Maldives

• Go in the summer silly! - Indian Ocean
• Lovers in Luxury - Maldives
• Feet first into the Maldives - Maldives
• No news, No shoes - Maldives
• My wedding pact with David Walliams - Maldives
• Push the boat out - Seychelles
• Relaxation Addict - Seychelles
• Mauritius the Delicious - Mauritius
• Mr Perma-Tan in Paradise - Mauritius
• Never seen you looking so lovely - Mauritius
• Island Iffy No Longer - Sri Lanka
• Having a swell time! - Seychelles
• Perfect, even for the world’s pickiest guest! - Maldives
• Do not disturb - Mauritius

MY FIRST VISIT TO KURUMBA, in the Maldives, was with David Walliams. Then, we stood on the beach, shook hands and agreed that if we were both still single in two years’ time we’d marry.

Two years later, to the day, I was back. But not with him. I was with my friend Samantha Mann from Capital Radio. It may have looked as if I’d fled the UK to avoid marrying the Little Britain star.

But it was really because I couldn’t think of anywhere better to go on holiday. Nowhere is better than the Maldives to unwind.

I’d just finished a run in the West End musical Rent and felt in serious need of relaxation. And Kurumba, just a short boat ride from Male Airport, ticks every box.

We signed up at the spa and were pampered to our hearts’ content. The ‘Signature Ritual’ is the Kurumba Spa Escape, which starts with a foaming exfoliation to soothe the skin and leave it feeling silky-smooth. Next is a ‘symmetry massage’ and then a ‘destress your spirit’ pressure-point massage – one of the best treatments I’ve ever had. They mix their own oils. I’m not sure what the secret was – but I fell asleep during the massage.

The steam room and Jacuzzi followed. Does life get any better?

I even managed to visit the gym three times. And did yoga on the beach at sunset. Sam has been doing yoga for some time and kept telling me that I would find it beneficial. The Maldives was the perfect place to give it a try.

Simply relax

I’m easily distracted. If I did a yoga class in London I wouldn’t be able to concentrate but being on a beach looking out at the ocean was perfect. I arrived in the Maldives determined to enjoy a healthy diet. I promised myself a good clean-living week. Actually, I had been looking after myself beforehand - you have to when you’re doing a show in the West End.

My run in Rent was for four months, during which time I hadn’t had an alcoholic drink. I was sleeping well and eating really well, too: the experience of all that performing had been exhausting but physically I felt extremely fit. The advantage of doing eight shows a week is that it gets you into peak condition.

Coming away on holiday I didn’t want to lose that fitness, so I made an effort to keep up the work in the gym. OK, I did have a few drinks while I was at Kurumba but nothing too much, just the odd glass of red wine.

I found that you feel high on the experience of being there. I was drinking fresh juices and in the morning I would have a great big plate of fresh fruit.

I also ate plenty of fish; the seafood is superb. Having so much good food to choose from just makes you want to eat well.

For me, part of the Maldives experience was not sitting in the bar at night and getting drunk; I simply wanted to relax, properly relax.

Clear, warm waters

Knowing I would be returning to Britain to a busy year ahead, starting work at Capital Radio on the Breakfast Show with Johnny Vaughan, persuaded me to make the most of the chance to unwind and doze off in the sunshine.

I had been wanting to go to the Maldives since I was at school when a friend of mine had been on a holiday to the Indian Ocean with his family.

He showed me all the holiday snaps, photos of the tropical fish and everything. I remember vowing that one day I would visit the Maldives and discover the islands.

And they turned out to be every bit as wonderful as I’d hoped. The waters are clear and beautiful and so warm. You feel really safe there.

When I start a family, I’ll definitely bring my children. The local people are lovely, making it the perfect place to chill out.

Sam and I did some snorkelling, but we didn’t go too far out. Two years previously I had gone snorkelling with David Walliams. He had been in training for his Channel swim and was a really strong swimmer.

Interestingly David finds it very easy to relax. I’m the one who is like a cat on a hot tin roof. As long as David had a good swim every day he was happy. For me, I was happy in a routine that involved snorkelling, having lunch and heading to the gym.

Glorious sunset cruise

One of the highlights of my stay this time was the sunset cruise. I’d done it on my previous visit with David and wanted Sam to experience it. You go out to feed the dolphins, drink champagne and watch the sun go down.

The weather can be changeable in the Maldives but if it rained, then it did so for about only 20 minutes at a time and then there would be glorious sunshine.

After dinner we would sometimes head off to the karaoke room to belt out a few tunes.

We did the classics: Madonna’s Like A Prayer and Cyndi Lauper’s Girls Just Want To Have Fun. One night a member of staff joined me to sing Barbra Streisand’s Guilty, which was a blast.

Kurumba is quite small – you could walk round the island in about 15 minutes. And it’s intimate. The next time I go back, and I will go back, I’ll definitely take my boyfriend.

Such Romance

I enjoyed being with Sam. It was great to have a girlie gossip, but it’s such a romantic place that you need to be there with someone you love.

I always try to go on a winter holiday: I need sunshine. I find winter in the UK depressing. I need sunshine.

My aim is to have a good holiday about three times a year. I have a place in Los Angeles and I still go there. I love LA. I have quite a few friends there now because I’ve worked there and had the opportunity to get to know it.

I like the beach at Malibu and Santa Monica. And I enjoy going down the coast to Venice at sunset when people turn up on the beach to play bongos. There’s a nice vibe.

But David – back to the Maldives. I hope you can forgive me for defaulting on the vow we made. We weren’t really being serious? Were we?