Whicker goes up in the world

Published on Thursday 30 March 2006 12:28

THERE will be something familiar about the voice welcoming visitors as they step into the lift at Edinburgh's newest hotel.

Appropriately enough for an establishment selling itself on an international theme, it will be the distinctive tones of globe-trotting broadcaster Alan Whicker which greets guests at Le Monde.

The 80-year-old journalist will be guest of honour at the new boutique hotel, bar and nightclub in George Street, when it opens tonight.

During his stay, in the hotel's Sydney suite, he has agreed to record a message for the lifts.

Guests going up to any of Le Monde's 18 suites, themed around exotic locations such as Marrakesh, Sydney and Miami, will hear his voice welcoming them and announcing each floor.

Mr Whicker, who is visiting the Capital with his long-time partner Valerie Kleeman, said: "It seemed a nice idea and it was nice to come to Edinburgh. It is one of my favourite places. I was here in November. That was lovely. I always have a wonderful time in Scotland.

"I'm asked to do a lot of voice-overs but only do ones that work for me, like travel-related ones. It's a new adventure for me and I am not sure my vocabulary is up to it. I found out about a week ago and it sounded like great fun - a nice, happy, unusual idea ."

The Jersey resident said he had travelled to all the cities with suites named after them apart from Havana - and Atlantis.

Suites at the hotel, owned by Saltire Taverns, which owns the Frankenstein chain of pubs, cost from 250 a night.

At tonight's opening, guests will be shown around all the suites and treated to performances by Geisha stiltwalkers from Tokyo, fire jugglers, Moulin Rouge cabaret, human statues and a snake charmer in the Marrakesh Room.

Mr Whicker has worked as a globe-trotting journalist for more than 40 years, at both the BBC and independent television networks.

Born in Cairo in 1925, the son of a professional soldier, he attended school in London and then served as captain in Devonshire Regiment during the SecondWorld War, as well as working as a director in the Army Film and Photo Section with the British 8th Army and United States 5th Army.

His time in Italy towards the end of the war was recently brought to the screen in the Channel 4 series Whicker's War.

He later worked as a newspaper war correspondent in Korea, when he was famously reported dead.

In 1957 he joined the BBC as a correspondent for the flagship current affairs show, Tonight.

He is still best known for the Whicker's World documentary series, which started in 1959. This saw him delve into the private worlds of the rich and famous.

In his career he has also been a judge at the Miss World contest, and when asked what he would take to a desert island he once joked: "Two blondes, two brunettes and two redheads."

At Le Monde, the couple are expected to be right at home in their suite, which includes a colourful Aboriginal wall, two plasma screen TVs, a king size bed, and furniture all sourced from Australian forests, including ostrich-leather chairs.

Billy Lowe, owner of Saltire Taverns, said: "Alan's background makes him the perfect ambassador for Le Monde."