We know him as an Account Manager at Newmarket Holidays and before that, Regional Sales Manager at Balkan Holidays, but Wayne Szczambura’s life could have been very different if he’d taken up the offer of a part in ITV’s Benidorm. The Travel Gossip Legend finalist and former drag queen called Chardonnay explains all…
I’ve always loved entertaining. I went to a performing arts school in Leeds – West Yorkshire’s answer to the school in Fame. It’s called Intake High School Arts College. Spice Girl Mel B went there, so did Jack B Shepherd, who plays David Platt in Coronation Street and Jennifer Metcalfe (Mercedes McQueen in Hollyoaks). For me, it was never about being famous, I just loved performing.
I went overseas when I was 19 and came back when I was 36, six years ago. I didn’t get into the universities that I applied for, so I went off to be a hotel entertainer in Majorca. During the day we’d organise games, then in the evening we’d do shows like Mr and Mrs, Battle of the Sexes and our own performances. I’ve been Danny Zuko in Grease, a quiz host and a drag queen called Chardonnay, among many other characters.
I worked all over the place, including in Egypt, Cyprus, Costa del Sol, Mexico and then Bulgaria, where I ended up running my own entertainment business in Sunny Beach. At the end of every season, I’d go to Benidorm to stay with my mum. She was there for 24 years, she ran bars, then set up a hotel. She’d cater for the Brits coming in for Sunday dinners and fry ups. I came back to the UK in 2019 and worked at TUI in Huddersfield, before joining Balkan Holidays as an RSM.
People think I’m Bulgarian, but my surname is Polish. The closest way to say it is by missing out the first three letters and pronouncing it ‘Zambura’. Mind you, I speak better Bulgarian than Polish now. I love Bulgaria and so do my family. My dad now lives there and my brother married a Bulgarian girl.
I grew up in Bradford, so I love a curry. I live in Hebden Bridge now, where Happy Valley was filmed – but because I was overseas, I’ve never watched it.
I love reality TV, though. I was quite well known in Bulgaria, and I almost represented them at the Eurovision Song Contest. I was asked to go on Big Brother Bulgaria in the early noughties, but I copped out. Part of me regrets it, as that year, Paris Hilton and Mike Tyson both entered the house as celebrity guests.
I got a part in the ITV show Benidorm. My grandad lived out there, with my mum, and we went along to the open auditions, just for fun. They told me they wanted me to be a regular in pub scenes in the background. I found out the day I was flying out to start a new hotel season, so I didn’t do it.
It’s my third time getting the Travel Gossip Legend nomination. This one’s very special because I’ve only been with Newmarket for a few months. It means a lot to be nominated, particularly since I’m fairly new in the role. Just to be part of this experience is really nice.
I live in Plum Cottage, in a row of houses next to the river. I love the feeling here in Hebden Bridge. There are lots of vegan restaurants, vintage fairs and festivals and, because it is a bit touristy, I love that hustle and bustle. The LGBT community is massive and being a part of that community is nice. A lot of people have come up here from London.
I present a radio show called Ey Up, It’s the Sunday Show with Wayne, on the local Calder Valley Radio. It’s quite travel related. I’ve had agents come on the show and I do a slot called ‘Where in the World is Wayne?’ I give clues and try to make it as fun as possible. I do the show because I just wanted to give back to the community. A lot of agents listen in from all over the UK. During Peaks, I had to put it on hold because I’ve just been too busy, but I’m back on air in mid-March.
I’ve never been caught speeding, but I’ve had a few parking tickets. I love visiting agents, but because I’m a talker, I stay longer than I plan to and I get back to my car and there’s a ticket on the windscreen. I moved to Newmarket Holidays to progress my career. The area I cover is from Chesterfield to Newcastle – mostly Yorkshire and the North East. This area hasn’t had a Newmarket rep for a while and everyone loves the brand. It’s very good at what it does and very successful, and I wanted to be a part of that.
I have a lot of willpower when I need it. I lost six stone in three months on an NHS liquid diet back in 2023 – seven stone altogether. The coach would ring on a Monday, and I’d get sent my sachets of soups and shakes to have through the week. I once took 14 Hays Travel staff out and they tucked in to a three-course Indian meal while I drank a shake and a Diet Coke. I went from a 42-inch waist and an XXXL to a 34-inch and size large. I’ve put a bit back on now – I’m a 36-inch and an XL, but I’m happy with that.
Dawn or dusk? Dusk
City or beach? City
Pint or Prosecco? Prosecco – although I don’t drink that much these days, but I still have a good time!
Cats or dogs? Dogs. In fact, now I’m settled, I’m going to get a rescue. A French bulldog or similar.
The Travel Celebration featuring the Travel Gossip Awards takes place on 25 March at The Peninsula London.
