Get your hands on Jasmine's designer clutch

She may have been the second celebrity to be voted out the CBB house, but that doesn't seem to have dampened Jasmine Waltz's spirits. In fact the 34-year-old American seems to be having a great time exploring London, and was spotted out with Lee's ex-Blue bandmate Duncan James on Friday night.

Jasmine is a real rock chic at heart, and worked the classic dressed-up denim look in black skinny
jeans, a cropped black and gold striped jumper and a black leather biker jacket. She accessorised with a pair of black pointed stiletto heels from Zara and a stylish black and gold clutch bag.

The fashion savy will instantly identify Jasmine's clutch as being from luxury French fashion house Saint Laurent (formerly Yves Saint Laurent). This Ligne Y clutch is one of their most popular bags, and it's easy to see why. The style is bold yet classic and perfectly proportioned.

While a spacious tote is a must-have for everyday, a stylish clutch bag is the ideal arm candy for a glam night out. And if you're only going to have one clutch bag, then a black and gold number such as this is the way to go.

If you're feeling flush you can buy Jasmine's exact Saint Laurent clutch from Harrods right now by clicking the image on the right. Alternatively you can shop our edit of similar clutch bags for less in the gallery below.

Get cosy in Sam's knitted leggings from Rare London

Oh this is one love story we'd love to see work out well. The beautiful Essex princess and the handsome Chelsea prince. Match made in reality television heaven. And just think how sweet their children would look.

Anyway back to actual reality and while we are intrigued by this possible romance, we're as ever, much more interested in Sam Faiers' fashion. She always looks gorgeous and is a cut above the other ladies in the Celebrity Big brother house.
Her cosy knitted leggings are from Rare London and we love their loungey vibe. They're no doubt super soft and perfect for snuggling up in. Hey Ollie? Click through (right) to the Rare website now and you can pick these leggings up now. And they're in the sale so at only £7 you can definitely afford to buy yourself a little new year treat.
We love how Sam has styled them with her shaggy faux fur jacket, black top and hi-top sneakers but these pants would also look cute with battered biker boots and an oversized knit.
If you want to shop around then check out the similar looks we've found below. Boohoo has some fab options or go for a preppy feel at Jack Wills.

Look stylish while you sweat in Victoria's Secret

This look on Sam Faiers gave us flashbacks to the 1980s. And flashbacks to Flashdance as well.
The Essex girl didn't just do leg warmers for her session at the gym, she fully embraced the '80s theme and crimped her hair even tying it back with a scrunchie. That's commitment to a look and we love it.

Sam, of course, looks incredible in her work out gear. Not something we can say for ourselves when we're getting hot and sweaty but that's not to say we can't aspire to her well groomed exercise look. Her sports bra and matching leggings are by Victoria's Secret and while you can't buy them online, check out the full range including the similar set we've found by clicking the link on the right.
Or stick to the virtual high street and try one of the brilliant bras we've found below. They'll give you extra support and ensure you're still stylish. Nike always has fantastic options or get a bargin at JD Sports and H&M.

Gwyneth Paltrow plays a raunchy game of Bang, Marry, Kill on Glee... as split from Chris Martin is announced

Just hours after she announced her ‘conscious uncoupling’ from Coldplay frontman Chris Martin Gwyneth Paltrow appeared on Glee - her first televised appearance since the news broke.
Her recurring character, substitute teacher Holly Holiday, opens the second instalment of the 100th episode of the Fox musical comedy with a racy game of Bang, Marry, Kill.
The 41-year-old plays the harmless game with Kristin Chenoweth in the teachers lounge before being interrupted by Sue Sylvester (Jane Lynch), who brings an end to the racy antics.

Getting racy: Gwyneth Paltrow and Kristin Chenoweth play a raunchy game on Tuesday's episode of Glee

Gwyneth Paltrow wants to 'Party All The Time' on Glee

But Holly is soon in Sue's office trying to resurrect the now defunct Glee Club.
And after a bit of finagling manages to get approval for a few musical additions to already existing classes.
She is next seen invading Will Schuester's class as she impersonates famed animal science professor Temple Grandin.

Model sparks in Loose Clothing

Lara Bingle has sparked speculation that she could be expecting her first child with Sam Worthington.
The 26-year-old model appeared to be cradling her tummy with her hand as she shopped for furniture in Sydney suburb Surry Hills on Tuesday.
Covering up her killer figure in loose-fitting clothing, the Australian beauty certainly seemed keen to keep her showstopping body under wraps as she headed out with a female friend. 
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Tum-thing to tell us? Lara Bingle has sparked speculation that she could be expecting her first child with Sam Worthington after appearing to cradle er tummy with her hand as she shopped for furniture in Sydney suburb Surry Hills on Tuesday

The blonde beauty swamped her frame in a baggy black button-down blouse with a striking white collar and cuffs, which successfully distracted attention away from her middle.
Lara completed her uncharacteristically low-key look with loose-fitting black harem pants and opted for comfort over style with a pair of burgundy suede loafers.
Appearing to have gone make-up free to showcase her naturally radiant glow, the catwalk queen completed her look with a pair of mirrored aviator-style sunglasses, and wore her honey blonde locks straight and parted in the centre.

