Checking in... Susan Calman

Comedian

FIRST HOLIDAY MEMORY?

BEING really sick. I suffered tremendously from migraines as a child. I recall being ill at the Eiffel Tower — France was the focus of most of our holidays in the late 1970s. My dad used to drive a camper van with five of us to campsites in northern France.

WEEKEND TRIP?

THE LAST one I took was to Gleneagles, with my wife and two friends. It may seem strange that, living in Scotland, I’d never been, but I work away from home so often that when I get home, I want to stay in.

ARE YOU A GOOD FLYER?

I’M TERRIFIED of flying. When I was a solicitor, I worked in London and the more I flew, the more I worried. On one flight the plane was hit by lightning. I resolved at that point never to fly again. And I didn’t. My wife and I went on our honeymoon on the Orient Express to Venice rather than fly.

FAVOURITE PART OF SCOTLAND?

THE Isle of Arran. We went there every summer for more than ten years and it’s one of the most beautiful places.

CAN’T TRAVEL WITHOUT?

PODCASTS. It’s not extreme to say they save my sanity. I listen to podcasts about anything all the time and I love them.

HOLIDAY FROM HELL?

I’M SO organised that I’ve never (luckily) had a really bad experience. I have spent many an hour at Carlisle Station when the West Coast Main Line has broken but I always manage to get home eventually.

BEST MEMORY FROM YOUR NEW TV SERIES?

HELEN MIRREN (the camper van) was a personality of her own. She had no power steering and interesting suspension. My core got an incredible workout. I’d never been to Cornwall or Devon before so I loved every moment.

■ SUSAN Calman’S Grand Day Out In The lakes airs on Friday, January 15 at 8pm on Channel 5. The series will be available on catch-up on my5.