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Paul O'Grady's Great British Escape

What is the one thing that could make the gorgeous Kent terrain of beautiful beaches, sprawling countryside and stunning landmarks even better than we thought? It turns out, the missing ingredient was a personal tour by Paul O’Grady! TV presenter and proud man of Kent, O’Grady’s new TV series, Paul O’Grady’s Great British Escapes, sees him give a personal tour around all corners of Kent, showing off our luscious landscapes, learning about Kent’s history and discovering some hidden gems along the way. While lockdown keeps us close to our homes, it's time to live vicariously and smell the hops, breathe in that fresh sea air and start planning our Kentish escapes for 2021. We'll be watching along at 8pm every Wednesday on ITV, and making sure we’ve got all the details right here…

© Ogla TV

Episode one

Episode one sees O'Grady brave a flight in an original 1930’s Tiger Moth to marvel at the world-famous White Cliffs of Dover and considers their symbolism of home and hope for troops returning from the war. Though we’d love to be seeing them from a bird’s eye view, we’ve got a few spots where you can get a spectacular view of the amazing landmark on firm ground!

At Castle Farm, Paul uncovers the true meaning of The Garden of England, learning about the history of Hoppers and the fascinating way they're grown and cut to provide the essential ingredient for our delicious Kentish beer. After exploring Kent’s outstanding falconry scene, O’Grady heads to the magnificent Hever Castle to explore the childhood home of Anne Boleyn. After uncovering some lesser known history about Henry VIII's wife who met a sticky end, Paul explores the glorious gardens and traditional Castle maze.

Catch up on the first episode right here

  • Episode one Toggle accordion content

    The hotspots from episode one, and some more places to visit on your journey...

© Ogla TV

Episode two

Exploring his neck of the woods, Paul heads off on the great Romney, Hythe and Dymchurch Railway, the delightful miniature steam train that allows you to marvel at the glorious Kent coastline as you travel west from charming Hythe. Stopping at the RSPB nature reserve, Paul had the joy of scouting out leeches in the fresh water pools. We think we’d stick to admiring the many wildflowers and birds in this special spot!

Heading back out to the beach, Paul discovers the traditional Kentish job of ‘shrimping’, and we get to admire the unrivalled views of this barren but beautiful beach. Can you see why Paul calls Dungeness his 'favourite place on Earth'? We certainly can!

Finally, heading back inland to Romney Marshes, Paul gets acquainted with some unlikely furry friends at Annie’s Alpacas. If the thought of Alpaca Yoga doesn’t make you feel all that zen, you can always meet and greet the alpacas, and embark on an Alpaca trek around the marches for a much more tranquil way to meet these lovely animals.

Missed it? Catch up on the ITV hub right here

© Ogla TV

Episode three

Episode three kicks off with O’Grady taking on the waves of the English Channel in a speed boat, setting off from Dover Harbour to glimpse the iconic White Cliffs once again. He uncovers wartime tunnels and long-lost shipwrecks, and some more animal friends along the way – and we wouldn’t expect anything less from the famous animal-lover!

Paul heads inland to charming Broadstairs and discovers its past as Charles Dickens’ favourite holiday spot. We’re quite proud of our many Dickens connections, and with it being 150 years since Dickens' death this year, there’s plenty of ways to explore his history in Kent. 

Over to picturesque Whitstable, Paul braves monsoon conditions to try the famous Whitstable Oysters, and meets the West family who have been sorting, selling and shucking oysters for generations. Finally O’Grady returns to the White Cliffs for a meeting with professional forager Lucia of Wild Kitchen, and they discover the best bits to sample from the cliff edge and rockpools.

All episodes are available for catch up right here

© Ogla TV

Episode 4

Paul finally ticks off a major spot on his Kent bucket list, the UNESCO World Heritage site of Canterbury Cathedral, the magnificent cathedral and site of the infamous Thomas Becket murder! If you’re making your own pilgrimage to the Mother Church of the Anglican world, make sure to check out some of the best independent shops and cafes nestled in the medieval Cathedral Quarter.

In the close village of Pett Bottom, Paul enjoys a tipple at one of Ian Fleming's favourite watering holes, Duck Inn. Just as we’re proud of our Dickensian history, we’re proud of our Bond heritage too, and a 007 expert gives us the low down on why the author loved Kent so much...

We’re back on a steam train, as Paul hops a ride on the Kent and East Sussex heritage railway, running through 10 miles of gorgeous West Kent countryside, and we get a glimpse of charming town of Tenterden.

Finally, it wouldn’t be a #pogescape without some furry friends, and the Big Cat Sanctuary is a special gem nestled in the Kent countryside. The conservation centre is home to 46 of the world’s most endangered felines, and if you know a fellow animal lover in your life, their visitor days are not to be missed.

Catch up on it all right here...

© Ogla TV

Episode 5 

Paul's exploring the wonderful forests of Kent this week, and he's starting at Wildwood Trust, the wildlife conservation centre fighting to protect some of the UK’s most endangered animals. Though we wouldn’t ever want a water vole anywhere near our shoes (!), this hidden gem is a must visit for a fun, family friendly and informative day out.

Back in the spirit of the ‘Garden of England’, Paul escapes to Kentish Pip, a 100 year old cider apple orchard and learns the art of ‘panking’. We’re proud of the wonderful produce our Kent terrain yields, and there's so much to explore - from ciders and breweries to the delectable wines of the Wine Garden of England.

Heading deep in to the weald of Kent, Paul meets the magnificent shire horses and discovers all about ‘horse coppicing’. He also discovers a little known Kent secret – the thousands of bees that live in our sprawling woodlands! If you too want to experience the delicious sweetness of fresh Kentish honey, a trip to one of Kent’s local food shops like Macknade Fine Foods and Perry Court Farm is waiting for you...

Missed Epsiode 5? ITV player has you covered...

Episode 6

Paul kicks off the grand finale by heading out the extraordinary Red Sand Sea Forts, also known as the Maunsell Forts. Built 13 miles out to sea in the Thames Estuary, these eerie WWII anti-aircraft towers are an incredible relic of WWII and are now a very special site for all budding photographers to visit. Sticking by the sea, Paul heads out the beautiful Botany Bay, one of our favourite places for a seaside walk!

Of course, it wouldn’t be a Kent tour without a trip to the magnificent Dover Castle! The famous landmark that towers over the town has endured 900 years of history, from a traditional medieval castle to an essential clog in WWII Victory as the birth place of Operation Dynamo. Whether you’re there for the panoramic views from the tower or to immerse yourself in 1945 in the WWII tunnels, this is a family friendly day out you don’t want to miss.

Finally, ending on a high, Paul makes his way to Port Lympne Hotel & Reserve, one of the UK’s leading wildlife conservation centres. From day trips to see the giraffes to once-in-a-lifetime luxury stays next to the tigers and bears, this special place is absolutely worth adding to your Kent 2021 bucket list.

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