The female residents

Former newsreader and TV presenter Jan Leeming has a real lust for life. Jan started out as an actress before becoming Sydney’s first female newsreader in 1963. The Kent-born star later became a well-known face on British screens, appearing on I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! in recent years.

I would seriously consider spending the Indian winter months in India

Jan Leeming

Jan's father was born in the Nilgiri Hills in Southern India, and served in the Indian army, so she was excited to visit the land of his birth for the first time. A lover of culture, she is intrigued by history and architecture and can’t wait to see the Taj Mahal.

What was the most memorable part of the experience?
Visiting the Taj Mahal, sharing a birthday with a Maharaja, and meeting Indian people from various walks of life.

Did the experience allow you time to reflect?
I’ve done more reflection since I’ve been back, but what I did think about a great deal was how kind, gentle and respectful the Indian people whom we met were. They appeared to be a lot less materialistic than Westerners and they have respect for religion.

Would you seriously consider retiring to India?
I would seriously consider spending the Indian winter months in India. Much as I love heat, the summer temperatures and humidity are just a trifle too much for me. I would spend my time exploring the fascinating history, religion and perhaps helping out with spoken English in a school.

Sharp, witty, and full of great one-liners, Harry Potter actress Miriam Margolyes has already visited Jaipur - but wants to delve deeper.

The women are extremely intelligent and forceful

Miriam Margolyes

Certain that there is much to learn about India and its people, Miriam - a humanitarian - is keen to fully embrace Indian life and to make Indian friends among "these glorious people". Miriam is keen to broaden her understanding of the culture. Her biggest worry is how good the toilets will be and that her fellow travellers will be put off by her flatulence!

What did you enjoy most about India?

The people must come first - they are imaginative, fully alive and beautiful. And the women are extremely intelligent and forceful.

What was your role within the group?

I hoped it was to be, as I often am in a group, the form wag - the class clown. I really liked my fellow travellers and marvelled at their talents. Bobby is a remarkable man, Wayne is deeply generous and gifted, Patti is a brilliant singer - and I got to know the others, who shared their private thoughts with me. I hope to know them all my life to come.

Tell us about one of your adventures…

In one day, we visited both the slums and the palace of the royal family in Jaipur. The slums were filthy on the outside, stinking and cramped. But the LIFE there, the teeming, smiling, vivid life we saw, the puppet masters full of colour and imagination, real artists - that made it memorable and enjoyable. I admire the sense of family, the openness with each other. And then to the palace – where the dignity of the slum people was mirrored by their social superiors, all infinitely gracious – only the surroundings were different.

What can Brits learn from Indian culture?

I would hope that Brits can marvel at the range and sophistication of the various Indian cultures. It is a complex and majestic country, with many languages, great literature and in the 19th century, a shared history. I can never have enough of India. I long to return.

Glamorous Patti Boulaye’s life motto is “You only get one life, so enjoy it!” The singer, actress and philanthropist left Nigeria for the UK aged 16, where, on a sightseeing tour, she mistook the lineup for Hair auditions as the queue for Madame Tussauds. She got a job and launched her musical career.

The older generation had cultivated respect and deserved to be respected

Patti Boulaye

In Jaipur, Patti is keen to sing, socialise and master Indian dancing. As someone who is very family orientated, she is also keen to look at the strong family bonds in India and how the elderly are treated with such respect.

What was the most memorable part of the experience?

I remember the ready smiles - especially from the children and women - the heat in Jaipur, the hospitality of our hosts and getting to know the different talents and backgrounds of my fellow travelers. I also did yoga for the first time and learned to dance - Bollywood style!

Also memorable was the trip to Varanasi, the elephants at the Safari and the Ganesh Festival, the graceful movement of the women in their colourful saris, the holy cows and the thronged spirituality of the people.

And not forgetting - daring to tell a joke in public for the first time to the Maharaja at his dinner party and being very grateful and relieved that it was well received!

What did you learn during your time there?

I learned the importance of having faith and respecting each other's chosen spiritual paths. Spirituality promotes a sense of joy, peace and wellbeing. That faith gives hope and natural acceptance of things that are inevitable. I also learned the importance of quiet dignity, strength and grace in women and the older generation.

Did you feel the older generation were treated differently in India?

Yes! No country is perfect, but on the whole the older generation had cultivated respect and deserved to be respected.

TV chef Rosemary Shrager couldn't wait to throw herself into all aspects of Indian culture, and especially the cuisine. Rosemary began her career in restaurant kitchens - working under Pierre Koffman and Jean-Christophe Novelli - and now runs her own cookery school and patisserie. Like Jan, Rosemary has also survived the I’m A Celebrity...jungle!

We had feasts every day with ingredients that cost very little and it gave us a taste of the real India

Rosemary Shrager

Although she has never been to India before and knows very little about it, the adventurous foodie wants to ride an elephant, meet local people, explore the role of God in India and meditate. She’s also in pursuit of the perfect sari.

How did you find the experience?

The experience was life changing, being privy to another culture so different to ours. The feeling was exhilarating, humbling, and a huge privilege to get to know some wonderful people.

What did you learn about yourself?

I learnt quite a lot. Firstly I realised that I haven’t got a lot of patience when it comes to making decisions. I get on with most people, but when things annoy me I do tend to reveal my feelings, which probably does not go down very well.

I found the spiritual side of India extremely moving. I found myself being very drawn to that life, one of calmness and acceptance.

What can Brits learn from Indian culture?

The attitude towards the elderly. The respect is completely inbred within Indian culture. We could learn so much from this.

How did you find the food out there and as a cook, what did you find impressive?

We were fortunate to be staying in a proper Indian home where the food was fantastic. We had feasts every day with ingredients that cost very little, and it gave us a taste of the real India.

What I found fascinating was the variety of choice, the intensity of flavours, and the attention to detail. We had a cooking class which was a revelation - it opened me up to a whole load of new ingredients and processes. I have come away from India knowing that I want to learn more.