Call The Midwife star Helen George in tears as she admits to phobia
In SHARK! Celebrity Infested Waters, seven stars trade the glitz and glamour of red carpets for the open waters of The Bahamas. However, there won't be much time for sunbathing - it's all about survival.
Guided by three top shark experts, the stars come face-to-face with one of nature's most misunderstood creatures: the shark. From the striking Hammerhead to the formidable Bull shark, each dive takes them deeper into shark territory.
READ MORE: ITV This Morning halted for 'really sad' breaking news just minutes into show
READ MORE: Strictly Come Dancing 2025 line-up rumours includes X Factor icon and Olympic legend
It's heart-pounding, myth-busting and, at times, downright terrifying. But as they discover, the real nightmare isn't sharks - it's a sea without them.
Fifty years after JAWS ignited worldwide shark mania, this series turns the tables, showing us just how crucial these apex predators truly are to marine life everywhere.
With legends like Sir Lenny Henry, McFly's Dougie Poynter and beloved presenters and actors on board, SHARK! Celebrity Infested Waters delivers thrills, truth and a wake-up call from beyond the waves.
As Trixie in Call The Midwife, Helen George is accustomed to high-stakes drama - but diving with sharks was next-level. "I am quite scared of swimming," she admits.
"I have a real deep rooted fear of putting my head under water, and hadn't realised how bad it was until it was day one and we were doing scuba training."
The challenges were relentless for Helen, who shared: "I then found out our challenge was a cage dive with Bull sharks. I cried some more." Despite the tough times, she found comfort in the camaraderie among her fellow contestants.
Helen recalled one particularly gruelling task: "There was a challenge that we had to do when we were sent out at sea and told that we had to hold onto this raft.
It was really treacherous weather that day, really stormy and the sea was really rough and choppy. Ross Noble managed to sneak out a bag of snacks strapped to his leg with gaffer tape."
Ross, the ever-entertaining comic, brought humour even under the sea, though he admitted being spellbound by the sharks: "I was in a hypnotic state," he confessed. "You're in the water and these things are moving around, your brain can't comprehend it. I was so taken with how incredible it was."
Meanwhile, Sir Lenny Henry joined the adventure while still recovering from an injury, but found unexpected healing in the waters: "I had a dodgy knee when I arrived, and my experience in the water and the exercise just made it go away. It was amazing," he revealed.
He added, "I would just get in the water and I'm not the best of swimmers, but I really worked hard on it and it paid off. I think it means, don't give up, don't mind about how old you are, just get in there and have a go."
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
%3Amax_bytes(150000)%3Astrip_icc()%2FTAL-header-exterior-msc-world-america-MSCAMERICA0425-cfbce8e88a3d4d4086dcb301de549b99.jpg&w=3840&q=100)
Travel + Leisure
6 hours ago
- Travel + Leisure
A Stunning New Megaship With an Eataly Restaurant, a Ropes Course, and an 11-story Slide Recently Debuted in Miami—and I Was One of the First Aboard
MSC World America Very affordable entry-level fares—some as low as $800 per person per week. The World Promenade, an open-air area filled with flashing LED palm trees, a towering atrium, and the tail end of The JawDrop @ The Spiral, the ship's 11-story dry slide. The Harbour, an all-ages area that's home to the Cliffhanger over-water swing, a vertigo-inducing ropes course with zip lines, and a waterpark. Il Mercato Buffet is one of the most pleasant places on the ship for a quick meal or late-night snack with a sea view. Being a travel writer with a family comes with its fair share of guilt—never more so than when I'm in a beautiful place and my husband and daughter are at home. And so it was recently, when I reached them by video call while I was laying on a sandy Caribbean beach, piña colada in hand. Later, I called them from my balcony on the MSC World America, with turquoise waters below me. When I sent my 13 year old a video of the dessert buffet, she replied, 'Stop it—I don't want to see anymore!' Sharing, it seems, is not always caring. But how could I not be enthused? I'd hopped aboard the ship for a three-day inaugural sailing that included a gala naming ceremony attended by Orlando Bloom and Drew Barrymore. As the ship's godmother, Barrymore got the honor of cutting a ribbon to release a magnum of Champagne, which smashed against the bow and officially christened the vessel. I was eager to see World America up close because my family and I had sailed on a similar vessel, MSC World Europa, in the Mediterranean last fall. There's an indisputably European vibe on that ship, influencing the service style, the cuisine, and the entertainment, all of which are tailored to guests from the Continent. So I was curious how World America, which will sail in and out of Miami year-round, would be different. The World Promenade. Ivan Sarfatti/MSC Cruises 'I think the expectation for Americans is not the size of the ship or the shape of the different spaces, but it's more about service,' said Bernard Stacher, MSC's senior vice president of shipboard hospitality operations, when I spoke with him aboard the ship. 