Celebrity Traitors winner Alan Carr has taken a trip down memory lane, reminiscing on his childhood memories in the North East and opening up on his family roots in the region.
The 49-year-old reunited with his Last One Laughing co-star Bob Mortimer on his Life’s a Beach travel podcast last week and hailed Northumberland for having “the best beaches ever” during the warmer months of the year.
While discussing their most desired places to visit around the UK, Bob asked Alan: “Where is your favourite place, if you could go somewhere tomorrow, now, where would you go?”
Alan responded: “Well, I don’t know if you know this, but I’m buying a castle up in Scotland, so I love Scotland and up that way.
“This is really nostalgic for me but my dad’s a Geordie so we’d go up to Northumberland to see my nan and grandad, and I remember St Mary’s Lighthouse.
“We went up to Lindisfarne on Holy Island, there’s just something dramatic about that coastline.
“But I just think, global warming and all that, if it gets hot up there, those beaches are the best beaches ever.”
Bob chimed in: “They’re incredible, aren’t they?”.
Beaches along the Northumberland coast are constantly making headlines due to being ranked among the most glorious in the UK, and the rest of the world.
Recently, Bamburgh was included in the ‘One of a Kind – World’ category as part of the newly announced Travellers’ Choice Awards for 2026.
Plus, Druridge Bay has just been highlighted as one of the most perfect beaches to visit during spring by Go Outdoors.
Meanwhile, in 2024, The Telegraph crowned Budle Bay among Britain’s best secret beaches.
Other coastal spots in the county worth visiting include Embleton, Beadnell and Alnmouth – the list really does go on.
Was Alan Carr's dad manager of Northampton?
Alan’s North East roots stem from his dad Graham Carr, who was born in Corbridge and went on to become the manager of his home club, Northampton Town, from 1985 to 1990.
During his managerial career, he also had a stint at Kettering Town.
He took on this role for around three years before later joining Newcastle United as their chief scout in 2010.
Alan visited St James’ Park on the BBC’s Who Do You Think You Are? to discover more about his dad’s role at the club.
But that’s not the only football connection his family has with the Toon, as back in the day, Alan’s grandad Wilf Carr also made his living from the game.
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Who Do You Think You Are? Magazine explained in 2020: “Old newspaper clippings from the 1920s suggest a promising striker who was knocking goals in for Newcastle’s reserves before injury ended his playing career.”
Did you know about Alan Carr’s family history in the North East? Maybe you also think Northumberland has the “best beaches ever”.
Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