Keeping it covered: Covering up her killer figure in loose-fitting clothing, the Australian beauty certainly seemed keen to keep her showstopping body under wraps

The former reality star seemed happy and relaxed for her day out with her friend, smiling and sharing a joke with her pal as they browsed the furniture on offer in the store.
But Lara appeared to be paying particularly close attention to her tummy, and was seen protectively placing her hand on her middle on numerous occasions as she chatted away inside the shop.
Lara and Avatar star Sam went public with their romance in October 2013, and have rarely left each others' sides since confirming their relationship.

Cornwall, LA Glamour and Tasting Lamb's Tongue: Checking In With Nadia Sawalha

The TV presenter and budding chef talks tasty holidays, her love of Cornwall and the importance of removing your moustache even when abroad...
IN WHICH COUNTRY DO YOU FEEL MOST AT HOME?
South London but my spiritual home is Cornwall. Where I spent my childhood summer holidays. Now we stay in Sennen Cove. Sennen beach is just the most beautiful one I've ever visited.
WHO IS YOUR IDEAL TRAVEL COMPANION?
My husband Mark. We love the same places - Cornwall, Barcelona and New York.

YOUR MOST MEMORABLE TRAVEL DESTINATION?
Los Angeles. We hired a house in the Hollywood Hills, which was once owned by Orson Welles. I loved the food, the people, the energy, everything about it.
THE THREE BEST THINGS TO DO THERE?
The Universal Studios Tour. The ArcLight cinema on Sunset Boulevard where movie goers can dine before or during a film. The beaches are a must: Paradise Cove is gorgeous and we loved Santa Monica.
WITH MONEY NO OBJECT, WHERE IN THE WORLD WOULD YOU HAVE DINNER?
The hotel Il San Pietro di Positano in Positano, Italy. Jamie Oliver spent his honeymoon there. It's built into the cliffs and has a huge veranda with the best views of the Amalfi coast.

Italian idyll: Nadia would love to try the food at the hotel Il San Pietro di Positano

WHAT IS THE STRANGEST DISH YOU'VE EATEN ON YOUR TRAVELS?
Baked lamb's tongue in Morocco. I had to slice bits off it and dip it in cumin and salt. It was slimy, gristly and not very nice.
WHAT DO YOU NEVER TRAVEL WITHOUT?
My hair-removing cream for my moustache and a homeopathic kit.
RECOMMEND A HOLIDAY READ?
The thriller Hangover Square by Patrick Hamilton.
WHERE TO NEXT?
I want to experience the vibrancy of India.
Greedy Girls' Diet Second Helpings!, published by Kyle Books, £14.99, is out now.

England's Cricket Team (and Piers Morgan's ribs) Take a Pasting Down Under

One day,' I promised my sons Spencer, Stanley and Bertie, years ago, 'we will go and watch the Ashes in Australia.' After England's rampant 3-0 victory in last summer's contest, the perfect time appeared to have arrived.

'We're going to the 4th and 5th Test matches in Melbourne and Sydney,' I declared in September.

'What if it's already over by then?' asked Stanley, 16.

'It won't be.' I chuckled. 'Not even this Aussie team could lose the first three games at home.'

It's a family affair: Piers with sons Stanley, Bertie and Spencer at the Sydney Opera House

Thus emboldened, I splashed out a sum of money approaching the national debt of Estonia to book us all flights from various parts of the world (me direct on Qantas from Los Angeles, my sons and youngest brother Rupert from London via Singapore Airlines) and well-recommended hotels in both cities.

Today we arrived in Melbourne with the Ashes already lost. Stanley's ominous comment had come true, though inexplicably, it was England who had capitulated so catastrophically. It was like arriving at a war zone moments after your country has surrendered.

Oh, and just to add to the misery, it was raining!

But we comforted ourselves with an excellent dinner at Squires Loft steakhouse, run by an old South African friend of England batsman Kevin Pietersen. The culinary fare was considerably tastier than KP's batting so far on this tour. In fact, I've been tweeting my disappointment at the lack of courage shown by our batsmen, prompting former Australian fast bowler Brett Lee to throw down a gauntlet: facing him for an over in the nets this week. Bring it on...

Danger zone: Piers is struck by a bouncer from former Australian fast bowler Brett Lee

Monday 23 December

Our hotel in Melbourne is The Olsen, a cool, arty boutique property nestling in the equally cool, arty Chapel Street. It's filled with works by famed Australian artist John Olsen, and the rooms are spacious and well-appointed, with notably comfortable beds. Add two excellent restaurants, a decent spa and gym, and one of the world's most helpful chief concierges in Paul Rumpff, and I feel immediately relaxed.

Tonight, former England captain Michael Vaughan invited us to a barbecue (he cooked, and surprisingly well too) and 'garden cricket' at the luxury home he's been renting. A titanic battle ended under floodlights with his eight-year-old son Archie hitting an immaculate, elegant 71 not out as my much older sons peppered him with bouncers, beamers and yorkers. He's got a wonderful cover drive, pull shot, and ruthless determination to spend all day at the crease. Remember the name.

Tuesday 24 December

Spent the morning shopping in Chapel Street, which is like a long, slim version of London's Carnaby Street. The weather's been all over the place - hot and sunny one minute, cold, cloudy and rainy the next. Apparently, it's often like this. Must be why so many Brits emigrate here - it reminds them of home. Dinner was at Caffe e Cucina, a local Italian restaurant. Cheap, cheerful and excellent value. Have the spaghetti vongole - it's quite delicious.

Wednesday 25 December

Christmas in a hot country is weird. I tried it in Los Angeles two years ago and hated it. I like my yuletide festivities to be surrounded by snow, lots of decorations and endless carols. Melbourne had none of these, and didn't feel remotely Christmassy. Most locals go to the beach.

