 |
 |
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
 |
| Keep up to date with the latest news on the show and follow Varun on his adventures. |
 |
||
| Keep up to date with the latest news on the show and follow Varun on his adventures via his blogger and twitter feeds. |  |
 |
 |
 |
Varun is Mr. Luxury Travel. What this man doesn't know about private jets, personal butler service and the best of the best isn't worth knowing.
He caught the travel bug from his parents. Every summer while growing up, they used to pack up an estate car and drive round Europe taking in the sights, sounds, smells and hotels.
Varun's journalistic flair and magnetic personality were spotted early on by the BBC, when he was selected from several thousand media hopefuls to join the BBC National News Scheme working on BBC television's Business Breakfast, Working Lunch, World Business, Newsround and Political Units.
After editing a luxury lifestyle magazine for the spa brand Ligne St. Barth - he presented the new television travel series Inside Luxury Travel which was launched in 2006. It now airs in over 160 countries and into over 390 million homes!
Happiness for Varun, is a hip-flask of single malt and a fine cigar on a golf course, accompanied by his pooch Gemima.
He caught the travel bug from his parents. Every summer while growing up, they used to pack up an estate car and drive round Europe taking in the sights, sounds, smells and hotels.Varun's journalistic flair and magnetic personality were spotted early on by the BBC, when he was selected from several thousand media hopefuls to join the BBC National News Scheme working on BBC television's Business Breakfast, Working Lunch, World Business, Newsround and Political Units.
After editing a luxury lifestyle magazine for the spa brand Ligne St. Barth - he presented the new television travel series Inside Luxury Travel which was launched in 2006. It now airs in over 160 countries and into over 390 million homes!
Happiness for Varun, is a hip-flask of single malt and a fine cigar on a golf course, accompanied by his pooch Gemima.
You can read the blog from Varun's previous series by clicking here  |
How did you get into journalism?
Completely by accident! It was because of a girl...the prettiest girl on campus...who happened to be editor of the university student newspaper. I wanted a date so she set me a challenge - if I got an interview with David Bowie, she would let me take her out to dinner. Bowie was playing in Manchester with his punk band Tin Machine and I begged and got the interview. The rest, as Miss Piggy would say, is "l'histoire".
Early years?
I was lucky enough to get on the BBC's News Trainee Scheme, and while my colleagues went off to high-brow programmes like Newsnight and Today on Radio 4, I got seconded to Newsround and Newsbeat. It was the best fun of my life...interviewing pop and film stars, very late nights and having a wild time.
How did you get into travel?
As a child, I was very lucky that every year we took a major eight week trip somewhere, usually Europe. I still get a thrill just getting on a plane or taking a road-trip...it's in my blood!
The new series?
We have tried something different...not only a travelogue series (Inside Luxury Travel with Varun Sharma) but an in-depth look at my favourite hotels/resorts in a separate series too (The Finest Collection). We had great fun in Europe, Asia and the USA. I think we are very lucky that the core team is very down to earth and focussed on creating entertaining television. Helen (producer "boss") demands, Tim (cameraman) and Alex (assistant) film, and I write the scripts...collectively...we create!
How do you choose the hotels/resorts?
We feature 65 luxury properties in the series. I do not use the word "luxury" lightly. The hotels and resorts certainly have the official "5-star" status...but they all excel in the service they provide. In the travel industry, service is King and the properties featured are the best in the business. Even "The Club in Beverly Hills" - which is specifically for dogs - has its own chef, masseurs and spa!
You like animals!
Oh yes! I have a dog, 2 kittens and 2 fish at home so when I travel, I always like do an animal feature. In this season I play with dolphins, seals, penguins, kangaroos, orangutans and a cassowary, which I didn't play with, but was extremely frightened by!
Notable other features?
Sky-diving, car racing, golf at St. Andrews, aerobatics, flying-lesson...and of course making chocolate. Yum.
Finally, you seem to love cooking...
I love eating, but even making toast is a feat! I am lucky in that I have cooked with quite a few "Michelin stars" this year...and although I have tried my hand at some of the recipes at home, I can honestly say that I haven't a culinary clue!
Completely by accident! It was because of a girl...the prettiest girl on campus...who happened to be editor of the university student newspaper. I wanted a date so she set me a challenge - if I got an interview with David Bowie, she would let me take her out to dinner. Bowie was playing in Manchester with his punk band Tin Machine and I begged and got the interview. The rest, as Miss Piggy would say, is "l'histoire".
Early years?
I was lucky enough to get on the BBC's News Trainee Scheme, and while my colleagues went off to high-brow programmes like Newsnight and Today on Radio 4, I got seconded to Newsround and Newsbeat. It was the best fun of my life...interviewing pop and film stars, very late nights and having a wild time.
How did you get into travel?
As a child, I was very lucky that every year we took a major eight week trip somewhere, usually Europe. I still get a thrill just getting on a plane or taking a road-trip...it's in my blood!
The new series?
We have tried something different...not only a travelogue series (Inside Luxury Travel with Varun Sharma) but an in-depth look at my favourite hotels/resorts in a separate series too (The Finest Collection). We had great fun in Europe, Asia and the USA. I think we are very lucky that the core team is very down to earth and focussed on creating entertaining television. Helen (producer "boss") demands, Tim (cameraman) and Alex (assistant) film, and I write the scripts...collectively...we create!
How do you choose the hotels/resorts?
We feature 65 luxury properties in the series. I do not use the word "luxury" lightly. The hotels and resorts certainly have the official "5-star" status...but they all excel in the service they provide. In the travel industry, service is King and the properties featured are the best in the business. Even "The Club in Beverly Hills" - which is specifically for dogs - has its own chef, masseurs and spa!
You like animals!
Oh yes! I have a dog, 2 kittens and 2 fish at home so when I travel, I always like do an animal feature. In this season I play with dolphins, seals, penguins, kangaroos, orangutans and a cassowary, which I didn't play with, but was extremely frightened by!
Notable other features?
Sky-diving, car racing, golf at St. Andrews, aerobatics, flying-lesson...and of course making chocolate. Yum.
Finally, you seem to love cooking...
I love eating, but even making toast is a feat! I am lucky in that I have cooked with quite a few "Michelin stars" this year...and although I have tried my hand at some of the recipes at home, I can honestly say that I haven't a culinary clue!
