A cremation caper: Stealing Dad, by Sofka Zinovieff, reviewed
When Alekos, a Greek sculptor, is struck down in 2018 by a heart attack and drowns in a London canal, he leaves behind not just a spiky widow, Heather, but seven children and five colourful ex-wives.
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Metro
3 hours ago
- Metro
Greek island dubbed ‘Mykonos of the Sporades' is a gem that's 26C in September
If you love Mykonos, but don't love crowds or extortionate prices, we've got just the dupe for you. Skiathos, a Greek island in the Sporades archipelago, has showstopper beaches, azure waters and nightlife that rivals its iconic Cyclades counterpart. Summer stretches well into September, with temperatures hovering between 21°C and 26°C. And, with easyJet flights from £66 one-way — Metro found a direct route on Thursday, September 18 from London Gatwick — getting there won't break the bank. If you can't make it this year, Jet2 is also launching a new route from London Luton in summer 2026. Fuel your wanderlust with our curated newsletter of travel deals, guides and inspiration. Sign up here. Skiathos's claim to fame is the 2008 Hollywood blockbuster, Mamma Mia! Part of the movie, inspired by the songs of ABBA, was filmed here. The rest was filmed on Skopelos, a craggy island an hour's ferry ride away. Metro's Sophie-May Williams spent a week exploring the island in July last year, and loved it for its exceptional natural beauty, friendly locals, and delicious food. You can read her guide to Skopelos here. But back to Skiathos. While Skopelos feels a bit like the land that time forgot, this island is fizzing with life. Pop culture lovers can immerse themselves in the world of film on the highly-rated Mammia Mia! tour. For £44, you can spend six hours visiting all the major filming locations. Skiathos also has stunning spots to sunbathe and swim. Lalaria is the perfect choice for a secluded experience. Located in the north of the island, expect crystal-clear waters, towering cliffs and white pebble beaches. Koukounaries in the southwest is popular for watersports. It boasts a long stretch of sandy beach, turquoise waters, and a pine forest backdrop. After a lively atmosphere? It's all about Banana Beach. Comprised of two beaches — Big Banana and Little Banana — these spots offer sunbeds, umbrellas, and beach bars. Word of warning: Little Banana is a nudist beach. Skiathos' beauty isn't confined to the coast. There are heaps of inland hiking trails that take you through verdant greenery and across streams. Koukounaries Beach Loop is one of the most popular, winding through wetlands, pine forests, and the Koukounaries Lagoon. The Olive Path is a longer, more challenging route. It starts in Skiathos Town, winds through olive groves and rural landscapes, and ends at Nikotsara beach on the northern shore. The capital 'city' (home to a permanent population of under 5,000) boasts shops, bars, and traditional tavernas on every corner. Spend an afternoon weaving through the maze of narrow streets, whitewashed houses and bougainvillea-draped balconies. You'll pass locals selling homemade crafts, from seaweed soap to geometric pottery. For a romantic sunset, head to the Bourtzi peninsula. It's a former Venetian fortress in the old port of Skiathos, connected to the main island by a small bridge. Finish the day with a short stroll back to the harbour for dinner and drinks, which in true Greek style, can last all night. Expect waiters to ply you with a complimentary shot of Raki — a strong aniseed aperitif — when paying the bill. During my trip to Skopelos last year, I spent a few days exploring Skiathos. The descent into the airport was one of the most breathtaking I've ever experienced: the cluster of Sporades islands broke up the cobalt waters, as boats bobbed up and down in the Aegean Sea. At one point, we were so close we could see people popping champagne on deck. The taxi from the airport to our accommodation — a rustic boutique hotel called BONSAI — took just eight minutes and cost €10 (£8.65). Rooms start from £50 per night. The hotel manager was always on hand to help: her recommendations of the best 'hidden gems' on the island led us to a tiny unnamed cove five minutes from our room. Complete with cerulean waters and golden sands, there wasn't another tourist in sight. It was a true local spot. From there, we strolled six minutes further inland and stumbled upon a classic Greek taverna called Marmita. Because the restaurant is away from the harbour, the experience felt a lot more authentic. Menus weren't littered with pictures, and the prices were a lot cheaper than the touristy joints. The lamb cooked in fennel leaves and served with potatoes and green vegetables was exquisite, and only cost €16.50 (£14.27). A glass of house red wine was €4 (£3.89). Skiathos enjoys over 300 days of sunshine each year, thanks to its trusty Mediterranean climate. This means summers are hot and dry, and winters are wet and mild. The summer months — June, July, and August — are the hottest, averaging between 27°C and 29°C. The shoulder seasons of May, June, and September, which command fewer crowds, peak around 23°C to 26°C. The best time to visit is early in the shoulder season, as during autumn and winter, the island winds down for the year. To backtrack, Mykonos introduced a 'sustainable tourism fee' for cruise passengers in July. More Trending Passengers disembarking are now required to pay a €20 (£17.29) high-season fee as part of Greece's initiative to manage tourism and its impact. While Skiathos has a high volume of tourists — approximately half a million each year — Mayor Thodoris Tzoumas has launched a sustainable tourism initiative to control the influx. During a recent visit to the island, he briefed Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis on the €25 million programme. It includes investments in infrastructure and the development of marine projects designed to improve visitor experience and support long-term growth. MORE: British tourist found dead in hotel pool after 'falling ill while swimming' MORE: I visited the 'world's most fun airport' that makes family holidays easy MORE: Urgent search for British tourist who disappeared from Greek beach
Daily Mirror
4 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
