Latest news with #OuterHebridean
Scottish Sun
20-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
BBC stars to make incredible return to Scottish island where reality TV show started
The star has arranged a reunion with other participants on the tiny Outer Hebridean isle to mark the milestone anniversary. BEN FOGLE has revealed he is returning to Taransay — 25 years after being marooned there on TV show Castaway. The star has arranged a reunion with other participants on the tiny Outer Hebridean isle to mark the milestone anniversary. 3 Ben Fogle holds one of the sheep to show to his family on Castaway 2000. Credit: PA:Press Association 3 The reality show was ahead of its time. Credit: BBC 3 Ben has become one of TV's biggest names since getting his break. Credit: Stuart Wilson The BBC series jump-started the reality TV revolution by dropping 36 strangers off-grid to spend a year building their own community on the uninhabited island. Travel expert Ben, 51, has long been desperate to make a sequel, but has settled for a special meet-up this summer instead. He said of reuniting with fellow stars of the show: 'We are all going to Taransay this summer. 'I met up with a handful last year for Radio 4's reunion. We now have a Castaway WhatsApp group. 'I'd love to recreate the experiment, but I don't think any of the channels or streaming networks would be brave enough to commit to a year-long project. 'To be honest, I think it's a pipe dream. The beauty of Castaway lay in our simple characters. 'Today, reality shows rely on people becoming caricatures of themselves. You have be larger than life to stand out. 'The whole unique selling point of Castaway was that we blended into the landscape. We were slow TV before it was a thing.' More than 4,000 people applied to take part in the series, which cost £2.4million to make. Telly islanders were tasked with growing their own fruit and veg, and even killing animals for food. Ben Fogle teases return of 'most natural reality show ever' after years off screen - insisting telly 'needs a rebrand' Fending for themselves in the wilderness proved too much for some, with seven dropping out. Among the show's major controversies were a revolt against programme makers, smuggled mobile phones, a flu outbreak and one person attempting a speed boat escape. The eco-pods with compost toilets also weren't ready and families with kids refused to take part. They were taken back to the mainland and put up in a plush hotel before eventually returning to the island. And there wasn't even a prize at the end — as everybody left and either returned to their old lives or set off on new adventures. But Ben, then the picture editor of high society magazine Tatler, loved the challenge and was so inspired by his 12 months on Taransay that he launched an unsuccessful £1.5million bid to buy it in 2011. Even 25 years on, Ben misses the peace and quiet he enjoyed there and reckons the show still doesn't get the credit it deserves. He said: 'It feels like yesterday. The smells and colours and sounds are so familiar. 'If I close my eyes, I can transport myself back to that beautiful island. So much has happened in the 25 years since. I have done so many things and had so many experiences, but my year on Taransay remains one of my happiest. 'It was life-changing on so many levels. I find myself fiercely protective of its legacy.' Ben has hosted New Lives In The Wild, about people who opt for a secluded existence, for some 12 years. He advises people to give it a go if it's something they dream of. It was his time on Castaway 2000 that inspired his own series, and he believes the impact of the programme is often overlooked due to more flashy alternatives. Ben said: 'It's often forgotten about and I'm not sure why. Perhaps it is because we were the quieter sibling to the bells and whistles of Big Brother that came after. 'We were a simple, humble, unshowy, authentic reality show. Time and example has proved that the Press prefer the noise and chaos of subsequent shows. 'You mustn't underestimate the impact Castaway had on the TV landscape. 'We were guinea pigs and pioneers forging the way for future generations of reality TV.' Adam and Cathra Kelliher bought Taransay in 2011 and now offer tourists the chance to live out their own Castaway dreams for a few nights. The survival retreats are geared towards wealthy tourists who pay up to £6,900 per person. Ben isn't sure how he and his former cast mates will mark the occasion when they arrive back on the island. But it will be very different to the last time, when they celebrated New Year 2001 before being whisked off in a helicopter. Were you one of the original Castaways? Contact
Scottish Sun
17-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
Martin Compston gears up for Celtic trophy day celebrations as Line of Duty star dons Hoops and takes a dip in the Clyde
