News

• Live show about some of Britains best-loved soaps
• Create a new radio soap opera with the stars
• On-board lectures for music lovers
• Enjoy world-class concerts in St Petersburg
• 15 nights from £2,299

Love the soaps? Some of Britain’s best-known TV stars will be starring in Soap at Sea, a live show about their collective experiences of soap operas, on Saga Sapphire’s all-inclusive Sounds of the Baltic cruise this spring.

Soap at Sea is the brainchild of actress Debbie Arnold, who has appeared in Coronation Street, Emmerdale, EastEnders and Hollyoaks and the line-up includes Brian Capron, best known for playing Richard Hillman in Coronation Street;
Diane Keen, whose television credits include The Ruth Rendell Mysteries and Brookside; Gabrielle Glaister, who alongside Steven Pinder played the ‘Yuppies’ Patricia and Max Farnham in Brookside, Steven Pinder, whose recent television appearances have been in True Crime, Holby City and Casualty and Michael McKell who has starred in A Touch Of Frost, Kavanagh QC and Doctors.

For added fun, the stars will also work alongside guests and award-winning writer Tony McHale to create a radio soap opera.

Further entertainment during the voyage includes a pianist performing Swedish pieces in Visby, a Russian folk performance and on-board music lectures.

Whilst in Visby attend a private concert from the enthusiastic Visby Volkalensamble; a choir with approximately 25 singers who will entertain guests with traditional local songs.

During an overnight stay in St Petersburg guests can buy a ticket for a private concert in the magical Winter Palace and go backstage at the world-famous Mariinsky Theatre.

Further ports of call include the historic Latvian capital, Riga, famous for its collection of art nouveau buildings; the Finnish island city of Kotka, from where the Vikings once sailed; the Estonian capital, Tallinn, to walk the medieval Old Town’s city walls; the Swedish capital of Stockholm and an overnight stay in the German town of Kiel for a stroll along the magnificent Kiellenie promenade before cruising the following day into the North Sea via the 98-kilometre Kiel Canal.

For details visit saga.co.uk/ocean-cruises or call 0800 50 50 30.

15 nights from £2,299 per person departing Dover on April 28, 2019. Price includes UK travel package to and from Dover, all meals and entertainment, all-inclusive drinks (a choice of table wines at lunch and dinner, house-branded spirits and soft drinks, afternoon tea, 24-hour room service, welcome cocktail party and unlimited tea and coffee in selected venues), free wifi, all on-board gratuities, porterage, free shuttle bus to nearest town centre (whenever possible and when the ship is berthed more than 500 yards away), optional travel insurance and additional cancellation rights, or a discount of £66 if passenger has own insurance.

Price based on two people sharing an Inside Guarantee cabin where guests receive their cabin number shortly before sailing (or at embarkation) and not at the time of booking. Your cabin may be located anywhere on the ship and twin cabins may have two single beds or one double bed. Further terms and conditions apply. Please call for further details. Fare was correct at the time of going to print and is subject to availability and change.

All excursions mentioned are optional, at an additional cost, and are subject to availability and change. Some of the highlights detailed may only be seen on optional excursions or by exploring independently.

Editors:

More about the actors:

Debbie Arnold

Soap at Sea’ is the brainchild of actress Debbie Arnold, who has appeared as a regular character in every major TV soap (Coronation Street, Emmerdale, EastEnders, Hollyoaks) and has even featured in two soaps at the same time.

Debbie said: “Over the years literally millions of fans have tuned in to watch their favourite characters and engage with their lives.  ‘Soap at Sea’ is an opportunity to arrive as a fan and leave as a friend.”

Diane Keen
Diane Keen has been one of Britain’s best-loved actresses for many years, starring in television comedy shows Rings on Their Fingers, You must be the Husband, The Cuckoo Waltz, Foxy Lady and Brighton Belles.

Her television credits include The Ruth Rendell Mysteries, Brookside and Doctors. She has also featured in Minder, Boon, Taggart, The Professionals, A Touch of Frost and New Tricks, as well as The Two Ronnies and the Morecambe and Wise show.
Diane has also enjoyed a rewarding career in film and theatre including Here we go Round The Mulberry Bush, the Oscar-winning Nowhere in Africa, and BEAUTIFUL: The Carole King Musical in London’s West End.

Brian Capron

Brian is probably best known for playing Richard Hillman in Coronation Street, for which he won a clutch of awards including a record-breaking five at The Soap Awards for Best Actor and Best Villain. He played Mr Hopwood in Grange Hill and more recently as Ozias Harding in Where The Heart Is. Brian trained at LAMDA and has also starred in the West End, nationally and on tour. His voice can also be heard regularly on the radio while his film roles include Emma, Still Crazy, 101 Dalmations and Ambleton Delight.

Steven Pinder

Steven is noted for playing the character Max Farnham in the soap Brookside and recent television appearances have been in True Crime, Holby City and Casualty. Other roles include Eddie Palmer in Hotel Babylon, the prosecuting lawyer in the case against Steph Stokes in Emmerdale and Stephen Baker in The Bill.

Steven was seen on Celebrity Mastermind where he pitted his wits and won against Sir Ranulph Fiennes, Clare Balding and Rageh Omar. He has also recently filmed Celebrity Masterchef and Premier League All Stars.

Gabrielle Glaister

Gabrielle has enjoyed a long and varied career on stage and screen. She is perhaps best known for her role in Brookside, where she and Steven Pinder created the iconic couple Max and Patricia Farnham. In Coronation Street she exploded onto the Street as Debs Brownlow, the wayward sister of Natalie Barnes and in Channel 5’s Family Affairs she played Trish Wallis.

Gabrielle played Bob in the classic British TV comedy series Blackadder. Her more recent television work includes roles in Sherlock, Unforgotten, Midsomer Murders, and ITV’s Cleaning Up.

Michael McKell

Michael started his professional career as a singer-songwriter but his music career was cut short by a serious car crash in 1991. Unable to walk for two years, Michael enrolled in The Lee Strasberg Institute and trained as an actor and made his West End debut in Blood Brothers, before taking the lead role in Macbeth at the Lyric, Hammersmith.

Michael made his first TV appearance in Madson with Ian McShane. He has starred in A Touch Of Frost, Kavanagh QC and Doctors. He has also appeared in Emmerdale, as DCI Nick Henshall and EastEnders as Carter, the killer of Paul Truman. Michael has appeared in, co-written and produced more than 30 films, working with Sean Bean, Brad Pitt and Christopher Eccleston.