We headed for lunch to No 8 by John Lawson at the Crown Casino and Entertainment complex, where at least they supplied crackers with terrible jokes, silly hats, and an even sillier Santa Claus. They also supplied a quite magnificent traditional Christmas meal, all washed down with fine Puligny Montrachet and Chateau Margaux as the dulcet tones of 1,000 Barmy Army fans, and the Australian team, filled the air from two large suites nearby where they, too, were celebrating the big day.

Chef Lawson is an Essex boy done good. He used to work for Gordon Ramsay, and that pedigree shows in the cooking - this is a top-class restaurant.

At the next table was the widow of legendary Australian tycoon Kerry Packer. Over brandy, I asked Ros if it was true that Kerry once told a Texan cattleman in a casino who was boasting of being worth $100 million: 'I'll toss you for it.' She smiled. 'Yes. Most crazy stories about Kerry are true! It would have been his birthday tomorrow.' We raised our glasses to a great, swashbuckling character who changed cricket for ever, and for much the better, in the mid-1970s with his World Series tournament.

Easy to get around: Trams make their way through a sunny Melbourne

Thursday 26 December

Boxing Day at the Melbourne Test match is one of the most famous sporting occasions in the country, and it didn't disappoint. Our day started with breakfast inside the ground to support the Shane Warne Foundation, which has raised more than £5 million for sick children. A host of stars were there, including Sky Sports commentator David 'Bumble' Lloyd, who told the story of how Jeff Thomson - the fastest-ever bowler - once hit him square in the box during a Test match. As he retold the tale in fabulously gruesome detail, you could actually see tears start to well up in his eyes at the memory.

The MCG is the biggest stadium in cricket, and today we became part of history when the crowd was confirmed at a new world record of 91,092. It's hard to overstate how intense the atmosphere was by about 4pm, when a throbbing mass of drunken Aussies howled on their bowlers to dismember our batsmen. It was how I imagine Rome's Colosseum must have looked and felt back in ancient times.
Tonight, we dined at a superb Italian restaurant called Becco with Sir Viv Richards, the most exciting batsman I ever saw, and an utterly charming man. 'Have the seafood pasta,' he advised. I did, and it was superb. Henry Blofield, commentator extraordinaire, walked past, spied our table, and came over to say hello. Or rather to say: 'My dear old things, how simply delightful to see you!' He really does speak like that off-air, too. A national treasure.

Friends reunited: Piers and Brett Lee make up over a couple of bottles of wine

Friday 27 December

AsI outlined in my Event magazine column earlier this month, a baying mob of 5,000 people amassed around the MCG nets as I faced Brett Lee, who hurtled in like a man possessed. After I'd survived the first two deliveries, the third ball - a ferocious 90mph bouncer - crashed into my back as I ducked, resulting in a loud crack, while the fourth whacked my hip. The fifth hit the stumps, while I managed to dodge the final ball. 'I'm still alive!' I gasped when it was all over. Yes, I was battered and bruised but it also was one of the most thrilling moments of my life.

Sunday 29 December

Been here for a week now, and loved it - even though I'm nursing a broken rib thanks to Brett's 90mph bouncer on Friday. The city is very British in many ways, with the same kind of houses and shopping areas, weather, and sarcastic but warm humour. Everyone we've met has been amazingly friendly and welcoming. Australia is a delightful country.

The Olsen's proven to be a perfect location. It's a well-run but at the same time pleasingly laid-back hotel. To my sons' joy it also backs on to school football pitches which the public can use. Thus, most afternoons a titanic battle of wit, skill and stamina ensues between creaking age (my brother and me) and volatile youth.

The regular verbal 'sledging' jousts almost rival the actual football for quality. Or as my youngest boy Bertie put it tonight: 'Dad, there's been a lot of high-class bantering on the Banter-Bus today.'

Monday 30 December

Flew to Sydney for the second leg of our holiday. It's a very different city to Melbourne, much busier, and more vibrant. And with more consistently good weather.

Our hotel is the QT, part of the same group as the Olsen. It's a designer boutique place, where you're greeted by a striking, beaming redhead in full basque-leather uniform, one of several such women dubbed 'Directors of Chaos'. She epito-mises the sense of sexy, quirky fun about the whole hotel.

Our rooms are great, stocked with enough DIY martini kits and other fancy party-related treats to keep James Bond happy for days.
And the lifts are pure comedy, with the music tailored precisely to how many people are standing in it. If there's only one person then Lonely by Akon plays; two people and it's Just The Two Of Us; eight and you get 50 Cent's In Da Club.

Flying the flag: The Australian cricket team celebrate a 5-0 whitewash over England in Sydney

But the real star for me is the Gowings bar and restaurant. The food, service and drinks are some of the best I've enjoyed in any hotel anywhere in the world.

Tonight, the boys stayed in to watch movies (they're all free for guests at the QT, a nice touch) while Rupert and I joined my rib-breaking tormentor Brett Lee and his elder brother Shane (who also played for Australia) for dinner at Bathers' Pavilion in Balmoral, reputed to be Sydney's best restaurant. It's in an idyllic setting, nestled on a gorgeous quiet beach.

We had oysters, steaks and two magnums of Penfolds and talked cricket for four hours. My idea of a perfect night!

