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).

Last week's outsider from the world of the un-north was Robin Askwith as a cockney conman. This week it's Una Stubbs, who comes from the world of Posh. She plays the snooty but enigmatic Diana, who makes a flying trip to bail out her son, hapless con victim Martin. Meanwhile, The Oracle's whoppers about fighting off criminals come back to bite him on the backside, Madge gets a Bo Derek-style makeover and Gavin suspects that Troy is cheating on him. This is just one aspect of the show that makes it a bit more than Coronation Street by the pool-side.

It's more of the same ribaldry as the third series of the comedy about the Spanish resort continues. Madge (Shelia Reid) is uneasy when her estranged daughter Valda (Lorraine Bruce) turns up in the sunny resort and is convinced that she is there only for Mel's (Geoffrey Hutchings) money. Though that should be the least of her worries as a professional con man (Robin Askwith) arrives.

Madge, who contributes a memorable karaoke spot to tonight's episode, must be one of the most hateful characters ever to appear in a comedy.

Another of her estranged daughters turns up unexpectedly at the hotel tonight, with her new husband in tow - an Indian doctor who speaks no English.

Along with the ongoing storyline that sees Geoff (Johnny Vegas) trying to persuade folk that he's not gay, it's like something out of the 1970s.

And there's another blast from the past as guest star Robin Askwith (from the Confessions Of... films) checks in tonight playing a cockney conman. He's the best thing in the show, with a great character face that doesn't look lived-in so much as completely trashed by squatters. He'll be hoping no one at the Solanas asks, "Can I carry your bags?"

Not since Gwen Taylor and Keith Barron kept finding themselves in the same hotel as that posh couple in Duty Free have a bunch of chalk-and-cheese holidaymakers been so unfortunate to end up sharing their vacations together so often. Back at the Solana Resort on a freebie (a present for winning Best Comedy at the National TV Awards, perhaps?), the gang will be joined by outlandish guest turns Sheridan Smith, Robin Askwith, Una Stubbs, Tim Healy and Mr Keith Barron himself.

Originally written for Jim Davidson (says it all really), this groan-inducing ITV sitcom debuted in 1984 with Robin Askwith (faded 70s/80s star) as a randy football-loving milkman. Writer Vince Powell also created Love Thy Neighbour and Mind Your Language so we're not exactly in TV heaven here...