Benidorm's last ever episode review

An abrupt end for this old-fashioned comedy.

Julie Graham & Steve Edge interview

They were the new family last year, but this year the Dawsons are back and I speak to Julie Graham and Steve Edge, who play Sheron and Billy, poolside at the Solana to find out more.

The comedy-drama returns. As the eighth series begins, change is very much in the wind at the Solana. Les (Tim Healy) is on duty without his customary makeup and chestnut bob, while Jacqueline is saying goodbye to Donald by scattering his ashes over the bay with the help of a wind machine and the lads from the Blow & Go. New guest cast members materialise in the shape of the Dawsons (featuring Julie Graham as mum Sheron) while sex-comedy mainstay Robin Askwith debuts as aspirant barman/lothario Marcus.

Radio Times review

Benidorm is ailing. I speak as one who loved the earlier series but, as the eighth opens, it can barely crank out an ounce of credibility in the storylines, let alone a decent laugh. The Garveys are gone and with them any clout Steve Pemberton, Sheila Reid and Siobhan Finneran brought to the show (although Reid will be back for a guest spot).

A new family, the Dawsons (headed by a shrill Julie Graham), make little impact, while Joyce (Sherrie Hewson) seriously considers hiring the deeply unsavoury Marcus (Robin Askwith).

On a positive note, Jacqueline gives her late hubby Donald a touching send-off, aided by hairdresser Troy (Paul Bazely, returning after four years away).

Julie Graham talks about her new role in Benidorm

"From a female actor's point of view, nobody is writing female characters of a certain age anywhere except soaps. Derren Litten is the only writer on British television writing really great parts for older women."

Looking for a clean, warm-hearted laughs? BBC1 has made viewers work for them, scheduling this family fare in a deathly slot where you need to stay awake past 11pm to see a whole episode. It's almost as if they regret commissioning it. They needn't worry: while Being Eileen doesn't start any comedy fires, it's solid, likeable and peopled by extremely good comic actors. Sue Johnston is the titular granny, supported by Dean Andrews, Julie Graham and the terrific Elizabeth Berrington.

The enjoyable series continues tonight with a friend encouraging Eileen (Sue Johnston) to join a group of local widows for emotional support. Meanwhile, Paula (Elizabeth Berrington) and Mandy (Julie Graham) set up rival classes in the latest keep-fit dance craze, Ay Carumba, and Ethan shows signs of being a future judo star.

The traditional redemptive sugar substitute is provided by the "heart-warming" (your critical alarm bells should now be ringing) tale of a Birkenhead family holidaying in Lapland. Sue Johnston and Julie Graham star, and Zawe Ashton - so wonderful as Vod in Channel 4's student comedy drama Fresh Meat - plays the tour rep known as "Jingle Jill".

The only reason there are ladders in Portwenn is so that folk can fall off them but tonight the soft-hearted Joe Penhale manages to get himself stuck up one a few feet from the ground.

He's trying to impress his estranged wife Maggie (Julie Graham) with his ­new-found bravery in the hope that she'll stick around and give their marriage another shot. And, frankly, she could do a lot worse.

Look at Louisa, stuck in a non-relationship with a man who's missing most of the standard quota of emotional ­software. Tonight, Louisa returns to her teaching job, just in time for half the pupils and the caretaker to be struck down by a ­collection of strange illnesses.

But while Martin is handy to have around in a medical emergency, as far as normal relationships go he's a complete waste of skin. And that's not a situation Louisa is finding funny any more.