Handsome watersports instructors, A-list anecdotes, and Alan Carr in his underwear – Zoe Ball saw it all while filming ITV’s Mamma Mia! I Have a Dream on the Greek island of Corfu. Here, the host of the all-singing, all-dancing Abba-themed competition shares her secrets from the trip.
The young performers vying for a place in the Mamma Mia! cast were working pretty hard out in Corfu. But, as presenter, you were pretty much just on holiday, right?
No, I was “getting myself into the mood of the show”, which is – of course – essential. But yes, it really was a treat to be on such a beautiful island. When I wasn’t filming, I hired a Cinquecento and went driving round to all these lovely little bays and beaches, and to the White House, made famous by Gerald Durrell. It’s a really good restaurant now On other days, we’d all go out together – crew, make-up guys, everyone – on boat trips, because that’s really the best way to see Corfu, and you can hire a boat easily.
It sounds like you know the island pretty well.
I first went to Corfu with my dad and brothers and stepmum, many moons ago. It’s sort of family folklore because loads of things happened on that holiday. My stepmum and I were flashed by a man in the bushes; we hired a car where the seats weren’t actually attached to the chassis; and then we were in a horse and cart when a wheel fell off – so the wheels literally came off our holiday.
What are your favourite spots for a more peaceful Corfu holiday?
Kassiopi and that north-western corner are stunning. There are all these gorgeous little bays, as well as some really lovely boutique hotels. There’s also Old Perithia, a beautiful ruined village up in the hills. I was really proud of myself getting there in my tiny hire car, up all these hairpin bends. It was a bit of an adventure – but it was easy to park, at least.
And what about eating?
One of the judges on the show is Jessie Ware [who, alongside her singing career, has a foodie podcast with her mum, called Table Manners]. That was great, because when you go out with Jessie, she just orders, like, “We’ll have a bit of that… a bit of this…” I absolutely loved it, but you end up eating so much. That said, I could eat Greek salad and souvlaki every day. There’s nothing like Greek salad in Greece.
Were there Dancing Queen antics at night?
Kavos is notorious for its nightlife… A few of the crew went down to Kavos, but I’m a bit of an early-to-bed lightweight these days. There were some karaoke evenings. Alan [Carr, another of the judges] did Don’t Go Breaking My Heart, and I wanted to sing Don’t It Make Your Brown Eyes Blue, but fortunately they didn’t have it. I don’t know who I thought I was; I was drunk at the time.
My favourite night out was a meal with Judy Craymer and Anthony van Lasst, though.She created the Mamma Mia! movie and stage show, and he choreographed them – and wow, the stories they have! Anthony worked with my dad [children’s TV presenter Johnny Ball] on Playaway, and Judy’s a close personal friend of Cher, so I just sat with my mouth open listening to their anecdotes. Judy told a story about casting Pierce Brosnan in the film, and talking to him about singing lessons. He then said something about maybe his friend Barbara could help him out, and Judy’s thinking, “Hmm, we need a proper vocal coach, not just your mate” – but it turns out he was talking about Barbra Streisand. Proper showbiz!
Did you all stay together in the villa we see in the show?
I was in a hotel with Alan and Jessie. It’s quite surreal when you wake up in the morning, open your curtains, go out to see the lovely sunrise… and there’s Alan Carr in his smalls. Still, it was probably worse for him, because my smalls are bigger than his smalls.
Sounds almost romantic. Any Shirley Valentine moments?
None that I know of! The contestants are all young – they taught me TikTok dances! – but they’re savvy, so when I was trying to get the gossip, they knew I was fishing. I was definitely trying to stir things up, but they were all pretty professional – it’s not like the 1990s [Ball’s own, infamous “ladette” years].
But what about you? You’re recently single again, so did you find new love on Corfu?
Not this time. When I think of Sky, Mamma Mia!’s male lead, I think of all the boys I’ve fallen in love with on holiday: those hot ski-instructor types. They were never interested in me, of course – a spotty teenager who basically looked like a boy in a bikini – but you know what it’s like when you fall for the watersports instructor. We’ve all been there, right?
