When the producers of Sandi Toksvig’s Great Riviera Rail Trip contacted me to be Sandi’s guide in Nice I didn’t know what to expect. My TV experience is limited (non-existent) and I wanted to do justice to Nice’s extraordinary history and culture. Plus, there’s so much to talk about, how would we narrow it down?
The latter question involved considerable preparation. Ultimately we decided to focus on the British contribution to Nice’s development. After all, the four part series was made for a British audience watching the series on Channel 4.
As astute readers of my book, Nice Uncovered: Walks Through the Secret Heart of a Historic City, already know, the British kick-started tourism on the Cote d’Azur and built the iconic Promenade des Anglais. Also, Queen Victoria fell in love with Nice, wintering in Cimiez every year between 1895 and 1899. Her impact on Nice’s international prestige was profound.
In episode 3 of the series which takes place in Nice (airing December 13) Sandi and I talk a lot about both the Promenade des Anglais and Queen Victoria’s presence in the Hotel Regina Excelsior. The problem is that the massive and ornate Hotel Regina Excelsior is now a private residence and very much closed to the public. Viewers will be treated to a rare glimpse of the interior along with Sandi in this episode. A short clip is included in the trailer here:
There’s so much more in the clip and in the series. Sandi brings immense wit and curiosity to her exploration of the French Riviera. And she was as delightful to work with as she is on screen!
- Airs December 13 8pm Channel 4
