A TV star and multi-millionaire has hit back at criticism that he is holidaying in France while promoting a Suffolk seaside resort.

Anthony Bond

A TV star and multi-millionaire has hit back at criticism that he is holidaying in France while promoting a Suffolk seaside resort.

Duncan Bannatyne was in Felixstowe on Sunday filming for The Great British Holiday Show. In an interview after filming, he said people should be holidaying in the town instead of going abroad.

But, as revealed earlier this week, the 60-year-old Dragons' Den star was filming for the new show, which promotes British holidays, while jetting backwards and forwards from a holiday at his luxury villa in the south of France.

This prompted criticism from sections of the national media, which led the health club owner to hit back last night on micro-blogging site Twitter, where he had first posted details of his holiday.

He wrote: “Oh dear, some press have suggested that by spending time at my villa in France in between helping seaside attractions I am being hypocritical.”

In an audio interview from his villa in Mougins, close to Cannes, also posted on Twitter last night, he said: “For them to say things like it is hypocritical is totally wrong because I have never said that I was not in my villa in France and the only reason that they know I am in the villa in France was because I said it on Twitter.

“I have never hidden it and for them to say that I have been caught out is appalling. They suggested that people in these resorts will be angry that I am doing this but I do not think so, not the people I have spoken to.”

He added: “When I was asked to go to Felixstowe, I said 'oh no, I should be at my villa, I shouldn't be in Felixstowe' but when I got there I was amazed at how fantastic it was, beautiful beach, sunny day, I had a great time.”

Mr Bannatyne's posts on Twitter earlier this month revealed that, while on his holiday, he had been enjoying fireworks displays on Bastille Day and aqua-aerobics sessions in his outdoor pool.

The TV star will be back in Felixstowe on Bank Holiday Monday where he will be joining in The Edwardian Extravaganza. It is a free event from 11am to 6pm next to the prom between Manwick Road and Arwela Road.

The Great British Holiday Show will be shown on Virgin 1 at the beginning of 2010.

Click here to listen to Duncan Bannatyne's interviewClick here to listen to Duncan Bannatyne's interviewClick here to listen to Duncan Bannatyne's interview