'It's more about food and entertainment choices, about knowing the name of your server at dinner,' he explained. For example, World America has a comedy club instead of the tea room found on World Europa, and it has an Eataly restaurant rather than a Nordic-influenced Chef's Garden. The new ship also has a sports bar, a (bigger) candy store, tons of theme park–style attractions, and a 'Dirty Dancing' musical revue. Really, is there anything more American than that? 'In Europe, our American guests get a little bit of a European experience,' said Stacher. 'Well, over here, the Europeans are getting a little bit of a toned down version of the American experience.' All the tweaks are in service of MSC's continued efforts to crack the U.S. market. The company has been operating in North America since 1998, but World America, with its capacity for more than 6,700 passengers, is by far the brand's biggest play yet. It's also an unabashed shot across the bow of Royal Caribbean International, which operates Icon of the Seas, currently the largest cruise ship at sea. As a resident of Italy, I felt particularly well positioned to weigh in on MSC's attempt to blend its European roots with American-style service. And I found the staff to be so ebullient on World America that they're likely to give any European visitors a bit of welcome-to-America culture shock: folks, we are exceedingly chatty people. At the same time, I was impressed by the speed and efficiency with which MSC was able to handle all those thousands of passengers. The company's new state-of-the-art cruise terminal in Miami allows for super-fast self-check-in, even when World America is at full capacity and there are other MSC vessels in port. And while my husband and daughter weren't able to join me, I did get to explore the ship with my sister as my cabin mate. Between the two of us, we put the ship to the test. Here's a closer look at the amenities, restaurants, staterooms, and services that make up the World America experience. The Staterooms My sister and I had a Deluxe Balcony Stateroom, which measured about 180 square feet. Once we unpacked and slid our suitcases under the beds we had plenty of room, with a small couch, two twin beds (which can be made up as a double), plus a table and two chairs on the balcony. As I noted in my review of the Yacht Club experience on World Europa, MSC furnishes its staterooms with Italian-made Dorelan mattresses and pillows, which really are quite comfortable. If I had any quibbles, it was the lack of small extras like bottled water and bathroom amenities beyond shampoo and body wash. Otherwise, our room did what it was supposed to do, which was to provide a comfortable, unfussy place to sleep and relax. In total, there are 2,614 cabins on World America, and about 1,700 of them have balconies—though some have obstructed views or overlook the World Promenade rather than the ocean. Upgrading to the Aurea or Yacht Club categories afford more space and perks. The former includes daily access to the Aurea Spa thermal area and a dedicated restaurant, while Yacht Club, MSC's ship-within-a-ship concept, offers an upscale experience with dedicated restaurants and a premium drinks package; guests in these suites also get guaranteed reservations at specialty restaurants and theatre shows, plus other VIP perks. There are also less expensive cabins with fixed windows or portholes, as well as some very affordably priced interior cabins, including some designated for solo travelers. Bars and Restaurants Top Sail Lounge inside the Yacht Club. Ivan Sarfatti/MSC Cruises There are seven complimentary options, including two buffets, four sit-down restaurants, and a pizza and burger spot. As is the case on many big ships, passengers can choose early or late dining when they book, and they will be assigned to one of the four restaurants with table service, where they'll have the same table and, likely, the same server for the duration of the cruise. Specialty restaurants, which come with an extra charge, are where MSC really leans on its Mediterranean roots. I sadly wasn't able to get into Eataly, the brand's only restaurant at sea, which was wildly popular. I did get