Fern Britton names the 1 book she's planning to read this summer
Television presenter and bestselling novelist Fern Britton has revealed the one book she's looking forward to reading this summer during her Mediterranean getaway.
The former This Morning host has recently celebrated launching her newest novel, A Cornish Legacy, which taps into Fern's personal experiences, delving into themes of separation, inheritance and the emotional burden of old homes. She's also penned other Sunday Times chart-toppers - including A Good Catch, Coming Home, and The Newcomer - decades following the publication of her debut book in 1998, whilst still presenting Ready Steady Cook.
Chatting to Woman and Home, Fern revealed her summer reading choice for an upcoming break is inspired by the Greek island she's visiting in August.
This tale follows an Italian officer who becomes shunned by the island's inhabitants before gaining acceptance and getting caught up in a romantic triangle, reports the Express.
"I am going to read Captain Corelli's Mandolin, as I'm off to Kefalonia, where the story of a soldier falling in love with someone else's fiancé is set," Fern revealed to the magazine.
"I hope to catch glimpses of their spirits as I walk along a moon-dappled beach."
Kefalonia is a stunning holiday spot, renowned for its spectacular natural splendour, particularly its coastlines, caverns, and diverse terrain.
The island, which is the biggest in the Ionian Sea off Greece's western shore, is encircled by azure waters and is celebrated for its farming output, especially olive oil. Despite her choice of a troubled romance novel, Fern has clarified her own romantic situation, confessing she's quite content being single after a few tumultuous years.
"These past six to seven years it's been one thing after another," she shared with fans, adding: "My parents died; my marriage ended; I had a stalker.
"I managed very well, but the repercussions were like a sonic boom. Everyone keeps asking me if I'm dating. Nobody's dating me. I'm enjoying my own company. I'm not fearful about going to a restaurant on my own, travelling on my own."
Her marriage to Phil Vickery ended in 2020 after twenty years, while last year a 63 year old man was given a 10-year restraining order and ordered to complete 150 hours of unpaid work after pleading guilty to stalking her.
"I'm actually very good at it now, and it's OK," she revealed, referring to spending time alone, in a chat with The Times.
She had also previously told Woman and Home that "there's nobody to run something past but, on the other hand, I think back to running things past people and it never really worked out, so why don't I just make my own decision?".
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Scottish Sun
8 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
The London hotel with a ‘secret garden in the sky' and indoor swimming pool
There are also family and accessible rooms at the hotel IN THE CLOUDS The London hotel with a 'secret garden in the sky' and indoor swimming pool Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) THE Leonardo Royal Hotel Tower London is in a prime spot with a rooftop bar overlooking the capital. But what is the food like and how comfy are the beds? Read on to find out. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 4 Here's everything you need to know about staying at Leonardo Royal Hotel Tower London Credit: 4 There are some amazing views from the hotel Credit: Where is the hotel? This smart hotel has a great location – it's right by St. Paul's Cathedral and just a ten-minute walk from the River Thames and Southbank, with cultural draws including the Tate Modern and National Theatre. The nearest tube stations are Aldgate and Tower Hill, both under ten minutes walk away. What are the rooms like at the hotel? The 459 rooms have all the mod cons you'd expect too - spacious, with big, comfy beds and crisp white linen. The style is contemporary, with brightly coloured armchairs and modern art on the walls. Some rooms offer glimpses of St Paul's dome and all have flat-screen TVs, Nespresso machines and high-speed Wi-Fi. Self-catering studio apartments, 100 metres from the main building, are also available. After a night here I felt rejuvenated and like I'd had a proper mini-break. One night's B&B costs from £269, based on two people sharing. Click here to book. What is there to eat and drink there? The laid-back Leo's Restaurant serves everything from traditional full English breakfasts to Mediterranean dishes. On the seventh floor, Sabine's Rooftop Bar and Restaurant is a chic hangout. This secret garden up in the sky features a cool glass roof, a menu of funky cocktails and amazing vistas. It's open until 2am at weekends so you can settle in with a drink to watch the sunset, and then keep the party going. The bar snacks are delicious, particularly the mac and cheese bonbons. What is there to do at the hotel? Make sure take a quick dip in the hotel swimming pool inside. Otherwise you can take a guided tour of St Paul's, do some shopping and grab lunch by the river – all within a ten-minute stroll from your base. Is the hotel family friendly? Yes, the restaurant is family-friendly and you can book a room with two queen-sized beds. Is there access for guests with disabilities? Yes, there are accessible rooms and lifts for wheelchair users. 4 The pool is available for all guests Credit:
Daily Mail
8 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Landslide crashes into the Santorini sea engulfing a village
