P&O Cruises’ first 2023 themed cruise revealed – sail with these 3 TV stars

P&O Cruises’ themed cruise holidays see jetsetters meet and greet some of the UK’s most loved celebrities while travelling around Europe.

Following on from the line’s sports themed cruise announcement, the latest cruise to be unveiled by the British brand is P&O Cruises Presents: TV Talent which will see three popular telly personalities take to the high seas onboard cruise ship Ventura.

Passengers sailing to Spain and Portugal with P&O Cruises on May 20-27 this year – available to book via cruise agent Bolsover Cruise Club – will travel alongside three celebs, Jay Blades, Helen Skelton and Ross Kemp.

Here’s what you need to know about the stars and what you can expect from this fabulous P&O Cruises themed cruise to western Europe.

This voyage – the first of P&O Cruises’ themed cruises for 2023 – will set sail from Southampton and first call at the Spanish city of Vigo in Galicia, home to ancient Roman ruins, a huge fishing port, urban beaches and neoclassical churches.

Next up is Portugal with stops at the capital of Lisbon – don’t forget to try some delicious pasteis de nata (custard tarts) – and Porto (from Leixoes) where you’ll find a landmark bridge, extravagant baroque churches, Medieval walls and delicious port.

Ventura (below, right) will then call at St Peter Port, Guernsey (think cobbled streets, an 800-year-old castle and the erstwhile home of French author Victor Hugo) before returning to Southampton.

Interested? Let’s take a peek at the three celebrities joining this exciting itinerary, shall we?

Jay Blades

Jay Blades is the nation’s favourite furniture upcycler who inspires individuals, companies and charities to transform old furniture into works of contemporary design.

Since 2017, Jay (above, left) has hosted BBC1’s heartwarming primetime show The Repair Shop, running for seven series. It follows a workshop filled with expert craftspeople bringing treasured pieces of family history and the memories they hold back to life. In 2021, Jay starred in BBC2’s Jay’s Yorkshire Workshop.

Jay opened the doors to his brand new workshop in Bradford, where members of the public would nominate local heroes from across Yorkshire to receive a handmade, bespoke piece of furniture to acknowledge the work they do for their community.

Helen Skelton

Helen Skelton (above, right) first hit our screens as a reporter and occasional presenter on the popular Newsround and Sportsround.

Her long-standing role on Blue Peter saw her take on incredible challenges, completing the Namibia Ultra Marathon (only the second woman ever to do so), kayaking over 2,018 miles down the Amazon River (breaking two Guinness World Records) and in 2012, travelling 500 miles across Antarctica to the South Pole, becoming the fastest person to travel 100km by ski.

Helen worked on the Summer Olympics in London 2012 and Rio 2016 as well as presenting the World Swimming Championships. She has been part of the Countryfile presenting team since 2012, and most recently danced her way to the final of BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing 2022.

Ross Kemp

Ross Kemp (above, left) is a BAFTA award-winning documentary maker, actor, and author, who rose to prominence portraying Grant Mitchell in the BBC1 soap Eastenders.

Since 2006 he has received international recognition for his award-winning, exciting and hard-hitting documentaries, including Ross Kemp: Extreme World, Ross Kemp in Afghanistan and Ross Kemp on Gangs.