to dine at Paxos Greek restaurant and had sushi at Kaito. The other specialty options are Butcher's Cut steakhouse and the casual Hola! Tacos & Cantina. There are plenty of other pay-as-you-go options, including a sports bar, an English-style pub, a sweets shop, a gelateria, and—for the virtuous—a juice bar. Fizz Champagne Bar. Ivan Sarfatti/MSC Cruises In terms of bars, it seemed like one was always in sight; had we been on a longer cruise, I imagine we would have settled into a favorite. One that's not so apparent is the ship's secret speakeasy: in order to gain entry, a staff member has to slip you a token and tip you off to the hidden location of the entrance. It's as fun as it sounds. Where World America Sails World America will be based in Miami, sailing from MSC's massive new terminal, which is, as of May 2025, the world's largest. It's worth noting that our check-in process was seamless, and my sister and I were on board within minutes of arriving at the terminal. From Miami, the ship will offer 7- and 14-day cruises to the Western and Eastern Caribbean. In the west, itineraries include stops along Mexico's Yucatán Peninsula and at Roatán, Honduras. In the east, stops include San Juan, Puerto Rico and Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic. Every itinerary includes at least one day at Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve, the line's private island in the Bahamas—more on that below. Shore Excursions On my short preview cruise, the only time I got off the ship was for a few lovely, relaxing hours on Ocean Cay. This private island reserve has sandy beaches, a lagoon with snorkeling, plus a restaurant, food trucks, and plenty of bars. (Yacht Club guests have their own private beach, restaurant, and bar.) I donned a snorkel and fins and managed to find a few tropical fish in the lagoon. There are also excursions, at an extra cost, that include activities such as jet skiing, paddleboarding, kayaking, and climbing the island's lighthouse. My take is that you could easily skip the paid excursions, spend the day under a beach umbrella, and not feel like you missed out on much. That said, it's important to be one of the first guests off the ship when arriving at Ocean Cay, in order to stake out a prime spot on the far side of the lagoon, with its sheltered beach. Amenities and Entertainment If you can imagine it, World America probably has it—and in multiples. Outdoor amenities include seven pools (one with a retractable roof), four waterslides, 13 hot tubs, a ropes course, the one-of-its-kind Cliffhanger swing, and an 11-story dry slide. We dipped into the main Mar Azul pool, but had the cruise been full of little kids, we might have headed to the Zen Area, where there are two pools, hot tubs, and a bar reserved for adults. The Cliffhanger, which swings out over the sea, was less scary than I thought it would be; the ropes course was scarier than I expected. As for the JawDrop slide? Fun, but I was relieved when my ride was over. For more passive entertainment, the ship has a Vegas-style casino with slots and table games, and two theaters with Broadway-style shows. The 'Dirty Dancing' show, with its live band and solid dancing and singing, was a definite step up compared to the performances I saw on World Europa. Across the ship, especially in the World Promenade and Galleria areas, there are pop-up entertainers, roaming musicians, photographers, and other diversions. I also made time for a Balinese massage and a facial at the Aurea Spa, which also offers hair and nail services and a number of techy rejuvenation treatments. The Aurea Spa Thermal Suite is a fee-based area (unless you've booked in Aurea or Yacht Club class) that offers saunas, whirlpools, a salt cave, and relaxation areas. I didn't get to try it, but the facility looked inviting when I took a quick tour. Family-friendly Offerings The Harbour play and water area. MSC Cruises MSC has long billed itself as oriented toward families, and the company has upped its game with World America. In addition to the water park and Harbour diversions, the ship has five kids clubs for various age cohorts. There's also a multi-room LEGO construction zone, numerous video game stations, classic arcade consoles, three Formula 1 simulators, and a bumper cars area that doubles as a soccer pitch. Kids certainly aren't going to go hungry or thirsty, as there's plenty of kid-friendly fare at the buffets, including a twice-daily dessert spread. Paid treats include gelato, DIY ice cream bars, chocolate, hot chocolate, and 'freakshakes,' those made-for-social-media concoctions. Accessibility There are 65 ADA-compliant cabins on World America. Most public areas are accessible to wheelchairs and electric scooters, and fat-tire beach wheelchairs are available at Ocean Cay.
