Celebrity traveller: John Challis talks best and worst holidays

ACTOR and novelist JOHN CHALLIS, 72, best known for his role as Boycie in BBC sitcom Only Fools And Horses, lives in Herefordshire with his wife Carol.

John Challis is best known for his role as Boycie in BBC sitcom Only Fools And HorsesNC

John Challis is best known for his role as Boycie in BBC sitcom Only Fools And Horses

MOST MEMORABLE HOLIDAY?

Last year we went on a P&O cruise. We flew to the Caribbean island of St Lucia, then sailed to Curaçao off Venezuela - so colourful and jolly with musicians on the streets.

We went through the Panama Canal, something I'd wanted to do since I saw pictures as a child. We spent time in San Francisco and Honolulu and hung out on Oahu's Sunset Beach eating fish and watching surfers. It was wonderful.

AND YOUR WORST?

A visit to Morocco. It's an extraordinary country with its atmospheric souks but we found it very difficult to do anything because we got pestered so much.

I had a blonde girlfriend at the time and they kept touching her hair. We just couldn't relax and it soured the whole holiday.

ESSENTIAL GADGET?

A portable CD player. I like a soundtrack to my holiday. I always take Bill Wyman's Rhythm Kings - music which makes me feel happy.

Last year we went on a P&O cruise. We flew to the Caribbean island of St Lucia, then sailed to Curaçao off Venezuela - so colourful and jolly with musicians on the streets

John Challis

BEST HOLIDAY READ?

Crime thrillers. A bit of action and adventure is always needed for your inner James Bond.

John Grisham and Lee Child are great storytellers. Grisham's Calico Joe, a great story of redemption about a former baseball star, is one of my favourites. I'm a big baseball fan.

HOW DO YOU SPEND YOUR TIME?

Half lazing about chilling out and the other half tramping around exploring.

I'm not very good at sitting for hours on end on the beach.

WHERE WOULD YOU REVISIT?

Italy. I'm a gardener and love their designs. The place which inspired me most was Siena, where they run the Palio horse race - something I'd love to see.

We were there out of season, but sat in overcoats for a wonderful al fresco lunch in the square.

WHERE NEXT?

I'm a founder member of the charity Tusk Trust which is connected with Lewa Wildlife Conservancy in Kenya.

I'd love to go see the work being done and lend a hand. There's terrible poaching going on for rhino horn and elephant tusks.

John Challis is touring in his one-man show Only Fools and Boycie and appears tonight at the Waterside Theatre, Aylesbury.

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