The Spa

Benidorm writer Derren Litten's new comedy is set in a health club, an arena ripe for humour. And with Rebecca Front shining in the role of contemptuous spa manager Alison the series is more hit than miss. She wants to turn around the fortunes of the spa but is hampered by a wheelchair-bound aerobics instructor (Litten) and a handyman (Tim Healy) with a penchant for wearing "sex pest shorts".

Tim Healy: The Spa is as good as Benidorm

Benidorm actor Tim Healy reckons ITV will be kicking itself for missing out on new comedy The Spa.

Cheryl Fergison was 'determined' to land Spa role

Cheryl Fergison has revealed that she was determined to land her new role in Sky Living comedy The Spa - and was "chuffed" when she got the part.

Rebecca Front, er, fronts this new proper British Sky comedy about the gang of misfits and no-hopers running the titular health club. She plays blonde bitch-in-chief Alison Crabbe, the woman charged with sorting out botched beauty treatments, short short-wearing handymen with big penises and sadistic fitness instructors.

Cheryl Fergison, Niky Wardley and Tim Healy are among the ensemble cast of The Spa, which comes from actor and Benidorm creator Derren Litten. You may want to think about cancelling your chemical face peel after this.

The Spa - Rebecca Front interview

"The first page of the script had me laughing out loud," says Rebecca Front, who plays bolshy manageress Alison Crabbe. "It's a mainstream comedy, but it's not obvious or predictable because Derren Litten's writing is so clever.

My secret life: Rebecca Front, 48, actor

'I told Jeremy Paxman I fancy him.'

Wheelchair comedy is no laughing matter, says spa boss

New Sky comedy starring Rebecca Front, of The Thick Of It, is criticised for featuring a fitness instructor confined to a wheelchair.

EastEnders Cheryl Fergison lands role in The Spa

Former EastEnders actress Cheryl Fergison will feature in a new sitcom written by Derren Litten, creator of ITV1's comedy show Benidorm.