Tuesday 31 December

The QT is a five-minute walk from Darling Harbour, a buzzy area of restaurants, shops and tourist attractions. We had a couple of good seafood meals at the Blue Fish Cafe during the week, and a very palatable takeaway Indian curry from Zaaffran.

Tonight, thanks to the ingenuity of QT promotions chief Stephen Howard, we got on to the 35th-floor roof of the Shangri-La hotel on Sydney Harbour, overlooking the iconic Sydney Bridge and Opera House for the New Year's Eve fireworks. It was a stunning vantage point for what is an absolutely stunning display. Though I was amused to see that at precisely midnight, almost every single guest on the roof pulled out their phone and began taking 'selfies'. We're truly heading to an age where every second of one's life must be instantly recorded and imparted on to friends via Facebook, or complete strangers via Twitter, as a matter of urgency.

Quirky fun: Guests at the QT hotel in Sydney are greeted by a redhead in full basque-leather uniform - one of several such women dubbed 'Directors of Chaos'

Wednesday 1 January

Did a few touristy things. The aquarium at Darling Harbour houses some impressively massive sharks, and the amazing view from the top of the Sydney Tower Eye, the city's tallest building, is definitely worth seeing.

There's also a military submarine in Darling Harbour, which is an incredible experience, if only to see at first hand the ridiculously cramped conditions in which 70 grown men have to exist on these things. I found it claustrophobic after just a few minutes down there. I can't imagine what six months must feel like.

Later I took the boys to a Big Bash game, part of the 20/20 tournament that's hugely popular in Australia. We sat with West Indies batting legend Chris Gayle, who was hilarious, and chatted to Aussie star David Warner in the next box to us ('Who's this, One Direction?' he laughed as I introduced the boys). The only sour note came when former Australian captain Ian Chappell walked past and I held a hand out with the words: 'Hi, Mr Chappell, I'm Piers Morgan. . .' to which he replied: 'Nah, mate, you're a d***head.' As Spencer said: 'It's good when people live down to every expectation.'

Thursday 2 January

Lunch at Doyles on Watson's Bay, Sir Ian Botham's favourite place in Sydney. Had absurdly fresh-tasting crab and their signature fish and chips while taking in the wonderful view. It's worth the half-hour taxi ride, but get the water cab back to town - just because it's great fun.

Iconic: Piers got to watch the New Year's Eve fireworks from the Shangri-La hotel on Sydney Harbour

Saturday 4 January

We've spent the first two days at the Sydney Test, and England's cricket has continued its disastrous path on this tour. But the weather's been wonderful, the people genuinely lovely, and we've enjoyed every minute of the holiday. My highlight today was seeing 84-year-old former Aussie Prime Minister Bob Hawke sink a pint of beer in one go, howled on by 100 drunken men dressed as legendary commentator Richie Benaud. If ever a moment made me fall in love with Australia, it was this.

Sunday 5 January

Got up at 4am to watch Arsenal, the fourth time we've had to rise in the middle of the night to watch our team since we've been out here. But we won, and are top of the Premier League, so at least there's some small solace on the sporting front.

Monday 6 January

Flew back to Los Angeles on Qantas. The First Class service is outstanding, making the 13-hour flight a breeze. On landing, the chief steward approached me. 'Mr Morgan, I'm afraid I have some bad news. . .' My heart raced. 'What is it?' 'England were bowled out for 166 in 31 overs! It was a 5-0 whitewash!' So an indescribable horror on the field, and yet a very easily describable joy off it. I loved Australia. And so did my boys. Oddly, we never once went to the beach. We'll do it next time.

Ben Fogle On Working Up an Appetite for The Azores

I have been obsessed with islands since I was a child. My young imagination was sparked by books such as Treasure Island, Lord Of The Flies and other works of fiction whose plots are inextricably linked with exotic blobs of land surrounded by oceans. This obsession has continued into adulthood. Indeed, I have an island to thank for my career as a broadcaster.
My experience in the BBC reality show Castaway 2000 - when I was marooned with 35 others on the isle of Taransay in the Outer Hebrides - led to the television presenting roles that catapulted me to fame. Since then I have visited islands as remote as St Helena in the South Atlantic and the Pitcairns in the South Pacific.

Spring time: Ben relaxes in the warm water at Terra Nostra Park

So after marrying into a family who love holidaying in Portugal, it was only a matter of time before I visited the Azores. I've always been intrigued by this chain of
islands 850 miles west of the coast of Portugal and I was smitten soon after arriving.
The nine islands all have volcanic origins and the contrast between the fiery lava-rich soil and the lush green vegetation is breathtaking. A dip in the hot springs at Ponta Da Ferraria on São Miguel island is a must for any visitor. It's a natural swimming pool on the coast formed by lava.
Sea water flowing into the pool is heated by a bubbling spring that pumps out water at a piping 60C. Thermal springs have had an important bearing on the culinary traditions of the Azores. At Furnas Lake, also on São Miguel, you can have 'Cozido nas caldeiras' (meat and veg stew) cooked for seven hours in pots buried 3ft deep in the ground - a kind of volcanic hot pot.

