Given that Channel 4's hugely popular property show A Place In the Sun has been running for 25 years it is not surprising that I have crossed paths with the presenters in my work as a showbiz journalist. The only one of the current line up I haven't chatted to is Leah Charles-King (although I'm sure that will be rectified soon). Interviewing TV stars is part of the job and when people find out what I do, the first question I am generally asked is what certain celebrities are like. My inquisitors are usually disappointed to learn that on they whole people on TV are generally very nice - after all, they are usually selling their show when they talk to me. 

The A Place In the Sun presenters are no exception but what makes them all stand out is that they are always happy to chat for ages about anything and don't have agents and PRs sitting in on the call. This is unlike many other celebrities who have a rep lurking in the background who will shut you down mid question when your time is up. The APITS crew could talk for hours and are one of the most interesting ensembles on TV.

As someone who usually has tight deadlines another thing that really makes them stand out for me is that they will go out of their way to talk. Lucy Alexander, who only joined the show in 2023, has taken time out of a holiday to answer questions for me and couldn't have been lovelier.

I've spoken to others while they were travelling, doing housework or just about to start filming. If there is a deadline they are happy to work around it even if it means inconveniencing themselves somewhat. This is an extremely rare trait in celebrities.

They also really know their stuff. It may come as a surprise to learn that some presenters of specialist shows know absolutely nothing about the topic (but that is a whole other feature). Not so the APITS presenters who all had to prove their property know how in their casting.

It is a joy to talk to Laura Hamilton or Sara Damergi who always have some interesting property projects on the go and they discuss them so passionately. Ben Hillman's knowledge of design is truly astonishing and I always get some inspo from chatting to him. Lee Juggurnauth has had a hugely interesting career before he ever appeared on TV (and is BFF's with Lulu no less) and alongside his property knowledge is all about "bougie on a budget". There is far more to him than you ever see on screen and it makes for a really interesting interview.

Meanwhile Jasmine Harman has famously undertaken a huge renovation of a Spanish villa after relocating her family to sunnier climes in recent times. Yet in the midst of the chaos surrounding a project like this she still found time to talk on several occasions and was happy to share what she had learned about the process with others. She is always incredibly generous with her time and exudes the same warmth in real life as she does on the telly.

Ditto Jean Johannson who is wonderfully chatty and always seems to have so much going on in her life, which really is as glamorous as it appears. She absolutely loves her work and I honestly don't know how she manages to juggle everything. She is one of the nicest people in showbusiness.

As for Craig Rowe he is simply delightful. Talking to him is more like talking to a mate. He always makes sure to take time to catch  up on what I've been up to and just exudes excitement and enthusiasm. Alongside his work on the show he has also managed to reverse a pre-diabetes diagnosis thanks to healthy living and he is wonderful and generous in sharing tips and advice on that, alongside talking about the show.

Suffice to say some of the casts of many other shows could learn a lot from the APITS crew. They are no less busy than other people on TV but they manage to make time for media without making a big deal about it. They don't need the show's lovely PR hovering in the background and they make interviews enjoyable. It is rare to get such a nice bunch of people working together but APITS have managed it.