5 MINUTES WITH… SUGGS!
Pop legend and long-time Italophile Suggs tells us about his new gig as a TV travel guide
BY GINNY CUMMING
Suggs in Italy? It’s Madness!Suggs’ Italian Job, a new eight-part series on Sky Arts, the lead singer of Madness takes a road-trip (in a Mini, of course!) to uncover the culture, heritage, landscape and cuisine of Italy. We talked to the singer about his big adventure…
Q When you were a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
A. I’ve always had a love for music, so I’m living the dream!
Q. What was your first job?
A. It was as a butcher’s assistant making sausages and scraping lard off metal trays.
Q. How old were you when you joined Madness?
A. I was 16, but we had a different name back then.
Q. What do you listen to at home?
A. Musicians that have influenced me like Prince Buster, the Coasters, Ian Drury and The Kinks… a bit of everything really.
Q. How many times do you reckon you’ve sung “Our House” in your life?
A. Goodness, so many times that I’ve lost count!
Q. Where’s the strangest place you’ve been recognised?
A. In Italy it was weird, I got recognised in random places like Piazza San Marco in Venice, having been anonymous for most of the trip.
Q. What led you to having a holiday home in Italy?
A. A very close friend of ours moved down to Puglia a while ago, so my wife and I have been visiting Italy on and off, which inspired us to buy a house out there.
Q. And now you’re heading up your own travel show – what’s the best part of this job?
A. I’ve just learnt so much and the great thing about doing Suggs’ Italian Job is that you get access to people who you wouldn’t usually meet in normal circumstances. It’s been fantastic and great that Sky Arts have got me involved.
Q. And the worst?
A. It’s been so fulfilling that I can’t really say that I’ve had any bad experiences… perhaps the busy schedule and lack of sleep!
Q. Where would you take your wife in Rome if you really wanted to impress her?
A. Rome is full of breathtaking sights, especially being surrounded by so many historical and cultural treasures; it’s pretty hard to pick one place. I’d probably take her to a lovely restaurant and go for a romantic walk.
Q. If you could do a Vespa tour of Rome with anyone in history, who would it be?
A. While filming Suggs’ Italian Job we met the granddaughter of Puccini, so it would probably be quite cool to see Rome through his eyes.
Q. Where’s your favourite place to wine and dine in Rome?
A. Rome, as with the rest of Italy, is overwhelming in terms of great food and wine. There’s a gem on every street, and it’s always good to go where the locals dine.
Q. In Milan, you visited the famous La Scala opera house – any fashion tips for a night at such a grand event in the fashion capital of Italy?
A. Italy is the home of high fashion, so I think I’d put on my Sunday best!
Q. While in Milan you also investigated Leonardo da Vinci’s painting, The Last Supper. What work of art would you most like to own?
A. Probably one of my wife’s or daughters’ pieces of art.
Q. Finally, what one song would feature on the soundtrack to your life?
A. Probably “It Must be Love”, as love is all-important!
MAKE A DATE
Look out for Suggs’ Italian Job this autumn on Sky Arts, channel 267.
GETTING THERE
Once you’ve been inspired by Suggs, book your own Italian job with bmibaby! Take off to Rome or Milan (Bergamo) from Birmingham and live la dolce vita. For more details, go to www.bmibaby.com
We love… URBAN BEACHES
Photography: CorbisWant a cultural city break and a chance to laze on the sand? These cities order in their own beaches for the summer months, so slap on some sunscreen and head downtown!
BY LYDIAN COPPUS
Paris: Paris Plage
Paris Plage is a sight in its own right. It’s not every day you see the chic city residents so scantily clad. Hit the boardwalk at night like the Parisians for a cheesy dance-off in one of the guinguettes – open-air dance halls marked by strings of coloured lights.
Location: On the banks of the Seine between the Louvre and Pont de Sully; www.paris.fr
Prague: 1. Prazska Plaz
“First Prague Beach” is usually packed with families, but at night young Czechs flock to this bit of sand on the banks of the Vltava river. Cheap, tax-free champagne and a crowd of sultry Slavic models might make you think
twice about booking a flight to Ibiza this year.
Location: On the west bank of the Vltava River, alongside the floating Botel Admiral; www.prazskaplaz.cz
Amsterdam: Strand Zuid
Get yourself on a boat and navigate the canals to Strand Zuid (South Beach). Here, brokers, footballers and aspiring WAGs work hard on their tans and resumés. For the all-Dutch experience, go for mayonnaise-topped chunky chips washed down with a local beer.
Location: hidden behind the exposition hall RAI, opposite the Beatrixpark; www.strand-zuid.nl