Soaring beauty: Mount Pico seen from the city of Horta on the Island of Faial

Energetic travellers to the Azores should climb the tallest peak on the islands - and indeed the whole of Portugal: the 7,713ft Mount Pico on the isle of Pico. It's a challenging trip - which requires a guide - but the reward is a mesmerising view over the ocean from the summit. While there are plenty of activities to keep you entertained on shore, no trip to these islands would be complete without some whale-watching.
The seas around the Azores provide one of the best habitats in the world for marine mammals, and more than 24 species of whales have been sighted in these waters.
I headed out to sea early in the morning in a fast inflatable boat in the hope of glimpsing one of these magnificent creatures. Our boat leapt from wave to wave as we headed deep into the Atlantic swell.
There are few sights as majestic as that of a breaching sperm whale. These marine mammals, which measure up to 65ft, are elusive but with patience you will be rewarded with an experience that will take your breath away.

Australia's hippest hop spot: Cuisine, calm and the chicest retreat on Kangaroo Island

There's nothing like running on a beach. And if that beach is on South Australia's Kangaroo Island, with its pristine sands and turquoise waters, then it's a truly wonderful sensation.
I must admit I've never really been much of a runner. But after a glorious month-long tour of Australia and having piled on the inevitable pounds, I found myself on one of the most beautiful stretches of sand on Earth being put through my paces by a former chef at famous London restaurant The Ivy.

Jump to it: Sian meets one of the locals (sort of) at the Southern Ocean Lodge

Sue Pearson is something of a legend on Kangaroo Island.
She arrived in this wilderness more than ten years ago and now runs 'the best fish and chip shop in the world', according to one local newspaper. She also runs a
four-day training programme called Soul To Sole. It's basically away of getting yourself in shape while exercising and eating healthily.
I loved every second of my mini-fitness venture and just wish I could replicate it at the end of every holiday.
My husband Jonathan and I were staying at the much-acclaimed Southern Ocean Lodge on Kangaroo Island, or KI to the locals.
The island is a 30-minute flight from Adelaide. Alternatively, you can do an easy 90-minute drive through world-class wine country and board a ferry on the Fleurieu Peninsula.
Whichever option you choose, you will get the sense of being in a very special place from the moment you arrive.
KI is roughly the size of Kent, and a microcosm of different Australian landscapes.
It's the place to see the best of Australia if you don't have time to see the whole country. Even on our short trip from the airport, we glimpsed bushland, eucalyptus woods, white sandy dunes and spectacular seascapes. And there were, unsurprisingly, a lot of kangaroos.
The Southern Ocean Lodge is perched on the island's wild south coast. It is a mind-blowingly beautiful location, with the sweeping white sands of Hanson Bay visible from every part of the resort. Each time we were greeted by the panorama, we couldn't help but say: 'Wow!'
On our first day, a friendly member of staff took us through our personalised itinerary as we sipped a glass of bubbly. We'd advised staff beforeoffered hand that we wanted to walk on rugged clifftops and cycle on empty roads.
As we chatted, a tanned and toned blonde woman walked towards us. We exchanged greetings and she introduced herself as Sue Pearson. Within a matter of minutes, I was readily agreeing to take part in the Soul To Sole fitness experience with her on the final day of our break.

A view to remember: As its name suggests, the hotel looks out towards the Southern Ocean

Staff clearly take pride in the Southern Ocean Lodge and couldn't wait to show us our suite. Each of the 21 guest rooms is named after a local shipwreck and they snake gently down the hillside towards Hanson Bay.
Our room was the pinnacle of luxury living, and if there hadn't been so much to do during our stay, I would have loved to spend more time on the heated terrace, snuggled up with alpaca blankets and books, soaking up the drama of the Southern Ocean and watching the weather change.
Our suite's walk-in wardrobe and bed were enormous, while the wooden floors of the lounge segued into soft carpet in the bedroom and heated limestone tiles in the huge bathroom.
Occupying centre-stage in the bathroom was a spectacular wooden tub. There was such attention to detail throughout. There was a Bose music system, cosy eco-fire, a fridge bursting with local food and drink, organic linens and even a tan leather toilet-roll holder.
And I don't know whether it was the KI water, the hairdryer or the shampoo infused with native lemon myrtle and wild lavender, but my hair had never looked and felt so good.
We spent the next two days exploring Kangaroo Island.
It is Australia's third-biggest island, and actually larger than we thought at almost 100 miles long and 34 miles wide. It' is also home to about 4,500 people. The guided tours in 4WD comfort with Exceptional Kangaroo Island were superb. A third of the island is a national park, with stunning natural features such as the wind-sculpted Remarkable Rocks and Admirals Arch in Flinders Chase. There, we watched seals being hurled against the rocks before swimming back to do it all again.
Then we went to Seal Bay and found ourselves within touching distance of these wonderful mammals. It's one of the rare places on Earth where you can actually walk with sea lions on the sands. No wonder they call this area the Galapagos of Australia.
Ogling animals in a zoo is simply not the same as viewing them in the wild. We saw koalas munching away in eucalyptus trees, dolphins frolicking and seal pups learning to swim. We also went stargazing and came across penguins on the beach.
In the resort's restaurants, there's a distinct focus on seafood, as you might expect, with plenty of sweet crayfish, scallops and King George whiting. But there's also an abundance of produce such as organic lamb and honey. In fact, here the world's only pure Ligurian bee colonies produce highly prized honey. I bought several pots of this liquid gold to take home as presents, along with delicious native jams and pretty decent bottles of sauvignon blanc.

