‘I love island life'

Ben Fogle on why the Western Isles of Scotland hold a special place in his heart…

- IAN MACEWAN

SCOTLAND’S SACRED ISLANDS WITH BEN FOGLE

NEW SUN / BBC1 / 11.30AM / EP 1 of 4 / TRAVELOGUE

Ben Fogle became a household name when he appeared on the groundbreaking reality show Castaway 2000, which followed 36 people for a year as they built a community on the remote Scottish island of Taransay.

The presenter has had a passion for islands ever since, and now he’s embarking on a personal pilgrimage around some of Scotland’s spectacular isles, including Taransay, in a new BBC1 travelogue (which debuts on BBC Scotland on Tue 5 Oct at 8 pm).

TV Times caught up with Ben, 47, to find out more…

Why did you want to make Scotland’s Sacred Islands?

I have my own personal history and connection with the Western Isles, from visiting Eigg when I was seven, right up to going to Taransay for Castaway. I wanted to understand more about them and how they vary.

Did Taransay start your love affair with the islands and with Scotland?

That year changed everything, and I fell in love with island life.

My late grandfather grew up in Scotland, and I have lots of families there, so I’ve always had a connection.