We caught up with star of stage and screen, Gary Wilmot MBE to discover where in the world he loves to travel, talk about his career and what guests can expect from the host of the upcoming GLT Awards ceremony.
A familiar face on stage and screen, Gary Wilmot first stepped into the spotlight when he appeared on New Faces in 1978. His entertainment career began on TV, hosting shows such as You and Me and Showstoppers, and has taken in numerous West End stage appearances, including roles in Me and My Girl, Chicago, Wicked and Anything Goes, for which he was nominated for an Olivier Award in 2022. Since 2017 he has delighted audiences each year as the resident Pantomime Dame at the London Palladium.
When we talked to Gary, he had just been on a countryside walk with his dog after returning home from filming an episode of Midsomer Murders. With such a long-lasting and successful career both on TV and the stage, where does he feel more at home?
Gary told us: “It depends on the job, really. There are good jobs and bad jobs in both genres. I like being on stage, because it’s nice to go out and try to hone your work every single night until you feel satisfied. I’m always looking for how to do things in new ways.”
When Gary is not busy filming or treading the boards, does he ever get the chance to be a member of the audience instead?
“I go to the theatre whenever I can. I went up to Scotland to visit some friends recently, and we went to an amateur production of Little Voice, which was very good. I feel comfortable in an auditorium. The last thing I went to see was The Tempest in Drury Lane starring Sigourney Weaver.”
When we asked him about the best show he had been to see, Gary had a very special reason for picking his favourite. He said: “Really, I suppose, it was a show called Me and My Girl. I went on to be in it as well [Gary joined the cast in 1989, playing Bill Snibson], and it did so much for me.
“I actually saw it six months before I auditioned for it, and I thought it was the best thing I’d ever seen. I never thought I’d ever be in it because that just wasn’t my area.
“I was doing variety on television and travelling the country doing summer seasons and pantomime, and then they asked to see me, and I went in and did an audition. At first, I just remember concentrating so hard on everything I needed to do. But it wasn’t too long before I’d settled in and began to find new ways of doing things and just absolutely loving it.”
As for taking to the stage to host the Group Leisure & Travel Awards ceremony, he added: “I’ll chat to the audience for a little bit, and I’ll share a little bit about myself; a little bit of my childhood and a bit about what it’s like to be an actor. I’ll do some background research, as I do like to have it all kind of worked out, but if anything goes off in a different direction, I’m happy. Who knows on nights like this!
“Awards events are a really nice thing to be involved in - great fun and, very often, a way of meeting friends.”
“I’ve been to several Olivier Awards; I’ve been nominated individually once and nominated a couple of times as part of the cast of shows I’ve been in. It’s always a very exciting evening and great for the industry. So awards events are a really nice thing to be involved in – great fun and, very often, a way of meeting friends. At the Oliviers, I’m meeting friends I only see once a year, so there’s a good chance for a catch-up.
“Whatever industry you’re in, it’s a good night out and people swap ideas; it’s a bit like a convention, really. Everybody wins, I think.”
The biggest night in group travel – be there!
Gary Wilmot will be entertaining guests and presenting the ceremony for the 2025 Group Leisure & Travel Awards on Thursday 26th June at the five-star Royal Garden Hotel in Kensington, London.
Working in the entertainment industry means that Gary often travels as part of his job. Does he have any favourite places he likes to visit in the UK?
“Anywhere I haven’t been before – there’s always a new surprise,” he explained. “I’ve just spent a few days filming on the Duke of Wellington’s estate [in Hampshire]. I didn’t even know it existed, but it was absolutely glorious.
“I love Cornwall, and I also enjoy trying to get out to see things when I’m touring. Sometimes they’re in the city – for example in Bradford, there’s the National Science and Media Museum. Or you can go to Beamish up in the north east, where there’s a whole Victorian town that’s been built – that’s always a joy to go and visit.
“In the days when I was kind of front and centre on all the shows I did, it was quite difficult to go and see things because I always wanted to conserve my energy. When I’m doing shows these days, it’s not quite so taxing. I’m not jumping around and dancing, so I can go out and do things during the day. In Bath, for instance, there’s so much to see, and just walking around the town is a joy.”
Gary also enjoys travelling further afield, and when it comes to his best-loved destination in the world, there’s one country very firmly at the top of his list.
“My favourite place is Italy, without a doubt. I absolutely adore it, from Pompeii right the way up the country. I go there probably once or twice a year, and I’m on day 240 of my Duolingo Italian! Italy is a place that I absolutely love and adore, and it’s not only the place, but the people, they are a joy to be with.”
Is there anywhere that he’s not yet visited that he’d love to see?
“Funnily enough, I was out walking the dog today and somebody said they’d just come back from Luxembourg. I just thought: ‘I’ve never been there,’ so that might be a place to go. I’d like to go to Canada, and Australia is somewhere I’d like to visit.”
2025 Awards: see who, what and where is in the running
You can see this year’s finalists and the attractions, destinations, experiences and companies shortlisted at www.groupleisureandtravel.com/awards/finalists2025.
Thank you to our official 2025 Awards Partners…
