Richard E Grant's Hotel Secrets

Épisode 1 - Power and Money

25 octobre 2012 - 5/5

The Withnail & I actor presents the travel show highlighting some of the world's most luxurious hotels, and exploring the many varied aspects of the hospitality industry. He begins by examining the roles power and money play in the business, checking into Caesars Palace in Las Vegas, California's Barkley Pet Hotel and the $44,000-a-night Ty Warner Penthouse at the Four Seasons in New York.

Épisode 2 - Living and Dying

1 novembre 2012

The actor tours the rooms, restaurants and bars where the rich and famous have lived, died and fallen in love, checking in to Bastille's L'Hotel in Paris where Oscar Wilde spent his last days. He travels to New York's Chelsea Hotel, where long-term residents included Mark Twain, Stanley Kubrick, Edith Piaf, Sid Vicious and Robert Mapplethorpe. Richard also heads to the Dorchester in London's Mayfair, where Britt Ekland shares her memories of meeting and falling for Peter Sellers there in 1964.

Épisode 3 - Scandal

8 novembre 2012

The actor uncovers the gossip, intrigue and scandal lurking behind the closed doors of some of the world's most famous rooms and suites. He visits the Chateau Marmont on Hollywood's Sunset Boulevard, where Howard Hughes famously holed up in the penthouse, Jean Harlow and Clark Gable carried out a torrid affair and Lindsay Lohan was recently temporarily banned for not paying a bill. In New York, he talks to former mobster Louis Ferrante about a robbery at the Pierre Hotel in 1972 in which cash and jewellery worth $10million was stolen.

Épisode 4 - VIP

15 novembre 2012

The actor learns what it means to be treated like a VIP in some of the world's finest hotels. He heads to the Harlequin Suite at London's Dorchester, where Elizabeth Taylor had a pink marbled bathroom installed. He also visits Paris's Le Meurice, the place Salvador Dali returned to every year for 30 years. He meets the surrealist artist's muse Amanda Lear, who talks about his antics, as well as how his legacy is celebrated in the hotel today. In America, Richard gets a true taste of the lifestyle of the megarich when he orders the $5,000 fleurburger at the Mandalay Bay Hotel in Las Vegas.

Épisode 5 - The Extra Factor

22 novembre 2012

The actor discovers some of the hidden extras on offer in the world's most expensive hotels. He goes underground at Paris's George V for a tasting session in its fine wine cellars and catches up with the managing director of London's Goring, who reveals why the hotel has become the unofficial royal choice. At the Hotel Bel-Air in Los Angeles, Richard talks to a wedding planner who has organised nuptials for celebrities including Gwen Stefani, Nicole Richie and Katy Perry, and he also chats to Kiss bassist Gene Simmons and Cosmopolitan editor-in-chief Joanna Coles.

Épisode 6 - Sex

29 novembre 2012

The actor gets a juicy insight into the lives of the rich and famous and he explores some of the sexiest hotels and hideaways in the world. Visiting the Beverly Wilshire Hotel in Los Angeles, he discovers a secret stairway used by one of Tinseltown's most infamous Lotharios, while in Paris he travels to the L'Hotel, which includes French sex symbol and notorious womaniser Serge Gainsbourg among its past guests.

Épisode 7 - Ireland

6 décembre 2012

The Withnail & I actor explores Ireland's best hotels, beginning by visiting the beautiful Ashford Castle which provided the setting for the 1952 film The Quiet Man. Together with former ITN reporter John Suchet, Richard then checks in at the Belfast Europa, which is known as most bombed hotel in Europe after being attacked 28 times during the Troubles, before taking a tour of the Clarence Hotel in Dublin, which is owned by U2 frontman Bono. Finally, he visits the exclusive six-star Ballyfin, where guests are granted the chance to be lord and lady of the manor during their stay.

Épisode 8 - French Riviera

13 décembre 2012

The actor's series exploring the world's most luxurious hotels concludes on the glamorous French Riviera. Beginning at the Hotel de Paris in Monaco, he is shown the art of perfect fine dining before meeting ex-Formula One driver David Coulthard, who explains why he chooses to call Monaco home. Richard then visits the Hotel Byblos in St Tropez, where Mick Jagger and Bianca De Macias tied the knot in 1971, before paying a visit to Belles Rivers. Last in the series.

Épisode 1 - Miami

12 août 2014

Épisode 2 - Hong Kong

19 août 2014

The actor visits Hong Kong's most extravagant hotels, including the Ritz-Carlton, home to the world's highest swimming pool.

Épisode 3 - Berlin

26 août 2014

Richard E Grant explores classic hotels, pleasure palaces and hipster havens in the German capital.

Épisode 4 - New Orleans

2 septembre 2014

The actor visits the finest hotels in the Big Easy, including the Monteleone, popular with writers such as F Scott Fitzgerald.

Épisode 5 - Tokyo

9 septembre 2014

This week, Richard E Grant visits the most luxurious hotels in the Japanese capital, as well as checking out the city's love hotels.

Épisode 6 - Venice

16 septembre 2014

In the final episode of the series, Richard travels to Italy to explore the most exclusive and exciting hotels in the Floating City.