Hampshire &amp; Isle of Wight

<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-apprentice-heads-to-the-isle-of-wight">The Apprentice heads to the Isle of Wight</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="563" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2026/03/Apprentice-Lord-Sugar-Tim-Karen-Brady-1000x563.jpg" alt="The Apprentice Baroness Karren Brady, Lord Sugar, Tim Campbell " class="wp-image-39767" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2026/03/Apprentice-Lord-Sugar-Tim-Karen-Brady-1000x563.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2026/03/Apprentice-Lord-Sugar-Tim-Karen-Brady-800x450.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2026/03/Apprentice-Lord-Sugar-Tim-Karen-Brady-768x432.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2026/03/Apprentice-Lord-Sugar-Tim-Karen-Brady.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Image: BBC / FremantleMedia Ltd</figcaption></figure>



If you spotted cameras and suited hopefuls dashing around the Isle of Wight last year, the secret is finally out. Next week’s episode of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b0071b63" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Apprentice</a>&nbsp;sees the candidates descend on the Island for one of the show’s most chaotic challenges – the infamous discount buying task.



Cast and crew quietly arrived on the Island around ten months ago to film scenes for the current series. At the time, very little was revealed about the task – but now we know a little more about what’s in store.



According to the BBC, the candidates must scour the Isle of Wight to track down&nbsp;nine items associated with the area, with the team spending the least on the correct items declared the winner.



The task is a classic Apprentice staple: frantic phone calls, questionable negotiation skills and plenty of wrong turns – all under the watchful eye of Lord Alan Sugar&#8217;s trusted aides, Baroness Karren Brady and Tim Campbell. It also gives the candidates a shot at redemption after a “dismal performance” on the same task earlier in the series in Hong Kong. While the candidates were tearing around the Island, the show’s production team set up base at <a href="https://royalhoteliow.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Royal Hotel</a> which served as a central hub for filming.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="987" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2026/03/The-Apprentice-at-The-Garlic-Farm-Isle-of-Wight.jpg" alt="The Apprentice at The Garlic Farm on the Isle of Wight BBC TV" class="wp-image-39788" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2026/03/The-Apprentice-at-The-Garlic-Farm-Isle-of-Wight.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2026/03/The-Apprentice-at-The-Garlic-Farm-Isle-of-Wight-800x526.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2026/03/The-Apprentice-at-The-Garlic-Farm-Isle-of-Wight-1000x658.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2026/03/The-Apprentice-at-The-Garlic-Farm-Isle-of-Wight-768x505.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Image: BBC/Naked (A Freemantle Label)</figcaption></figure>



While the list remains a closely guarded secret, we’ve got a few educated guesses about what the candidates might be racing across the Island to find.



1 / Garlic from the famous <a href="https://hants.muddystilettos.co.uk/little-black-book/directory/the-garlic-farm-newchurch/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Garlic Farm</a>:&nbsp;You can’t have an Isle of Wight shopping challenge without something from the legendary Garlic Farm. From garlic bulbs to chutneys and black garlic products, it’s one of the Island’s best-known foodie exports.



2 / A tricky nautical find: Given the Isle of Wight’s deep maritime roots – not to mention the global fame of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cowesweek.co.uk/web/code/php/main_c.php?map=cw26&amp;ui=cw4&amp;style=std&amp;override=&amp;section=regatta&amp;page=bicentenary#:~:text=The%20Cowes%20Week%20Bicentenary%20promises,%3A%201st%20%2D%207th%20August%202026." target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Cowes Week</a>&nbsp;– it wouldn’t be surprising if the teams were tasked with tracking down a niche nautical item. 



3 / <a href="https://www.theneedles.co.uk/landmarks/alum-bay/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Colourful sand from Alum Bay</a>: Few places scream “Isle of Wight” quite like the rainbow sands of&nbsp;Alum Bay. Whether it’s a traditional layered sand souvenir or simply a vial of the famous coloured grains, it’s exactly the kind of local curiosity producers love to throw into the mix.