Peter Andre lands 'crime drama' role and puts on Greek accent after backlash
Peter Andre has opened up about an exciting new TV role in a Channel 5 'cozy crime drama' coming to Channel 5 next month - following a mixed reaction from his action comedy flick Jafaican Peter Andre has opened up this week about his exciting new TV drama role in what he describes as a 'cozy crime' drama, as he reveals its connection to his Greek Cypriot father. The 90s pop icon is set to star in a brand-new Channel 5 crime drama set in Athens - playing the part of a Greek pathologist. He explained: "I'm very excited that the cozy crime drama I filmed, Sunshine Murders, is coming to Channel 5 and Paramount+ next month. When I auditioned, it was only for one episode. "They asked me to do it in my normal accent, but I thought I'd also do it in a Greek accent - how my dad speaks, basically! - as I was playing George, a Greek pathologist in Athens." It comes after Katie Price worries fans with appearance in family photo after explaining weight loss. Opening up about the audition process, he added in his OK! column: "I was nervous as I hadn't heard anything for a while but when they got back to me, not only did they love the Greek accent, they then decided I'd become one of the key characters - now I'm in every episode! "It was great working with Stephanie Beecham and Nick Moran; they're great actors. It was a beautiful experience. Anyone watching that knows my dad will be like, 'Wow, Peter sounds just like him!'" It comes after the singing star, 52, came under fire in certain quarters for his recent film Jafaican, a British comedy-drama, where he plays Gazza, a small-time crook who must learn about Jamaican culture to pull off a con, undergoing a transformation complete with full dreadlocks to embody the role. The film, while many fans loved it, faced some backlash due to its portrayal of Jamaican culture and his character, something Peter said he was 'shocked' by - but he responded defiantly to the criticism, and said he is already working on a sequel. Speaking to This Morning hosts Alison Hammond and Dermot O'Leary, he confessed: "I think what I found strange is that we took a process of nearly three years from starting this to finishing, and we sat with legends like (Jamaican comedian and actor) Oliver Samuels, doing the read over, doing the script and actually filming it. "And when we went to Judgement Yard, which is where Sizzla Kalonji, reggae icon, lives, and we were invited in there to do this film. The whole process, if there was any point where any one of them said to us, this is not right, don't it..." The Mysterious Girl singer added: "That's why we were a bit shocked, because we had all the approval from everyone all the way along, and we laughed, and we did take after take, because we were all laughing when we were doing it." Speaking of his own heritage, Peter added: "I'm Greek. I've said this before, when I see films where they play the stereotypical Greek with the hairy chest and the medallion and the big nose, and they do the accent. "I find that hilarious. I find it offensive if someone's saying really horrible things about your culture. And so I was a little bit confused, but I understand."
Daily Mirror
a day ago
- Daily Mirror
Prince George's 'specific dietary request' sees Royal superyacht tender return to mainland
Young Prince George reportedly requested a 'specific dietary item' while sailing with his family between Greek islands Prince William and Kate Middleton's family holiday yachting in the idyllic Greek islands supposedly had an un-royal food request from Prince George. During the family's sailing holiday on a superyacht last month, the future king's eldest son reportedly had a specific dietary request from a particular restaurant on a Greek island. This very particular request was made as the royals left Kefalonia and were sailing south towards Zakynthos, before making a stop in the middle of the Ionian Sea. One of the tender boats was dispatched on a mission to pick up a meal possibly from a famous fast food restaurant for the young prince. It comes after Princess Charlotte sparks frenzy with behind-the-scenes photos from Lionesses' win. A member of the superyacht crew was reportedly dispatched out for a "specific dietary item" not available on the superyacht. A tight-lipped source revealed why one of the tender heads travelled back to the mainland, according to the MailOnline. They said: "George required a specific dietary item which led to the tender going ashore in Zakynthos to purchase it. Nothing extravagant, just something particular." This source did not reveal exactly what was picked up for the prince but Zakynthos is one of the few Greek islands to have a McDonald's on the mainland. The young royal could have ditched the luxury meals on the superyacht for a Big Mac or chicken nuggets and fries. While it is not clear what Prince George's specific request was, some of the royals have been known to enjoy some fast food favourites most people also dig into. Princess Diana was known to sometimes give Prince William and Prince Harry KFC and burgers when they were growing up. Some of Prince George's favourite meals have been revealed in the past, as celebrity chef Aldo Zilli let slip what the young royal's top dinner picks were after a chat with dad Prince William. Zilli shared: "[William's] amazing - I'm waiting for the call because apparently his little boy's favourite is spaghetti carbonara, so I'm waiting for the call to go and cook it for him." The chef added: "If George has my carbonara, he will never have another one, so I need to go and make it, let's get the ball rolling, send me to the palace to cook." It's not just spaghetti carbonara that tickles Prince George's taste buds, the Princess of Wales has said that he and Princess Charlotte enjoy making a 'cheesy pasta' together at home, reports the Express. In February 2019, Princess Kate, 42, visited a school in Enfield, north London, and spoke to Ivy Learning Trust's chief executive Matthew Kleiner-Mann. He said: "She was telling us how much her children love cooking and how they cook for her. "They made cheesy pasta the other day. One stirs the flour, one puts the milk and butter in. And they make salads and stuff."
