Russ Abbot rants at BBC for axeing Boomers

Comedian reckons the "five million" viewers of his gentle sitcom have been let down by the cancellation which comes eight years after Last Of The Summer Wine kicked the bucket.

Last in the series of Richard Pinto's amiably silly sitcom about sixtysomethings - and in June Whitfield's case, ninetysomethings - resolutely failing to behave like old folks. Tonight, Joan (Whitfield) appears to have landed herself a 70-year-old toy boy, Roy. Joyce and Maureen are convinced that he's after her money but it turns out to be more complex than that. Good to see Paula Wilcox back on screen, so underused since Man About The House.

11 reasons to visit the seaside home of Boomers

The seafront scenes in the BBC1 sitcom Boomers are actually filmed in Herne Bay, not Norfolk.

It's the day of the naming ceremony for Alan and Joyce's granddaughter and each Boomer has a plan. Joyce is determined to spend time with the baby despite protective daughter-in-law Suze, while Alan is preoccupied with keeping his wallet shut. Carol wants a publisher for her erotic novel, although Trevor frets about the revelations within. John and Maureen, meanwhile, are aiming to wangle a boat club membership, despite possessing as little nautical knowledge as your average Boaty McBoatface voter.

Every gag in the "modern world v retirement" book is used in Boomers, but the cast is so good it just about carries it off. This week, Alan's rant at the neighbours goes viral and a newly arrived couple, Matt and Seb, invite the Boomers to a houseparty. Maureen (Stephanie Beacham, as minxish as ever) tries to keep her gay icon status under wraps as Joyce (the brilliant Alison Steadman) tries to ingratiate herself. There's a farce involving an upcycled family heirloom and a small dog, but the one-liners are good.

As the sixtysomethings sitcom returns, it's Trevor's birthday. This means the gang have to spend the weekend at a campsite. Worse, at least from Alan's perspective, the men have been entered in a charity bike race. Still, as John notes, the money is going to Age UK, so "you're basically investing in your future". Maureen, Carol and Joyce meet a Swedish lad who appears to have a penchant for older women. Fine performances from a cast that includes Alison Steadman, but not nearly enough risks.

"I CAN handle myself." "I wouldn't in those shorts!" That's the type of humour you can expect in this new series of Boomers, the gently cheeky sitcom about a group of older people, ageing baby boomers, as they gossip, nag, squabble, and go on holiday together.

Boomers is never laugh-out-loud funny but it's warm and charming and has an impressive cast of famous older faces, such as Alison Steadman, Stephanie Beacham and, er, Russ Abbott.

The wry sitcom about three couples entering their winter years returns with an episode set in Calais following a shopping trip to Cologne's Christmas markets. The French are about to go on strike, making it imperative to catch the train. Disaster hits, creating space for one-liners from The Big Book of Sitcom Jokes - a lorry driver on why one of the show's leads should drive away with him: "I've been to Norfolk, she's better off in Dresden" - and a good football-with-the-Germans-in-no-man's land gag.

Boomers, TV review

This "special" sitcom was farcical for farce's sake and unbearable to watch, says Amy Burns.

Boomers Christmas Special, BBC One, review

Sometimes the point of Christmas telly is to bond with family. But sometimes the point of Christmas telly is to escape them. So surely the last thing anyone spending their festive break with middle-aged relatives wanted to watch was the Boomers Christmas Special (BBC One)?