Horses, he said: “I don’t think anything will ever be as funny as the bar fall,” he told Radio Times. “That and when the Vicar of Dibley drops in the puddle.
“Less of this Big Boys male mental health stuff. Put some slapstick in. Let’s get some people falling over.”
