Martin Clunes embarks on the last stage of his epic journey to search for island paradise in a new ITV1 series, Martin Clunes: Islands of Britain

Martin leaves the cold and windswept islands of the north for the sunny southern havens for the final part of his journey.

The islands along Britain’s southern coast have a warmer climate and more sunshine hours than any other part of the British Isles. They provide an escape from the stresses of mainland, whether it is the tax havens of the Channel Islands, the tranquil retreat of Sark, where the only form of transport is horse and cart, or possibly the most exotic location in the country – the Isles of Scilly.

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Unlike his unfortunate role in Reggie Perrin on BBC1, Martin Clunes was ideal in his job as guide around the Islands of Britain in the first of three new episodes in this series last night. One of the islands in last night’s show was the fabulously named Muckle Flugga, which apparently is the most northern tip of Britain and after which, if you fall off and get swept out to sea then have to swim for the nearest land, you’d end up in Canada.

According to the show’s ‘blurb’ the point of the series is for Martin to explore the “hidden Britain – the stunning, wild, curious and culturally diverse islands around our coast, and listens to the fascinating stories of what life is like away from the mainland from the people who live there.”

I’m not entirely sure why ITV considers these places to be hidden – they’re quite obviously in plain view should one wish to travel that far north – but nonetheless, it was one of those programmes that you can sit and watch with a cup of drinking chocolate and a few digestives and not think; you just get to see nice stuff. I like that… Read more & comment »