A massive landslide has crashed into the sea in Santorini, engulfing a village with dust as tourists watched on - just six months after the holiday island was rattled by earthquakes . A huge section of land suddenly gave way in the clifftop village of Imerovigli on Sunday afternoon after intense construction activity made the ground unstable. It comes just months after the paradise island was rattled by more than 20,000 earthquakes between January 26 and February 22 earlier this year. The country declared a month-long state of emergency as earthquakes struck the volcanic island every ten minutes, causing around 11,000 - more than half Santorini's population - to flee. The combination of seismic activity and overbuilding have been suggested as potential causes for the recent landslide - with over-development transforming fragile soil into hollow ground. The terrifying footage, filmed by Santorini residents, shows a great plume of thick dust engulf the quiet town - known for its whitewashed buildings with blue domes. 'Santorini is an island with vulnerable geomorphology, and when the pressure of overdevelopment is added, the risk of landslides multiplies,' local experts, who rushed to the scene, told Greek outlet Protothema . The stretch of land that collapsed was under particular pressure due to the construction of a new building, the report said. According to Efthymios Lekkas, Professor of Dynamic Tectonics and Geology at the University of Athens, Santorini is prone to landslides because of its steep slopes, high seismicity, and the island's geological morphology - consisting of inter-layered volcanic, lava, and pyroclastic rocks. Earlier this year, as the island was gripped with earthquakes, Greek prime minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis announced £2.5million funding for an emergency evacuation route from the south of Santorini to be built. Hotel owners were even asked to drain their pools due to concerns that overflowing water could destabilize buildings in a quake. Many who stayed on the island slept on the street with their mattresses, too scared to stay in their homes in case they collapse. Other residents built makeshift tsunami defenses using sandbags along Monolithos beach, where buildings sit dangerously close to the water. Seismologists said the quakes were the result of tectonic plate movements, not volcanic activity, despite Santorini sitting on the Hellenic Volcanic Arc - a chain of islands formed by ancient eruptions. The strongest earthquake to shake the island earlier this yea was reported as a 5.3-magnitude on February 10. Greece sits on multiple fault lines and is one of Europe's most earthquake-prone countries, but experts said the level of activity was unprecedented.
Daily Mirror
9 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
Brit found dead on cruise ship docked in Italy as fellow passengers try to save him
An 83-year-old was found unresponsive in a swimming pool onboard the Marella Voyager while it was docked in Naples. Holidaymakers and crew desperately tried to save him but he could not be revived. A Brit pensioner has tragically passed away on a cruise ship after being found lifeless in the swimming pool while the vessel was moored in Naples. The 83-year-old Scottish man, whose identity has not been disclosed, was discovered in the Marella Voyager's pool yesterday afternoon. Despite frantic efforts by holidaymakers and crew to resuscitate him, their attempts were unsuccessful. Italian authorities boarded the ship, temporarily impounding it as they conducted investigations. The vessel, operated by TUI, was scheduled to depart at 5pm local time but faced delays of several hours. After thorough examination, police dismissed any suspicion of foul play, confirming that the elderly man had fallen ill in the water. Subsequently, the cruise liner was permitted to continue its Mediterranean voyage. Having embarked from Majorca on August 16, the Marella Voyager had visited Sardinia prior to its stop in Naples and is now en route to Rome, Corsica, Spain, and will return to Majorca, reports the Daily Record. An FCDO spokesperson stated: "We are supporting the family of a British man who died in Italy." The Mirror has contacted TUI for more information. The Marella Voyager left Majorca on August 16 before stops at Olbia in Sardinia, Naples, Rome, Ajaccio in Corsica, Palamos in Spain and a return to Majorca. This comes as some popular tourist cities turn against cruises. Three cruise ship terminals are to be ripped down in Barcelona following mounting pressure from locals. Officials in the beloved Spanish destination have decided to scale back the port's cruise ship capacity after years of campaigners arguing that boatloads of passengers are adding unbearable strain to the city. Barcelona's port currently boasts nine terminals, with seven dedicated to cruise ships. Catalonian governing authorities have now chosen to act, with proposals to demolish the three most dated terminals (A, B, and C). A cutting-edge terminal will be constructed at Terminal C's existing site, due to launch by the decade's close. The replacement facility will accommodate approximately 7,000 passengers simultaneously. Nevertheless, the port's overall daily capacity will fall from roughly 37,000 to 31,000 under the €185m (£160m) scheme, according to EuroWeekly News. The revelation comes after this week's agreement between the port authority and the city council.