The young performers vying for a place in the Mamma Mia! cast were working pretty hard out in Corfu. But, as presenter, you were pretty much just on holiday, right?
No, I was “getting myself into the mood of the show”, which is – of course – essential. But yes, it really was a treat to be on such a beautiful island. When I wasn’t filming, I hired a Cinquecento and went driving round to all these lovely little bays and beaches, and to the White House, made famous by Gerald Durrell. It’s a really good restaurant now On other days, we’d all go out together – crew, make-up guys, everyone – on boat trips, because that’s really the best way to see Corfu, and you can hire a boat easily.
It sounds like you know the island pretty well.
I first went to Corfu with my dad and brothers and stepmum, many moons ago. It’s sort of family folklore because loads of things happened on that holiday. My stepmum and I were flashed by a man in the bushes; we hired a car where the seats weren’t actually attached to the chassis; and then we were in a horse and cart when a wheel fell off – so the wheels literally came off our holiday.
What are your favourite spots for a more peaceful Corfu holiday?
Kassiopi and that north-western corner are stunning. There are all these gorgeous little bays, as well as some really lovely boutique hotels. There’s also Old Perithia, a beautiful ruined village up in the hills. I was really proud of myself getting there in my tiny hire car, up all these hairpin bends. It was a bit of an adventure – but it was easy to park, at least.
And what about eating?
One of the judges on the show is Jessie Ware [who, alongside her singing career, has a foodie podcast with her mum, called Table Manners]. That was great, because when you go out with Jessie, she just orders, like, “We’ll have a bit of that… a bit of this…” I absolutely loved it, but you end up eating so much. That said, I could eat Greek salad and souvlaki every day. There’s nothing like Greek salad in Greece.
Were there Dancing Queen antics at night?
Kavos is notorious for its nightlife… A few of the crew went down to Kavos, but I’m a bit of an early-to-bed lightweight these days. There were some karaoke evenings. Alan [Carr, another of the judges] did Don’t Go Breaking My Heart, and I wanted to sing Don’t It Make Your Brown Eyes Blue, but fortunately they didn’t have it. I don’t know who I thought I was; I was drunk at the time.
My favourite night out was a meal with Judy Craymer and Anthony van Lasst, though.She created the Mamma Mia! movie and stage show, and he choreographed them – and wow, the stories they have! Anthony worked with my dad [children’s TV presenter Johnny Ball] on Playaway, and Judy’s a close personal friend of Cher, so I just sat with my mouth open listening to their anecdotes. Judy told a story about casting Pierce Brosnan in the film, and talking to him about singing lessons. He then said something about maybe his friend Barbara could help him out, and Judy’s thinking, “Hmm, we need a proper vocal coach, not just your mate” – but it turns out he was talking about Barbra Streisand. Proper showbiz!
Did you all stay together in the villa we see in the show?
I was in a hotel with Alan and Jessie. It’s quite surreal when you wake up in the morning, open your curtains, go out to see the lovely sunrise… and there’s Alan Carr in his smalls. Still, it was probably worse for him, because my smalls are bigger than his smalls.
Sounds almost romantic. Any Shirley Valentine moments?
None that I know of! The contestants are all young – they taught me TikTok dances! – but they’re savvy, so when I was trying to get the gossip, they knew I was fishing. I was definitely trying to stir things up, but they were all pretty professional – it’s not like the 1990s [Ball’s own, infamous “ladette” years].
But what about you? You’re recently single again, so did you find new love on Corfu?
Not this time. When I think of Sky, Mamma Mia!’s male lead, I think of all the boys I’ve fallen in love with on holiday: those hot ski-instructor types. They were never interested in me, of course – a spotty teenager who basically looked like a boy in a bikini – but you know what it’s like when you fall for the watersports instructor. We’ve all been there, right?
ED GRENBY