Condé Nast Traveler
7 hours ago
- Condé Nast Traveler
Bad Bunny's Best Guide to Puerto Rico Is His Latest Album
This summer, Puerto Rico is about to experience a superboom of visitors rarely, if ever, before seen by its residents—and it's all thanks to Bad Bunny. On July 11, the island's homegrown superstar kicked off a series of consecutive weekend shows at the José Miguel Agrelot Coliseum in San Juan, which he has dubbed his 'No Me Quiero Ir de Aquí' (meaning I Don't Wanna Leave Here) residency. Bad Bunny will grace the stage at El Choli, as the venue is known, weekly every Friday through Sunday over the course of three months, wrapping up his home run on September 14 before setting out on a world tour across Latin America, Europe, Asia, and Australia. While tickets for the first nine shows were sold to locals only—proof of Puerto Rican residency was required for all 125,000 tickets purchased—beginning on August 1 visitors will be welcome to the 21 remaining dates. Variety magazine reports that the forthcoming influx of visitors is estimated to generate nearly $200 million in revenue for the island. And yet the focal point of Bad Bunny's latest album, DeBí TiRAR MáS FOToS, (meaning I Should Have Taken More Photos) is Puerto Rico's fight to maintain its cultural identity and history amid its rapid gentrification by affluent outsiders and corporate interests. In the song 'Turista,' for example, Benito compares a frosty ex-lover to that of a tourist in a foreign land. 'En mi vida fuiste turista / Tú solo viste lo mejor de mí,' he sings, lamenting that she was never curious enough to fully capture his emotional complexity.
Forbes
12 hours ago
- Forbes
Bad Bunny Reveals His Favorite Places In Puerto Rico In His Lyrics—Here's How To Visit
Bad Bunny shouts out Rincón, Puerto Rico for its world-class waves. Discover Puerto Rico 'Se ve lindo hasta en Google Maps,' says Bad Bunny of his native Puerto Rico in his song 'Me Fui de Vacaciones:' Puerto Rico looks beautiful even on Google Maps. If there 's one thread tying together every diverse piece of the musical career of Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, better known as Bad Bunny, it has been his love for his island. Now, as fan flock to Puerto Rico to experience Bad Bunny's 30-show No me quiero ir de aqui summer residency, they don't need to look any further than the artist's own lyrics to plan their visit from Puerto Rico from start to finish. Visitors be warned: Bad Bunny has long maintained that there are some spots on the island that he is keeping to himself. 'Lo mejor nunca se sube... si pongo el location, ya no e' un secret spot.' Translation: the best is never uploaded; because if I add the location, it is no longer a secret spot. However, Bad Bunny has left enough clues in his lyrics to set fans up for the Puerto Rico vacation of a lifetime, whether they're headed to the beach before his concert or for a warm weather getaway once summer ends. The Santurce neighborhood of San Juan, Puerto Rico. Discover Puerto Rico Cool, colorful Santurce is one of the largest neighborhoods in San Juan, packed with art galleries, shops, bars and restaurants that make it one of the liveliest spots in the city. While there's plenty to see and do in one of Bad Bunny's favorite neighborhoods, most visitors head straight to Calle Loiza to check out murals and street art, or the stately Museo de Arte de Puerto Rico, which boasts an impressive collection of the island's best. Make sure to head to La Placita de Santurce as night falls, for 'un perreo sucio en la Placita,' recommends Bad Bunny in 'Te Boté - Remix.' A market by day, the area is packed with some of the best bars and restaurants in the city, but as night falls, it alights with music and dancing. Stop for a drink at La Penúltima, named to the World's 50 Best Discovery list for it's inventive, island-inspired cocktails, before stopping at La Alcapurria Quemá for Puerto Rican staple dishes like mofongo, alcapurrias, and carne frita. Bad Bunny compares Puerto Rico's Palomino Island to the Maldives. Discover Puerto Rico Palomino Island 'Pichea Maldiva', yo me quedo en Palomino' - 'El Apagón,' Un Verano Sin Ti 'Forget the Maldives, I'm staying in Palomino,' says Bad Bunny on one of his most popular tracks off his fourth album. It's a fitting word of praise for an island that puts even the dreamiest tropical paradise to shame. Take a short boat ride from Fajardo on the island's east coast and within minutes, the tiny 100-acre island of Palomino Island comes into view, little more than stretches of white sand, a fringe of feathery palms, and expanses of impossibly blue sea. Nowadays, Palomino is only accessible via El Conquistador Resort, which sits facing the island on the Puerto Rican mainland. The resort offers guests boat transportation to and from