Olá in one!

Former Goodie and keen golfer Tim Brooke-Taylor tells Angela West about his villa home in the Algarve

Actor-writer Tim Brooke-Taylor says he has Eric Morecambe to thank for his long love affair with Portugal.

“Eric recommended it to us in the mid-70s when we met up as families and we’ve been addicted ever since,” he says. “And we bought our villa in the Algarve seven years ago.

“It’s a lovely four-bedroom villa, which we share with friends, overlooking the long beach half a mile away at Meia Praia, near the town of Lagos. Nobody overlooks us, and when you’re swimming in the pool you feel like you’re in a beautiful private garden.”

Best-known for his role alongside Bill Oddie and Graeme Garden in BBC TV’s 70s series The Goodies and the comedy radio show I’m Sorry, I’ll Read That Again, Tim goes to his Algarve haven six to seven times a year.

“I’m usually there with my wife Christine, sometimes with friends and increasingly with a gorgeous granddaughter, soon to be joined by an equally gorgeous and very smiley grandson.”

“Portugal, for me, is all about the sunshine, beaches, beach bars, golf and very friendly people,” he says.

“This is my ideal day in the Algarve – get up, not too early, and set off for the west coast, which is still fairly unexplored. There you’ll find long Cornish-type beaches with hardly a soul on them. The Atlantic is cold, but when the days are hot, this is a bonus and I love swimming in the sea. A beach bar is then found and a long and moderately alcoholic lunch follows. I never thought I’d drink sweet rosé again, but cold at lunchtime, it’s delicious.”

And to round off that perfect day?

“Nine holes of golf, a short siesta and out into Lagos, a surprisingly beautiful and unspoilt town.”

Golf is one of Tim’s passions

Golfing at San Lorenzo

“Christine and I are keen, if not particularly good, golfers, so that is usually part of the stay. I love golf and the Algarve provides great courses and weather. I’ve played in the Jimmy Tarbuck Golf Classic at San Lorenzo many times over the last 20 years, and for the last two years I’ve played in the Bobby Robson Classic at Vila Sol.”

Jimmy Tarbuck hosts his annual charity match, raising funds for a children’s home in Faro, every February, and it’s an event that bursts at the bunkers with stars

“We’ve had the ‘Who’s Who’ of showbiz,” says Jimmy. “Des O’Connor, Bobby Charlton, Frankie Vaughan… It’s unique this year, as it’s the 25th year, with Sir Henry Cooper, Jasper Carrott, Kevin Keegan and, of course, Tim. It’s always a pleasure to help this children’s home and long may it continue”.