Beach BBQs, Ocean Sunsets and a Trip to Stingray City

Even with the plethora of medium and long-haul destinations available to today’s discerning travellers, there’s still something special about the Caribbean - that collection of islands cast like a string of pearls into the sea between the Americas.
The islands offer many contrasts: from the exclusive, super-rich haunts of St Barth’s and Mustique to those playboy tax-havens and cruise-ship magnets St Thomas and St Maarten; from the smoky, sultry, Latin American passion of Cuba and Puerto Rico to the yacht-friendly breezes of the Grenadines or the steel-drum, calypso exuberance of the cricketing West Indies.
Palm-fringed beaches? Ocean sunsets? Rum punch and Pina Coladas? Get in.

Jewel in the Caribbean's crown: Rory Bremner takes in the view of the beach at Peter Island

Our mission: to compare and contrast two holiday experiences, Antigua and Peter Island. One, a popular and much-loved destination with cricket-lovers and
yachtsmen alike; the other, an exclusive private island lying between the British Virgin Islands of Tortola and Virgin Gorda. Well, somebody had to do it.
Our only restriction was time: we had just seven nights in which to complete our enviable task. Hence my first piece of advice: take longer.
If you believe that getting there is half the fun, you’ll enjoy the trip to Peter Island, because it can seem like it has taken half your holiday to get there. Relax. It’s worth it. But you will have to fly via Antigua and St Maarten - and maybe drop off passengers at a third island en route. Welcome to the mad, dysfunctional world of local island-hopping airline LIAT (locals love to tell you that’s an acronym for Leave Island Any Time. You better believe it). Tip number two: plan your flights carefully.

Height of luxury: Curtain Bluff is perched on a promontory stretching into the sea with the Atlantic Ocean on one side and the Caribbean on the other

Soak in the view: The guests Rory met at Curtain Bluff said they came back time and again

So, Antigua  first. I love Antigua. It’s wilder, more laid-back and rougher round the edges than its bigger, brasher neighbours. In a word, it’s real. The people are fiercely proud of their island but they're relaxed, friendly and good-humoured too - think of the swagger and smile of cricketer Viv Richards in his pomp.
The island lacks the crime of Jamaica or St Kitts, the super-rich clientele of St Barth’s, or the commercialism, high-end tourist developments and sheer excess of Barbados. You’re less likely to run into Simon Cowell or Jodie Marsh here. (Although Eric Clapton has a place on the island along with - commendably - a rehab clinic.)
As you drive across Antigua, either along the coast or through the rainforest interior, you pass rough bungalows, shacks, graveyards (for humans and cars), schools and Baptist churches. While there are some resorts to the north and west, the more luxurious hotels are dotted along the south coast, including Curtain Bluff, perched on a promontory stretching into the sea with the Atlantic Ocean on one side and the Caribbean on the other.
Our schedule meant we merely overnighted there, and had time only to enjoy the good food and quick service at dinner, listen to the Atlantic breakers crashing onto the beach just yards from our balcony, and meet the owner Chelle Hulford. Everyone meets Chelle. She’s an institution, mingling with guests, hosting drinks and chatting with the clientele who love Curtain Bluff, rate it highly and come back time and again. That’s recommendation enough.

Natural haven: The Inn at English Harbour has a genuinely timeless, colonial charm

Lounging in the lap of luxury: The Inn's rooms have recently been refurbished

On our return from Peter Island, we spent two very pleasant nights at the Inn at English Harbour. The harbour is a natural haven for weary craft that are grateful to find peaceful shelter at the end of their travels. The same could be said of the hotel. But don’t be put off: like Curtain Bluff, The Inn has a devoted and regular clientele - though no children under ten (or, it seemed, under 60) - and it has a genuinely timeless, colonial charm.
The three distinctive white-washed, verandahed pavilions that house the hotel’s 24 rooms have recently been refurbished. Although none have baths, they are impressive, with polished wooden floors, period furniture and grand beds, some four-postered. (Book an upstairs room to avoid being disturbed by footsteps above. Nothing to do with a ghost: more the American couple who started pacing the room above ours at 6.30am and were still at it three hours later).
Food should be the hotel's next priority - it could be improved - but the poolside lunches and Thursday night’s beach-side barbecue, accompanied by a steel band, were delicious, and the hotel’s more elegant restaurant, higher up the hill, looked like a beautiful spot to dine. Alas, our flight was too late to let us sample that delight.

Simply fabulous: Rory explores the grounds of his luxury resort on Peter Island

Historic: Nelson's Dockyard is the British Naval Base established in English Harbour in the 1770s

The presence of a dozen or more yachts peacefully at anchor in the harbour is one reason why there are no high-octane watersports, but we took a kayak, and later the hotel’s water taxi, and visited Nelson’s Dockyard, the British Naval Base established in English Harbour in the 1770s. Its grey stone Georgian buildings have been restored and converted for a variety of modern uses, including a hotel and an interesting museum.
There are two other must-do activities on the island. Firstly, hang out at Shirley Heights, high above English Harbour, on a Thursday or Sunday night. Everyone goes to party to the steel bands and enjoy food and drink from local stalls. Secondly (a new one, this), put on your bathers and go to Stingray City, a reef off the coast where you can swim and kneel in the shallow water while feeding friendly stingrays. Children will love it. We did too.