the island throughout the day, along with beach chairs and cabanas, gear for water sports and snorkeling, and a bar and grill serving up beachside fare all day. Fifty Eight is a nightclub located in San Juan's La Concha Resort, a legendary destination mentioned specifically in the lyrics of Bad Bunny and countless other Spanish-language musicians. Condado Collection Fifty Eight 'Ayer te vieron dizque en Fifty Eight con otro tipo' - 'Yo No Soy Celoso,' Un Verano Sin Ti Hidden away within the lower level of a beach front resort in San Juan's sexy Condado neighborhood, Fifty Eight is nothing less than a mythical destination among fans of reguetón and Latin trap music. This pulsing nightclub is has been mentioned by name by everyone who can get their hands on a mic these days, from Feid and Ozuna to Bad Bunny and Jhayco, who has an entire song named about the spot. Eagle-eyed fans can even spot it's unmistakable light-paneled ceiling and stages in the background of countless music videos starring San Juan's creative elite. Partying the night away at Fifty Eight is just one reason to visit La Concha Resort these days. Long considered one of the coolest places to stay in San Juan, it's better than ever after a top-to-toe facelift that updated and expanded rooms, introduced the brand new Elemara Spa & Salon, and added dining options like hand-rolled sushi at Tekka Bar and fresh seafood at Levant by the Michelin-starred Chef Michael White. Isabela is known as one of Puerto Rico's most beautiful beach towns. Discover Puerto Rico Isabela 'Puedo ver el paraíso llegando a Isabela' - 'Me Fui de Vacaciones,' Un Verano Sin Ti If Bad Bunny calls it paradise itself, you know it has to be good. Located on the northern coast of Puerto Rico, Isabela is home to what is considered one of the best beaches in Puerto Rico: Playa Jobos. While this long stretch of golden sand is undeniably stunning, Isabela has so much more to offer than just a singular beach, with its serene, small-town vibe making it a favorite getaway destination from San Juan. Playa Jobos appeals to surfers and swimmers alike, with sections of the beach offering choppier, wavier conditions and others perfectly peaceful and ideal for families. There's not a single oversized beach resort here, and that's a major part of Isabela's appeal; instead, boutique inns, beachfront rentals and even camping facilities in nearby Guajataca State Forest make it a more accessible destination for visitors, especially those who just spent all their savings on concert tickets. Mayagüez is the unofficial capital of Puerto Rico's west coast. Discover Puerto Rico Mayagüez 'Mañana en Aljibe y me quedo por el Maya' - 'Dos Mil 16,' Un Verano Sin Ti Considered the western 'capital' of Puerto Rico, the city of Mayagüez is a colonial marvel brimming with charm, beautiful beaches, shopping and plenty to keep visitors busy, whether they're here at the recommendation of Bad Bunny or otherwise. Mayagüez boasts is own beautiful city center, but most visitors head straight for its beaches upon arrival. North is Rincón and Crash Boat Beach, both known for their surfing, and Rincón even earning a shoutout from Martínez Ocasio in his song 'El Apagón.' To the south, Boquerón with its blissful beaches, yet another one of the island's beautiful stretches of sand to earn a mention in the singer's 'Me Fui de Vacaciones.' Great snorkeling and diving can be found around the island, but Mayagüez is known as the start for the excursion to Isla Desecheo, an uninhabited island off the coast with beautiful marine life and coral formations. It is known for having some of the best underwater visibility in Puerto Rico. Bad Bunny's most streamed song, Dákiti may be named after a bay on the island of Culebra. Discover Puerto Rico Dákiti 'Dákiti,' El Último Tour Del Mundo With well over two billion listens on Spotify, 'Dákiti' is Bad Bunny's most streamed song. Despite the song's unrivaled popularity, the inspiration behind the Dákiti title remains a bit of a mystery to fans, who have been quick to identify a few key spots in Puerto Rico with a similar name. Some say the song is named after a small stretch of beach in Old San Juan, or even a tiny bar in the same neighborhood with the same others think it refers to Bahía Dákiti, a crystal-clear bay on the island of Culebra off of mainland Puerto Rico. Dákiti Bay sits at the mouth of the entrance to this tiny, white-sand island, a popular getaway destination for locals and savvy visitors alike who know that the island is home to gems like Playa Flamenco, considered one of the best beaches in the entire Caribbean. Whether you head all the way to Culebra to visit the famed Dákiti Bay in person or don't get any further than Old San Juan, it's part of a Bad Bunny-themed pilgrimage you won't want to miss this summer.
