RAY WINSTONE’S SICILY | EXCLUSIVE PREMIERE SERIES ONLY ON BLAZE® | MONDAY 7TH SEPTEMBER AT 9PM RAY WINSTONE’S SICILY | EXCLUSIVE PREMIERE SERIES ONLY ON BLAZE® | MONDAY 7TH SEPTEMBER AT 9PM
RAY WINSTONE’S SICILY Exclusive UK Premiere Series Only On BLAZE® Ray kicks off “BLAZE® ON TOUR” programming series MONDAY 7TH SEPTEMBER AT 9PM (6×1)... RAY WINSTONE’S SICILY | EXCLUSIVE PREMIERE SERIES ONLY ON BLAZE® | MONDAY 7TH SEPTEMBER AT 9PM

RAY WINSTONE’S SICILY

Exclusive UK Premiere Series Only On BLAZE®

Ray kicks off “BLAZE® ON TOUR” programming series

MONDAY 7TH SEPTEMBER AT 9PM (6×1)

BLAZE® is on Freeview 63, Freesat 162, Sky 164 and Virgin Media 216

Join BLAZE® and explore the beautiful Mediterranean island of Sicily with the Sexy Beast himself, Ray Winstone. In his first foray into factual programming, the internationally renowned and award-winning British actor sets out on a journey to discover more about the island he now calls his second home.

With warm weather and stunning scenery, the Italian island of Sicily is a favourite holiday destination for tourists from around the globe. Home to the largest active volcano in Europe, Mount Etna, and the gorgeous Aeolian islands, Ray loves the place, its people and especially its food and wine – or ‘mangy’ and vino, as Ray calls it.

From its culture and way-of-life to its ancient and classical history, Sicily and the Sicilians have had a profound impact on Ray and in this intimate, upbeat series, he sets out to find out why.

Ray travels the island with his close friends – restauranteur Bruno Zoccola, and TV broadcaster Matt Lorenzo – on a gastronomic and cultural tour of Sicily’s famous kitchens, historical sites, churches, temples and vineyards, as well as looking at the Mafia’s impact on the country; visiting the house fromThe Godfather films.

The trio start off in the historic yet frantic city of Palermo, before heading across to the Strait of Messina and then back in-land to Ray’s most treasured and off-the-beaten-track locations away from the tourist hotspots. Ray also receives a visit from his daughter, actress Jaime Winstone.

Ray Winstone said about the show: “I’ve been lucky enough to travel the world with my work, but Sicily has really got under my skin and I wanted to find out why – it’s something to do with the people you meet and finding a place that hasn’t been spoiled. I hope this helps people see Sicily and say – ‘I want to go there’.”

The six-part series Ray Winstone’s Sicily gets its UK premiere on BLAZE® from 7th September at 9pm and launches the new season of programming –BLAZE® ON TOUR.

BLAZE® is making an epic journey abroad with some familiar faces. BLAZE® ON TOUR hits the open road and takes on the travelogue in a different way by having fun, no matter what. Join Ray Winstone, Ronnie O’Sullivan, Al Murray, Ozzy and Jack Osbourne, Dara O’ Briain and Ed Byrne as BLAZE® brings the holiday home.

PROGRAMME INFORMATION

EPISODE 1 – PALERMO | Monday 7th September at 9pm

Palermo, fit for a Duchess.

Ray visits a cave near the capital Palermo to give us his take on how, according to Greek legend, Odysseus got one over on the Cyclops that captured and ate half his crew. When Ray, Matt and Bruno hit town they find themselves at the very centre of an ancient, noisy and unique city. They discover Palermo’s markets and its traders, they try the opera (not a great success) and charm a Duchess. And they meet Manfredi Barbera, Sicily’s biggest olive oil exporter, who shows them a tree that’s a thousand years old and still producing olives.

EPISODE 2 – Cefalu and the Aeolian Islands | Monday 14th September at 9pm

Cefalu and the Islands in the Sun.                                             

Ray and Matt take a train along Sicily’s west coast to the medieval city of Cefalu to meet Joe, first generation Sicilian and one of Ray’s oldest friends. The trio visit a snail farm, eat some snail eggs and smother themselves in snail cream (which proves very popular with the local wasps). A short road trip leads them to an idyllic vineyard and a wine tasting with another old friend Vito, a master winemaker. Then it’s on to the ancient castle of Milazzo to hear stories of pirates and kings and gruesome deaths. They take to the ocean to visit the Aeolian island of Lipari.

EPISODE 3 – Catania | Monday 21st September at 9pm 

Catania and the Godfather’s Cannoli.     

Ray takes some advice from a ‘consigliere’ at the palace where the Godfather movies were shot. An offer he can’t refuse is a visit to Bourbon city of Catania. He and the gang eat their way through the world-famous fish market before taking in the city’s sights. Ray meets up with his daughter, Jamie Winstone, and his grandson before heading to the summit of Mount Etna – still a live volcano – to experience otherworldly landscapes and views. Taormina has been a holiday destination for thousands of years, and it’s where the chaps learn how to make cannoli – Don Corleone’s favourites.

EPISODE 4 – SYRACUSE | Monday 28th September at 9pm           

Eureka! Ray and the weapons of war.    

Syracuse is one of the most beautiful cities on the island, and the place where Archimedes first shouted “Eureka!” as he took one of the most important baths in history. Ray and friends try out some of the Greek hero’s war machines, meet a woman who declares her love for Ray in a poem and make their escape via a puppet theatre, a cheese shop and arguably the best restaurant of the entire tour. Quite a bit later the next day – they travel to a World War II battleground and hear how Montgomery, Patton and a Chicago gangster teamed up to help win the war.

EPISODE 5 – MARSALA | Monday 5th October at 9pm

More wine, salty stories and annoying the neighbours.                                   

Temples dominate the city of Agrigento. Ray and his pals brave the heat to hear about Zeus, his wife, and a marital row that led to the creation of the Milky Way. On their way to the ancient port of Masala they discover the fishing village of Sciacca and its mouth-watering secret. Marsala is known for wine – the gang take a tour of one of the island’s biggest winemakers. Then it’s down the coast to Lo Stagnone, where salt has been manufactured for more than three thousand years and where Dionysus annoyed the neighbours with some parties so wild that the locals are still talking about them today.

EPISODE 6 – CIANCIANA | Monday 12th October at 9pm

Ray picks up a shotgun, throws a party and ends his grand tour in Cianciana.

Far away from the tourist trail, our heroes experience the warmth of true Sicilian hospitality – from shepherds, bar owners and barbers right up to the Mayor. Bruno tries to milk a goat, and everyone tastes some cheese. Ray stars as a clay pigeon shooter and Matt does not. The boys meet an artist in an amphitheatre built above one of the most spectacular views in the world, let alone the island. Then it’s all back to Ray’s place – Bruno cooks a barbecue, the band begins to play, and friends and family gather to answer the question, ‘what makes Sicily special?’.

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Jon Dingle Editor

A film journalist, writer and a filmmaker in business for over 20 years. I am passionate about movies, television series, music and online games.