Hold The Sunset

Frauds are at the fore in this week's instalment of the pleasingly superannuated west London comedy. Phil (John Cleese) self-combusts on realising that Wendy's book of animal stories mirrors his own life, and social services spring a surprise on scammer Roger by giving him what he wanted - almost.

Season two of the star-packed sitcom about a silvery couple having their retirement plans upended continues. After last week's dire house viewing, fastidious Phil (John Cleese) has vanished, which is probably just as well since daffy Roger (Jason Watkins) has jumped headlong into the Airbnb market. Farcical, fitful fun.

With its superstar cast and older target audience, you might expect this sitcom to be smoothly executed. Instead, it is wilfully erratic, veering between wacky oddness and gentle, joke-free patter. Series two opens with grumpy Phil (John Cleese) making a hash of selling his house.

Hold The Sunset makes Mrs Brown look like a masterpiece

Retiree romcom Hold The Sunset (BBC One) returned for a second series but I rather wish it had sailed off into its titular twilight. Instead, almost in the words of The Honeycombs' best-known song, it came right back and I just can't bear it.

Jason Watkins interview

'I've bonded with a singing crocodile!'.

The first episode of Hold the Sunset was so gruellingly unamusing I was determined to have nothing more to do with it. Then John Cleese objected to my review on Twitter and argued that only people who had TV are qualified to critique it. I did try two more episodes. If anything, the script deteriorated, leaving fine comedians including Rosie Cavaliero and Jason Watkins to overact their socks off. A second series is coming next year. Can an average audience of 4.65 million possibly be wrong? A majority of commenters on The Arts Desk would suggest they might. For a proper depth-charged comedy about an autumn romance thwarted by selfish hangers-on, stick with Mum.

Hold the Sunset Christmas special, review

It is as if the writer put down his pen midway through crafting an hour-long special and shoved in a heart-warming Christmas singalong to end things.

Edith and Phil's former lovers send departure plans awry. An encounter with Edith's old boyfriend sets Phil's tetchiness gland twitching, while an appearance from Phil's former flame Desiree causes consternation for Edith. The only reconnection likely for manchild Roger is, he hopes, with his missing drone.