Wet and wild: Stingray City offers swimmers the chance to get up close to the local sea life

But now to the jewel in our Caribbean crown: Peter Island. A private island, owned by the founder of Amway, it’s home to a resort of 52 rooms, the more expensive of which overlook Dead Chest Island, where Blackbeard’s infamous 15 men were allegedly marooned. (‘Yo, ho, ho, and a bottle of rum….’)
Only one pirate supposedly made it over to Peter Island, but he died on the beach. Perhaps he saw the resort’s prices.
In addition to the rooms there are also three beautifully-appointed villas, the largest of which sleeps 12 and is stunningly-designed. Named Falcon's Nest, it boasts an infinity pool, waterfall, guest wings, dining room, double-height reception room - and a $12,000 (£7,300) a night price tag (plus 18 per cent service) to match.
The rest of the resort isn’t cheap either, but apart from the odd gripe on TripAdvisor (NO LOBSTER! shrieked one, with all the indignation of Michael Winner failing to find fresh Parmesan on Barbados), it is simply fabulous.
Of the 1800 lush acres of land, only 300 are developed, meaning it doesn’t feel crowded, and should you wish to walk the 2.5 miles up to the top of the estate to watch the sunset over Norman Island (reputedly the inspiration for Robert Louis Stevenson’s Treasure Island), you will pass just a handful of fellow-guests, on their way to the tennis court or the huge spa for their Ayurvedic treatments.

Peaceful retreat: Of the 1800 lush acres of land on Peter Island, only 300 are developed

Taste for the good life: A chef grills seafood during a beach barbecue on Peter Island

It says something for this exceptional place that you soon forget the effort it took to get here. The final stretch of the journey is a 20-minute ferry trip from Tortola and on the boat you’ll meet some of the 160-odd staff who work here - they live on Tortola and take the ferry each day.
Their friendliness and good humour pervade the resort, and some - like the remarkable Jean Kelly - have been here for decades. In Jean’s case, nearly three decades. She’s the life and soul of Peter Island, in her 80s and still - complete with spectacular hair-do (some of it her own) - ever-present at breakfast, where the must-have coconut-crusted French toast is named after her.

Everything is catered to American standards. And high standards at that.
We were on what’s called the Full American Food Plan, and if you’ve ever seen a Full American, you’ll be able to imagine what was on offer. At breakfast we took our pick from pancakes, granola and maple syrup, omelettes, fruit salad and eggs Benedict, while dinner one night involved a wine tasting and gourmet menu to accompany the wines (but still no lobster).
At night, sitting in the Tradewinds Restaurant, you see the lights of Tortola twinkling like a starcloth across the shimmering sea.

Treasure island: The white sand of Deadman's beach is lapped by the crystal clear Caribbean sea

Stunningly-designed: Falcon's Nest features an infinity pool, waterfall, guest wings, dining room, double-height reception room - and a £7,300 a night price tag

Some nights and most days you can eat at the beach bar, as can day visitors from yachts moored offshore (all beaches in the Virgin Islands are public). Here, and at Tradewinds, Captain will mix you the best Raspberry Mojito or BBC (Baileys, Banana, Coconut) you’ve ever tasted.
By day you may want to lounge on the beach or by the pool - we took a free kayak and Hobie Cat one day - but if the wind is up (Tradewinds is appropriately named on these days, the breeze being quite strong), you should book yourself (early) into one of the six huts on White Bay beach and spend the day on the sheltered side of the island, swimming and snorkelling.
Wherever you go - spa, beach, restaurant - you’re assured a memorable experience. On the ferry back, you’ll share the journey with the homeward shift of hotel staff, many of whom you’ll know by now. 'You’ll be back', they say, laughing. And they’re right. At least I damn well hope they’re right. I’ll start saving now.

Travel facts

ITC Luxury Travel (01244 355 527; www.itcluxurytravel.co.uk) has prices from £3,299 per person based on two adults sharing including return economy class flights from London Gatwick to Antigua with British Airways, inter-island flights to Tortola (Beef Island) with Liat and all transfers. The package includes:

• 4 nights room-only in an Ocean View Room at Peter Island 
• 3 Nights all-inclusive in a Deluxe Room at Curtain Bluff
• 3 nights half-board in a beach Cabana at The Inn at English Harbour

After his brush with death, George Michael's finally grown up

GEORGE MICHAEL: Symphonica (Virgin EMI)

Rating:
Verdict: Poignant and polished
Having often made the news for all the wrong reasons, George Michael was hoping to put the focus back on his music when he began a tour of Europe’s finest opera houses three years ago.
He was conquering his demons through drug counselling, and had enlisted a symphony orchestra to breathe fresh life into his weighty back catalogue and some well-chosen covers.
But things didn’t work out as planned. On the opening night in Prague, he was almost in tears onstage as he announced a split from his long-term partner  Kenny Goss.

George Michael's in-concert album Symphonica, which was recorded after his recovered from pneumonia, reiterates his resilience as a consummate live entertainer

Three months later, he lay close to death in a Vienna hospital as he battled acute pneumonia. Despite fears that one of the best voices of his generation might never perform again, Michael made a slow recovery and eventually resumed his tour.
This in-concert album, recorded after his recuperation, reiterates his resilience as a consummate live entertainer.

Produced by George and Phil Ramone, the legendary American producer who passed away last year at 79, Symphonica is a far cry from the kind of fare served up in the Eighties by the singer and his former Wham! buddy Andrew Ridgeley.
Back then, the fresh-faced twosome played to packed houses of screaming teenage girls and sang hits such as I’m Your Man with shuttlecocks tucked strategically inside tight-fitting shorts.
As befits a man of 50, this record is more refined. With elegant strings and horns adding colour without being intrusive, it places the onus firmly on a smooth, expressive voice that is still in magnificent fettle.

