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Celebrity Speakers

Celebrity Speakers

Along with thousands of holiday choices and exclusive deals on offer at Destinations, travel television personalities explorers and travel writers will inspire or amuse with tales of adventure, bravery at spirit and humour.

Andy Kershaw, Broadcaster, DJ & Foreign Correspondent

• is a freelance broadcaster, journalist and foreign correspondent
• has visited 97 of the world's 194 countries
• was an eyewitness to the Rwandan genocide and reported it for the Today programme
• was banned from Malawi under the dictatorship of Dr Hastings Banda
• has reported for the BBC from three civil wars and one volcanic eruption
• made trailblazing travel programmes for Channel 4
• has made four visits to North Korea, the world's most secretive country
• followed the firefighting teams of Red Adair and Boots Hansen to the burning oil well-heads of Kuwait at the end of the first Gulf War, 1991

See Andy at the show on Sunday 20 January

Charley Boorman, Adventurer, Presenter & Author

Charley Boorman is a modern-day adventurer, travel writer and entertainer. His charismatic “let’s just do it” approach to challenges has won him over to a massive TV and literary audience. In 1997 he met Ewan McGregor the star of “Train Spotting”, “Star Wars” and “Moulin Rouge” amongst others, who became his co-adventurer and co-star in the Long Way Round and Long Way Down series.

In 2004 they took part in “Long Way Round”, a motorcycle trip from London to New York via Europe and Asia, which became an iconic television series, book and DVD. It was shown worldwide and became a best seller. This was followed by successful TV series "Long Way Down" and "By Any Means".

See Charley at the show on Thursday 17 January

Ryan Thomas, Actor and star of 'Corrie Goes to Kenya'

Jason Grimshaw arrived on the cobbles of ‘Coronation Street’ on Christmas day 2000. Ryan was only sixteen and thrilled to be joining the popular, much loved show. Twelve years on he’s still involved in gritty and challenging storylines.

In 2012 Ryan travelled to Kenya with a ‘Coronation Street’ script writer and three other cast members to work with the charity S.A.F.E. Using street theatre they worked alongside local people promoting awareness of AIDS and HIV related issues in the Coast Province area. ‘Corrie Goes to Kenya’, a two part documentary of their fascinating journey, was shown on ITV1 in August. Ryan describes his Kenyan experience as life changing. “At times it was traumatic. It made me realise what I have in life. Visiting the orphanage and hearing the children singing of love, peace and happiness was incredibly moving.”

See Ryan at the show on Saturday 19 January

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