The Great Escapers, which sees ITV and Jet2holidays team up together to whisk celebrities away on an unforgettable award-winning holiday with a twist, involves 24-year-old Georgio Michalakis, known as Gio.
As part of his role as Jet2holidays overseas customer helper, Gio jetted off to Rhodes, Spain, Portugal and Malta earlier this year to help guide famous faces from Coronation Street, I’m A Celebrity…, The Chase and Loose Women to create the VIP Jet2holidays experience.
Tasked with assisting the stars decide the day’s itinerary so that they could be crowned The Great Escaper at the end of the trip, Gio had to aid the celebrities in deciding their activity choices to ensure that they had the perfect getaway throughout.
Gio explained what it was like filming the TV series throughout the summer and lifted the lid on his experience of working with the celebrities.
He said: “My family couldn’t believe it when I was cast in the show, and neither could I – the whole process has been so exciting.
“It’s still a bizarre feeling, as it’s my first time stepping in front of the camera!
“My mum has always been my number one fan, so her unwavering support has been wonderful, and my whole family is super excited to finally be able to watch the show.”
The former Preston Lodge High School pupil is half-Greek, with his father hailing from Rhodes – the very place he met Gio’s mother before moving to Scotland together – so it meant that he was able to speak the local lingo, but Catalan was a whole different story.
He said: “I was back-to-back filming, so I wasn’t able to pick up the local language.
“That being said, with me being half-Greek, I’m OK in that department, but Catalan was really hard.”
Having grown up travelling to the Greek island each summer, Gio’s highlight was having his family join him for the final week of filming in Rhodes.
He shared: “The wrap party at the end of filming will definitely stick with me forever.
“My family hosted a big Greek night with plenty of food and dancing to thank the amazing Jet2 and ITV production teams, seeing us party into the early hours!”
As a big fan of The Chase, Gio was particularly excited to meet the Chasers including Jenny Ryan, Mark Labbett and Shaun Wallace to help arrange their activities.
He said: “It was so surreal to meet them all, but Jenny Ryan in particular was one of the nicest people I’ve ever met.
“She was so down to earth and it was lovely to look over and see her chatting away to my mum during the wrap party.”
Although Rhodes holds a special place in his heart, Gio fell in love with the culture-packed towns and golden sandy beaches of Malta when filming with the Coronation Street stars.
He added: “It was amazing to uncover Malta’s rich history and explore the beautiful destination for the first time.
“I’ll definitely be back, as I am keen to see even more of the stunning Mediterranean island.”
With the celebrities each taking it in turns to plan the ultimate holiday day trip, assisted by Gio, each episode sees the stars get involved with an array of excursions, from glass blowing to cooking classes.
Having worked closely with each of the famous faces, Gio said: “Oti Mabuse definitely surprised me the most.
“With her being the first person I interviewed, I was really nervous to meet her, but I needn’t have worried – she was so lovely.
“Being a ballroom dancer, I always associated her with glamour and luxury, so it was great to see her get stuck in with her co-stars and take them on a muddy buggy ride around the Algarve!”
Out of the 12 competing celebrities, Gio would crown Loose Women’s Katie Piper as his Greatest Escaper, thanks to the luxurious catamaran trip which he helped to arrange for the group in Tossa de Mar.
He added: “I’d never been on a catamaran before – the boat was really impressive.
“Next time I’m abroad, I’m definitely going to look into hiring one for an incredible day trip!”
After stepping into the role of overseas customer helper for the show, Gio is telling holidaymakers: “Don’t be scared to talk to your Jet2holidays overseas customer helper, as they are there to advise and make sure you have the best holiday experience!
“I would definitely speak to them either at the airport or at the hotel, when visiting somewhere new to get their take on the destination and all their insider tips on where to go and what to see.
“Although there’s some great advice available online, nothing beats speaking to a local who knows the destination and can recommend some incredible things to do.
“So, next time you are on a Jet2holiday, go and meet your customer helper – whether it’s just to say hello or to get their advice on where to go.”
Following a summer filled with adventure, Gio is already planning his travel itinerary for next year.
He said: “I want to travel everywhere next year, there’s so many fantastic Jet2holidays destinations to choose from!
“I have plans to visit Marrakech with my partner for the first time, as it’s a brand-new culture that I’d love to experience. A mini break to Prague is also calling my name!
“My own ‘Great Escape’ includes lots of food, nice drinks and restaurants – all the best bits that you can’t get at home!”