Nigel Havers

TV review: The Cockfields, Gold

I've only seen the first episode though - maybe everything goes pear-shaped in the next two parts. I'll certainly be watching to find out.

TV review: The Cockfields, series 1, episode 1

I can't wait to see what happens to them next, even if it isn't very much at all.

The Cockfields review

Joe Wilkinson has become known as the weird one on panel shows such as 8 Out Of 10 Cats Does Countdown. But in this all-too-relatable three-part comedy, he actually turns out to be the normal one at the centre of other people's oddness.

The Cockfields, episode 1 review

A well-observed, gently addictive gem.

Weirdy-beardy panel show regular Joe Wilkinson co-writes (with David Earl) and stars in this new three-part sitcom set on the Isle of Wight, a relatively untapped comedic setting. He plays Simon, nervously preparing to celebrate his 40th birthday by taking his girlfriend Donna (Diane Morgan) back to his childhood home to meet his daffy mum (Sue Johnston) and overbearing stepdad (Bobby Ball), unaware that his biological father (Nigel Havers) is also keen to elbow in on the fun.

For sheer flamboyance, there's no beating tubby hairdresser Kenneth (Tony Maudsley), who flounced into the sea as Benidorm (ITV) returned.

He was trying to swim back to the Solana hotel, from an island off the Costa Blanca coast, but only his necklace was washed ashore. Of the rest, nothing was found, not even his silver posing briefs. If he doesn't turn up, it's a clever way to write his character out of the show -- with the possibility of a comeback one day.

Nigel Havers. as the smarmy dentist taking over Kenneth's salon, is smoothly amusing, and the wonderful Janine Duvitski as elderly swinger Jacqueline is back.

But most of the best-loved Benidorm regulars have long since departed, and the show has a decrepit air, like a cheap hotel at the tail-end of the season.

Full marks, though, to a hilarious cameo from Spandau Ballet's Tony Hadley, sending himself up as a shameless narcissist churning out the band's hits at a wedding. That was pure Gold.

In praise of Benidorm, the UK's most under-rated sitcom

It's a funny old game, comedy. Steve Pemberton's critical accolades for The League of Gentleman, and BBC2's late night cult hit, Inside No 9, are legion. But you'll be hard pressed to read glowing reviews of his eight years starring in the ITV comedy Benidorm. In fact you'll be hard pressed to read anything glowing from sniffy critics about the hit sitcom, despite its millions of viewers, longevity and viewer-voted National Television Awards. In fact, one critic went so far as to describe the viewing public a "disgrace" for voting for it.

This is destined to be as satisfyingly festive as a Christmas pudding drenched in gravy or a Christmas cracker bursting with brussels sprouts. It's over to Jack Whitehall's country manor for this edition, with Andrew "flat Earth" Flintoff, James Corden and Jamie Redknapp joined by guests David Seaman, Kriss Akabusi and Nigel Havers to look back on their favourite moments from the last 12 - yes, that's right, 12 - series. Warning: may contain banter.

Murder On The Blackpool Express preview

While Murder On The Blackpool Express is probably not an instant classic, the playfulness of its fine cast make it an affable diversion, and a happy slice of family viewing (9.30pm actually seems like too late a slot) that could bear many a bank holiday repeat.