Selina would like to go back to India
TV presenter Selina Scott has revealed how the stars of The Real Marigold Hotel threw themselves into a celebration and all hired glittery costumes.
The 66-year-old described the experience as the most memorable moment of her time on the BBC1 hit, which sees nine famous faces - Selina, ex EastEnders star Peter Dean, comedian Syd Little, actress Stephanie Beacham, jockey Bob Champion, writer Stanley Johnson, actress Susan George and Krankies double act, Janette and Ian Tough - spend a month in the city of Udaipur.
Talking about the Navratri Festival in Ahmedabad, Selina said: “…once a year, girls and boys get together to celebrate the female goddess with frantic dancing and full-on passion. We all got hired glittery, colourful costumes and joined in.”
Selina, who helped launch breakfast television, added that the experience of going to India was life affirming. “Despite poverty, India is life affirming in a myriad of ways. India is an assault on the sense. The colour, the noise, the bartering, the traffic and the animals in the street.”
She continued that she’d like to return one day and fondly recounted an adventure she had on the trip.
“Horse riding through the lush Rajasthan countryside after the monsoon, where once tigers roamed wild, with Susan and Bob on Marwari horses.
“We were able to look into the back yards of the little houses in the villages. There were pigs, chickens, mules and ancient farm equipment, almost medieval! We stopped off at a cafe for Chai and all life were there - old men and young school children. No segregation of the generations, families that look after their own.”
The Real Marigold Hotel continues on BBC1.
