Michael Portillo attacks Boris Johnson over his apology
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Ex-politician turned TV presenter, and unexpected fashion icon, Michael Portillo has explained how he and his wife Carolyn Eadie, who will celebrate 40 years of marriage together next month, have purchased a property in Andalucia. Thanks to his mixed Spanish and Scottish heritage, he is likely to blend into the warm surroundings well.
Carolyn and I have bought a lovely house near Seville
Michael Portillo
“Carolyn and I have bought a lovely house near Seville,” he explained.
“I have a large number of cousins in Spain and I tend to be the organiser of reunions and parties.
“I have no surviving close relatives in Scotland but Carolyn does, and we travel north of the border from time to time.
However, he admits the pair get to Scotland “much less often than to sunny Andalusia”.
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Perhaps it’s hardly surprising that the couple dodge the bitterly cold Scottish weather sometimes.
Michael is also a keen traveller to continents further afield, with his TV work previously having taken him to the opposite side of the world.
The Great Australian Railway Journeys star had no qualms about the weather when travelling across the desert – but the epic train voyage took him to plenty of other diverse landscapes as well.
“The highlights were the two epic journeys on The Ghan and the Indian Pacific,” the 66-year-old recalled to Journey Beyond.
“Europeans find it hard to comprehend how big and how empty Australia is, and the train provides the best way to ram home the point.
“But I was in general very captivated with Australian history and I hope that Australians of every background will feel that we have attempted to tell it straight.”
The TV star has also captivated followers with other adventure screenings, including Great Indian Railway Journeys and Great American Railroad Journeys.
Once known as Britain’s “most hated Tory”, Michael is now more likely to be stopped by fans clamouring for a selfie.
“The selfie… seems to have replaced the autograph,” he mused of modern fandom.
“Most often [people] have seen me on a television rail journey but in the UK, plenty of people still remember me from politics, so they are as likely to ask about Brexit as about my recommendations for rail holidays.
“Younger people greet me, tactfully they think, saying: ‘My mother loves you,’ or just as frequently, ‘My grandfather loves your program.’ One young person hailed me with, ‘We are studying you in history.'”
All of the attention has led Michael to become quite fashion forward and, after decades of politician power-dressing in muted tones of black or navy, he is now relishing the chance to try his hand at showbiz style.
Nowadays, he never goes anywhere without his signature wardrobe selection of five jackets, each one in a different bright colour.
“You have to understand that for 30 years in politics, I wore a dark suit, white shirt and sober tie,” he rationalised.
“All that time I was repressed and all these colours were welling up inside me! They have now burst forth in a virulent form.
“My favourite style is wild contrast between jacket and trouser, preferably at opposite extremes of the colour chart, such as purple and yellow.
“I like to tell people that I am colour blind and dress in the dark, but the real reason is that I enjoy doing the unexpected and (I hope) making people laugh.”
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