The Isle of Wight episode of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b0071b63" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Apprentice</a>&nbsp;airs on&nbsp;BBC One at 9pm on Thursday, March 19, with another candidate set to hear the dreaded words “You’re fired.” Expect frantic Solent crossings, chaotic negotiations – and plenty of Island cameos along the way.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-gunwharf-quays-welcomes-new-openings-including-lucy-yak-and-matcha-cafe">Gunwharf Quays welcomes new openings including Lucy + Yak and matcha café</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1997" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2026/03/Maddies-at-Gunwharf-Quays.jpg" alt="Maddies matcha cafe at Gunwharf Quays Portsmouth Hampshire news" class="wp-image-39763" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2026/03/Maddies-at-Gunwharf-Quays.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2026/03/Maddies-at-Gunwharf-Quays-601x800.jpg 601w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2026/03/Maddies-at-Gunwharf-Quays-751x1000.jpg 751w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2026/03/Maddies-at-Gunwharf-Quays-768x1022.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2026/03/Maddies-at-Gunwharf-Quays-1154x1536.jpg 1154w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Image: Maddie&#8217;s at Gunwharf Quays</figcaption></figure>



There’s plenty of fresh action at <a href="https://www.gunwharf-quays.com/en" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Gunwharf Quays</a> this season, with new fashion, food and lifestyle brands arriving at the Portsmouth waterfront outlet.



Leading the latest openings is independent wellness café <a href="https://maddie-s.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Maddie’s</a>, now open opposite Ralph Lauren. The local café focuses on mindful rituals and quality ingredients, serving ceremonial-grade matcha alongside ethically sourced coffee, juices and freshly made treats.



Sustainable fashion brand <a href="https://lucyandyak.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Lucy &amp; Yak</a> joined the line-up on 20 February with a new store opposite Tommy Hilfiger, bringing its distinctive colourful designs &#8211; including (Im)perfect Yaks and Re:Yakked pieces &#8211; to the region for the first time.



Still to come is a major new addition from <a href="https://thecornishbakery.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Cornish Bakery,</a> which will open a large two-storey site at Gunwharf Quays on 6 May. The light-filled new space will include an orangery and terrace and will sit alongside the brand’s existing kiosk, creating a bigger hospitality hub at the centre.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-winchester-swoons-over-italian-newcomer">Winchester Swoons over Italian newcomer</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1440" height="1920" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2026/03/Swoon-Gelato.jpg" alt="Swoon ice cream gelato new opening winchester Hampshire news 2026" class="wp-image-39762" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2026/03/Swoon-Gelato.jpg 1440w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2026/03/Swoon-Gelato-600x800.jpg 600w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2026/03/Swoon-Gelato-750x1000.jpg 750w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2026/03/Swoon-Gelato-768x1024.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2026/03/Swoon-Gelato-1152x1536.jpg 1152w" sizes="(max-width: 1440px) 100vw, 1440px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Image: Swoon Gelato, Facebook.</figcaption></figure>



Meanwhile, in Winchester, the award-winning Italian gelato brand <a href="https://www.swoononaspoon.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Swoon Gelato </a>is set to open a new shop later this month, bringing handmade gelato and Italian desserts to Parchment Street. The store will open at 10am on Friday, March 20 in the former site of The Hatch, with the first 120 customers receiving a free scoop to celebrate 120 years of the Forte family’s gelato-making heritage.



The family-run business was founded in Bristol in 2016 by Bruno Forte, whose Italian family has been making gelato for more than a century. Since launching, the brand has expanded to locations in Bath and Oxford, as well as the Foodhall at Selfridges. Known for using high-quality ingredients and traditional methods, the company has won more than 100 Great Taste stars, including the Supreme Champion award in 2019 for its hazelnut gelato. Sweet.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-local-chef-shines-on-masterchef-the-professionals">Local chef shines on MasterChef: The Professionals</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="719" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2026/03/Luke-Masterchef-the-Professionals-1000x719.jpg" alt="Chef Luke Emmess on Masterchef: The Professionals. BBC/Shine TV" class="wp-image-39761" style="aspect-ratio:1.3908205841446453;width:640px;height:auto" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2026/03/Luke-Masterchef-the-Professionals-1000x719.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2026/03/Luke-Masterchef-the-Professionals-800x575.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2026/03/Luke-Masterchef-the-Professionals-768x552.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2026/03/Luke-Masterchef-the-Professionals.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Image: Chef Luke Emmess on Masterchef: The Professionals. BBC/Shine TV</figcaption></figure>



Hampshire is on the TV culinary map at the moment thanks to local chef <a href="https://www.instagram.com/chef_emmess/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Luke Emmess</a>, Head Chef at Winchester’s much-loved <a href="https://www.wykehamarmswinchester.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Wykeham Arms</a>. The 33-year-old has been cooking up a storm on <a href="The Professionals">MasterChef: The Professionals</a>, impressing both the dining-room critics and notoriously tough judges Marcus Wareing and Monica Galetti.



