Beverley Callard and Jordan North on exploring Spain together
A brand new show sees Beverley Callard and Jordan North team up to explore Spain together. Georgia Humphreys finds out more from the dynamic duo.
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Beverley Callard and Jordan North are the epitome of an unexpected friendship. She is a 64-year-old actress, best known for playing Liz McDonald in Coronation Street, while he is a 31-year-old Radio 1 DJ. And yet, when they both starred in 2020ās Iām A Celebrity⦠Get Me Out Of Here! ā filmed in a castle in Wales ā they immediately clicked. In fact, they get on so well, theyāve filmed a travel series together for ITV.
Beverley & Jordan: Destination Wedding sees the pair head to Spain where they immerse themselves in local culture, while also planning for a very special day at the end of the series: Callard is renewing her wedding vows with husband Jon. āI was quite nervous about it because Jordan is a presenter and is so good at it, and Iām not a presenter at all,ā admits West Yorkshire-born Callard. āIām used to learning the lines and doing other peopleās work!ā
Callard and her husband were meant to have the ceremony last year, on a beach in Spain, to celebrate 10 years of marriage ā but lockdown got in the way. When ITV suggested they film it for the show, their request was that it remained ācasualā. āWe didnāt want it āshowbizā in any way,ā says the star. āThen they said to Jordan, āWill you organise it?āā
So, a plan came together; as the friends travelled around the country, North picked items from the different regions for the wedding ā for example, wine from Rioja. Meanwhile, Callard threw in some hair-raising experiences for her and North, whose phobias of, well, basically everything led to some very memorable moments on Iām A Celeb. āI donāt want to give too much away, but we might have done some paraglidingā¦ā teases North, who was born in York but grew up in Burnley. āThe director said heās never heard a blood-curdling scream quite like it!ā
He continues, lovingly: āBeverley got stuck in as well. She only recently had a hip operation, and she was doing all the activities. We had to get permission for a couple from her doctor. Sheās a very strong-willed and determined lady and I hope people get to see that.ā
āThe other thing is, itās not fake,ā Callard says of the show. āNone of it is scripted whatsoever. Also, thereās no hair and make-up, thereās no costume. So, I look like a Crufts champion for the duration.ā
āShe looked amazing!ā chimes in North (another example of how loving this new double act are with each other). āBut itās the same people that made Iām A Celeb, so it wasnāt glamorous. Iāve got the best picture of Beverley on the side of the motorway eating a sandwich between filming. There were no people doing touch-ups on the side. Youāll see us literally getting out of the seaā¦ā
āNot a pretty sight,ā quips Callard. āI can remember getting out and thinking, āOh my god, I look a disasterā. I used to be a bit of a sex symbol ā that has gone!ā
What do they think will make this stand out amongst a TV schedule thatās heavy with travel shows? āPeople probably think they know Spain, and they know it quite well, and theyāve probably been on holiday there ā but weāre going to show you areas and towns and places that you didnāt know about, that we didnāt even know about,ā suggests North. āI didnāt realise how vast it is. We travelled 900 miles, from the top of Spain in Santander, right down to the bottom. Me and Beverley drove, and we filmed most of the driving.ā
āWe saw how they really live, away from the touristy destinations,ā Callard elaborates. āA chap called Miguel, he was the nicest man, and he taught us, in Valencia, how to make a proper paella for the wedding. He took us to his home. He and his wife worked really hard, theyād really struggled throughout the pandemic to earn a living, and they made us so welcome. They got quite emotional about it and so did we.ā
That wasnāt the only time that emotions ran high ā all those hours driving in a car together led to some deep conversations between the pair. āWe had moments that were really moving, and heart-to-hearts about each other, about our childhood,ā reflects Callard. āThe producers have basically said they could make a series of just us nattering in the car,ā adds North.
āWeād seen it in the castle, so we knew already; Beverley is the funniest and most heart-warming lady, and she genuinely cares about people,ā adds the broadcaster, when asked what he learnt about his co-star while filming.
āI did learn so much about him and him growing up and his family,ā notes Callard. āYou can tell, he comes from a really loving family. That is so obvious and when you see his mum, you know why. Sheās a great mum, but sheās really glamorous, as well. Sheās gorgeous to look at ā thatās where he gets his looks. Also, with Jordan, what you see is what you get. Heās very genuine and I think thatās why heās so wonderful at his job because it comes through the mic.ā
But that doesnāt necessarily mean heās good at public speaking ā at least not when it came to Callardās vow renewal anyway. āI did actually get asked to do a speech, and Iām not just saying this to try and sound modest ā it was a disaster,ā admits North. āI got flustered. I tripped up over my words, I got all the names wrong.ā
āIt was brilliant because heās such a good presenter and once a microphone is there, heās just so natural and heās still himself, but because heād written this speech and it was rehearsed, it was completely the opposite,ā agrees Callard, chuckling.
As youāve probably guessed by now, the duoās chemistry is certainly not just for the screen ā and they would definitely love to work together again. āWeād love to focus on another country,ā says North. āIād love to do America. But I think weād have fun in Portugal, Greece, Germany, France⦠The worldās our oyster.ā
Beverley & Jordan: Destination Wedding starts on ITV on Wednesday, October 20.