Despite the bumpy ride behind Symphonica, this polished return is an overdue reminder of a great British voice that might even be getting better with age

If the falsetto edge of youth has gone, maturity has conferred a resonant quality that adds richness to numbers like You’ve Changed, a jazz ballad once  sung by Nat King Cole and  Billie Holiday.
Unlike the over-the-top warblers of the TV talent shows, Michael tackles numbers such as Ewan MacColl’s The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face with soulful understatement.
One of his vocal strengths has always been a sense of economy, and his less-is-more approach also adds intimacy to his own hits, including A Different Corner.
Among the many ballads, there are two upbeat interludes, both revolving around songs once associated with Nina Simone: My Baby Just Cares For Me is cool and nonchalant; Feeling Good is bold, brassy and delivered with real swagger.
The most interesting covers are the less obvious ones. A version of Rufus Wainwright’s Going To A Town respects the original’s artful melodic twists, while George excels on Terence Trent D’Arby’s Let Her Down Easy, a poignant song written by a concerned father about his teenage daughter’s coming of age.
Elsewhere, there are too many inclusions (six, including The Police’s Roxanne) from 1999’s Songs From The Last Century, and three puzzling omissions in New Order’s True Faith, Rihanna’s Russian Roulette and Amy Winehouse’s Love Is A Losing Game — all highlights of Michael’s live set, yet all absent here.
But, despite the bumpy ride behind Symphonica, this polished return is an overdue reminder of a great British voice that might even be getting better with age.

Frights and delights on Liverpool's big night: QUENTIN LETTS reviews Twelfth Night

Twelfth Night (Liverpool Everyman)

Rating:
Verdict: A welcome return
Liverpool's Everyman theatre has reopened after a refit costing £27 million and it looks terrific. North-West England’s greatest city again has a major, high-minded stage.
Artistic director Gemma Bodinetz’s Twelfth Night, which gets off to an innovative start, lasts almost three and a half hours. Thank goodness the new seats are comfortable. Several passages, not least the goofing between Sir Toby Belch (Matthew Kelly) and the lighter people, need to be slashed.
The staging is broad and light, the theatre’s old brickwork, pine floor and high ceiling calling to mind a grand barn for the scenes in Orsino’s and later Olivia’s houses. Potted orchids descend to add a bucolic touch.

Singing on the stage: Matthew Kelly as Sir Toby Belch, Paul Duckworth as jester Feste and Adam Keast as Sir Toby's drinking friend Sir Andrew Aguecheek

When we first see Viola (Jodie McNee) her teeth are chattering from the shipwreck. Good touch.

Miss McNee makes a reasonably convincing Teddy Boy as the disguised Cesario and she sings sweetly — there is much music in this Twelfth Night, as is only right. I could have done with a little more honey and softness, or maybe a little less feyness from her twin brother Sebastian (Luke Jerdy).
Orsino (Adam Levy), in a white suit possibly borrowed from the man from Del Monte, gives us an idea of romantic impatience. Sir Toby wears a corduroy suit and orange beret. His drinking friend Sir Andrew Aguecheek (Adam Keast), far from being the beanpole we are told to expect, is a shortie with horn curls.
This production has some fine points, among them Natalie Dew’s touching Olivia and a convincingly pathetic Malvolio (Nicholas Woodeson). He divides his line ‘I’ll be revenged — on the whole pack of you!’, reserving the second part until he reaches his exit via the auditorium. This is the moment of the night.
Mr Woodeson also wins a chuckle of recognition from the Merseyside audience when Malvolio is caught poshing up his Northern vowels.
Less successful, I fear, is the decision to turn the jester Feste (Paul Duckworth) into a Lily Savage figure with hairnet, lipstick and transvestite’s high heels. Was it done to assert the theatre’s regional identity? Bigger horizons, please.
Much as one warms to Mr Kelly as a national delight, his determination to pop his eyes and gas with laughter every moment of every scene becomes wearisome. The Sir Toby/Sir Andrew axis is usually better done. Pauline Daniels’s Maria nearly ruins the finale with ‘oops, naughty me’ grimaces as Malvolio’s downfall is explained.
If I sound pernickety it is because the Everyman, having returned to British cultural life in fine physical fettle, deserves to be judged seriously. Though this Twelfth Night is not perfect, it has enough flair to make a respectable curtain-raiser.

Suki Waterhouse Wears Bizarre Mismatched Ensemble as She Attends Fatal Attraction Press Night With her Suitcase in Tow

The dust has long settled since Suki Waterhouse attended the Academy Awards on the arm of current beau Bradley Cooper – and the wait for another romantic joint display appeared to continue on Tuesday evening as the willowy model stepped out in London’s West End with a group of pals.
Suki was making an appearance at the city's Theatre Royal Haymarket for the press night of Fatal Attraction – a theatrical rendering of the hit 1987 movie starring Michael Douglas and Glenn Close.
The 22-year-old was in high spirits as she made her way out of the venue with her suitcase in tow – but it was her mismatched ensemble, not the bizarre decision to enter a top London theatre with her luggage – that caught the eye.

Don't mind me: Suki Waterhouse has her luggage in tow as she leaves the Theatre Royal in Haymarket on Tuesday evening

Suki had opted for a black crop top that showed off a very slender torso, and she matched the revealing garment with a pair of maroon trousers.

Wearing no socks, the young model added to the look with a pair of Velcro fastened black trainers, while a blue leather trench rounded things off.
Joining her on the night were two female pals, and the trio idled on the pavement for a short while before clambering into the rear of a waiting cab.