After sailing through the opening round, Luke wowed the judges in the Invention Test with a standout king prawn dish that showcased serious skill, flair and creativity. He then delivered an ambitious Critics’ Table menu featuring confit halibut, followed by a decadent dessert of salted caramel chocolate crémeux. The bold flavour combinations clearly landed, earning high praise and securing his place in the competition’s fiercely contested Knockout Week.



In Knockout Week, Luke cooked seabass with gnocchi dumplings, pickled fennel and a dashi consommé. The judges praised the meatiness and cook on the fish, although they felt the dumplings were a little soggy. Ultimately, the dish was strong enough to get him to the next stage of the contest – and we’ll be cheering him on all the way.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1035" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2025/02/The-Wykeham-Arms-Winchester.jpg" alt="The Wykeham Arms Winchester" class="wp-image-36682" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2025/02/The-Wykeham-Arms-Winchester.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2025/02/The-Wykeham-Arms-Winchester-800x552.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2025/02/The-Wykeham-Arms-Winchester-1000x690.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2025/02/The-Wykeham-Arms-Winchester-768x530.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Image: The Wykeham Arms, Winchester</figcaption></figure>



Luke has been part of the team at The Wykeham Arms for six years and is a familiar face in the Winchester food scene, where the historic pub-hotel holds 2 AA Rosettes. Tucked away between Winchester Cathedral and Winchester College, the 18th-century former coaching inn is known for refined pub dining – and now, potentially, a MasterChef star in the kitchen.



Speaking about his experience on the show, Luke said: “I’ve always watched MasterChef: The Professionals and wondered if I should give it a go myself. Seeing the reaction from the critics and from Marcus and Monica was just amazing. I love creating dishes that blow people away.”



He hopes his appearance on the show will inspire future chefs – and tempt more diners through the doors of The Wykeham Arms.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-lovejoy-to-the-rescue">Lovejoy to the rescue!</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1125" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2026/03/Lovejoy.jpg" alt="Lovejoy BBC" class="wp-image-39760" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2026/03/Lovejoy.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2026/03/Lovejoy-800x600.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2026/03/Lovejoy-1000x750.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2026/03/Lovejoy-768x576.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Image: BBC Essex</figcaption></figure>



File under: things you absolutely couldn’t make up. A pair of priceless artefacts stolen from the crypt of <a href="https://farnboroughabbey.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">St Michael’s Abbey</a> in Farnborough have been recovered – all thanks to a rerun of the classic BBC antiques drama Lovejoy. 



Derbyshire antiques dealer Paul Gostelow was watching an episode of the 90s favourite (starring Ian McShane as the charmingly dodgy dealer, Lovejoy) when something on screen made him do a double take. Those Napoleonic motifs looked very familiar.



Gostelow realised two wooden Napoleon III altar cards sitting in his own collection matched the ones stolen from the abbey in a 2014 burglary. The distinctive “ball and crown” detail in the frame – something he’d clocked years earlier in the show – rang alarm bells, and he immediately called police.



Cue a very happy ending: Hampshire police have now recovered two of the three missing altar plaques, which had long been feared lost.



The artefacts date from the reign of Napoleon III and once sat on the crypt altar beneath the tomb of Empress Eugénie. They’re especially poignant: the prayer texts on them were discovered on the body of the imperial couple’s son, Louis Napoléon, Prince Imperial, after he was killed in battle in 1879. The abbey community says the recovered cards are sadly in poor condition but they’re still thrilled to have them back – and hopeful the final plaque will turn up too.



Coincidentally, a <a href="https://www.hellomagazine.com/film/888174/bbc-80s-detective-drama-lovejoy-gets-modern-reboot/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Lovejoy TV reboot</a> has just been confirmed curtesy of See-Saw Productions, the company behind&nbsp;Gary Oldman&#8217;s Apple+ hit, Slow Horses. But no word yet on whether the Ian McShane-Lovejoy trademark white tee, jacket and jeans sartorial style will feature.



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<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-in-the-mood-for-more">In the mood for more?</h2>



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Hampshire openings, The Apprentice on the Isle of Wight – and Lovejoy cracks the case

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