Bruno Tonioli recalls his holidays of a lifetime 

Continuing our series featuring the holiday memories of famous people, this week Strictly Come Dancing judge BRUNO TONIOLI, 62, recalls his life of adventures…

First holiday I can remember: 

When my parents could afford it, in August they would send me from our damp flat in Ferrara to get some sea air in Cervia, a resort on the Adriatic coast, with my grandmother and two cousins. When I was four we went for a month, with four of us squashed into one room. It was a 45-minute walk to the beach from our bedsit and every day my sainted grandmother would carry a large beach umbrella there and back, because they were too expensive to hire.

First time abroad: 

In 1974 I was plucked from obscurity to play Jesus Christ in the satirical revue La Grand Eugene which went to Paris. Coming from a small Italian town, I was stunned by the glamour and beauty of the French capital and I went to the opera for the first time. To see The Magic Flute at the Palais Garnier was like the discovery of a whole new world.

Best ever trip: 

The first time I could treat myself to a proper holiday was in the early 1980s and I went on safari in Kenya. The beauty of the landscape and the clarity of the air take your breath away. I was 6ft from a rhinoceros, which was mind-blowing. I stayed in a beautiful camp with a tent like a hotel room and had fantastic views of Mount Kilimanjaro. It was like Out Of Africa.

Worst ever trip: 

I am very particular about my hotels. The only time I made a misjudgment was 20 years ago when I let a travel company book my trip to Mexico. I said I needed a very nice hotel on the beach and wanted to go to the ruins at Tulum. The hotel turned out to be a 2,500-room monster with all-inclusive drinks and buffet starting at 11am – my version of hell. But I couldn’t move because it was Christmas and everywhere was full. It wasn’t even near Tulum. I went out all day, every day, and saw every Mayan site on the Yucatan Peninsula.

Fond memories: A young Bruno in Italy with his parents 

Favourite place: 

When my three months of commuting between London and Los Angeles for Strictly comes to an end each December, I need to recharge my batteries. The Maldives is where I can pull the plug and do nothing except swim and read.

My dream destination: 

I’ve done almost every tropical destination except the South Pacific. My dream is to go to Bora Bora. It sounds like paradise and ticks all my boxes – blue sea, white sand and swaying palms – and it’s in French Polynesia, so the food should be good.

My perfect companion: 

I like going on holiday on my own. A companion would have to be someone I can have a laugh with, be easy-going, and say ‘Whatever you like, darling’ a lot.

The first thing I pack: 

Three books – I can’t stand reading on a tablet. I read biographies and thrillers, and always in English. Italian is my first language but English is my chosen language.