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) LINE of Duty star Martin Compston is gearing himself up for a big day of title celebrations. The Celtic-daft actor, who was seen partying with the players after December's League Cup win, has taken to social media ahead of the trophy day match against St Mirren. 2 He was wearing slightly different hoops last night Credit: Instagram / mrmartincompston 2 He took an early morning trophy day dip Credit: Instagram / mrmartincompston The league title will be brought out at Parkhead today while supporters prepare to fill the city in honour of their fourth consecutive run out as Premiership champions. Last night, Compston posted a photo on his Instagram story of him in the green and white hoops, but it wasn't a shirt of his beloved club. The jersey was of Eriskay FC, a team from the small Outer Hebridean island who are on a recruitment drive as they struggle to maintain a full squad. The celeb has showed his support for them before by playing for them in a one-off against Iochdar Saints, wearing number 12 as a nod to the AC-12 crime unit from his popular show. The island club commented on his photo: "Our mate Martin looking class in his new EFC home top." Then early this morning he was seen partaking in interesting pre-match preperations. The Greenock-born man took a snap of himself taking a dip in the River Clyde with a caption referencing the Celts' 55th league title. Their game kicks off at 12:30pm today as does Hibernian vs Rangers and Dundee United vs Aberdeen in the league's final weekend. Just a couple of months ago, Compston joked he would ban his San Francisco 49ers supporting father-in-law from his home if and when the Gers takeover became official, which is yet to happen. But the fan of the treble-chasing team didn't seem too worried, saying: "It's a great time to be a Celtic fan. Line of Duty star Martin Compston parties with Celtic players in dressing room after treble win "I was born in '84 so grew up in the 90s and it was dark times for us. "People always ask me if I get bored of winning. Not at all. "Long may it continue." The bottom half of the split comes to a conclusion and with that the league campaign curtain closes tomorrow. Then next weekend it's just the small matter of Celtic and Aberdeen contesting a Scottish Cup final, where the favourites will be without star Reo Hatate due to injury. Keep up to date with ALL the latest news and transfers at the Scottish Sun football page
Business Mayor
16-05-2025
- Business
- Business Mayor
Edinburgh tops list as US housebuyers eye a UK home
Inquiries from people in the US about buying a home in Britain are at an eight-year high, with Edinburgh topping the list, new data shows. Hard on the heels of figures showing US applications for UK citizenship are at record levels, Rightmove, the property website, said that since the start of the year the number of inquiries from North Americans about UK homes for sale was up 19% on the same period last year. Some of this has been linked to Donald Trump's attacks on academia, civil society and political opponents, as well as growing uncertainty about the impact of his economic policies, such as his trade tariffs. The estate agent John D Wood & Co said it was seeing 'a number of politically motivated relocations – Americans who are seeking greater stability abroad'. But if the growing interest in the UK in part reflects a desire to escape the US president, some may be surprised to see that Scotland has replaced London as the most popular location to inquire about. Trump has strong links to Scotland: his mother was born just a few miles from Stornoway, on the Outer Hebridean island of Lewis; he owns Trump International Scotland, a golf resort in Aberdeenshire; and he has previously declared: 'I think I do feel Scottish.' Edinburgh is the most popular destination in Rightmove's 2025 top 10, pushing London's Westminster into second place. Glasgow, meanwhile, has risen to fourth place, just behind Camden in third and overtaking London's Kensington and Chelsea. Other areas of Scotland in the top 10 include Highland, Argyll and Bute and Fife. The Cotswolds has long been popular with well-off Americans: it has been named 'the Hamptons of England', and the former chatshow star Ellen DeGeneres and her wife, Portia de Rossi, are among those to move there recently. But it was notable in its absence from the 2025 top 10. Some of this US interest may be from people who see the UK predominantly as a investment opportunity. Rightmove – Britain's biggest property website – said its data included people inquiring about moving to the UK from the US as well as those wanting a second home or buy to let property. Rightmove said that over the past 10 years, London had received the biggest proportion of US inquiries, but that at the start of 2025 it switched to Scotland, 'potentially due to its lower price point'. Colleen Babcock, Rightmove's property expert, said some of the knock-on effects of Trump's tariff announcements and the economic uncertainty globally were starting to be felt in the UK property market. 'Whether it's because the UK is seen as a more stable investment opportunity, or whether some buyers are considering a permanent move across the Atlantic, we're seeing an increase in inquiries from the US,' she said. Glynn Gibb, a regional director at John D Wood & Co, said the agent had seen a steady rise in inquiries from US buyers interested in 'prime' central London. 'London's culture and global connectivity make it an ideal springboard to Europe and beyond. Many are basing themselves here temporarily – often staying with friends – while they work out how long they plan to stay. We expect activity to build in the coming months – spring and early summer are typically busy – as more buyers make lifestyle and financial decisions shaped by the political climate in the US,' he said.
