INDIAN SUMMER

EIGHT famous pensioners meeting at Heathrow’s Terminal 5 might not sound like the stuff of top TV, but within the first few minutes of this new series, it’s hard not to be hooked.

There are now more OAPs than ever, so little wonder shows such as The Real Marigold Hotel have a built-in audience. The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel films which inspired this hit series have already proved that, while the vibrant colours of India are a great antidote to the grey skies we have to endure in Blighty.

Amanda Barrie, Dennis Taylor, Rustie Lee, Miriam Stoppard, Bill Oddie, Sheila Ferguson and Paul Nicholas are among the latest recruits travelling thousands of miles to make a new home in Kochi, a city in the southwest Indian state Kerala.

“I’ve never been to India, so why don’t I give it a crack?” enthuses Sheila. Paul, above, is also embracing the new experience. “I’m going there almost as a child, with my eyes wide open,” he explains. Many who have fond memories of hit sitcom Just Good Friends and chart hits such as Dancing with the Captain will have a hard time believing that’s the same stage and screen star, but there’s no shortage of fun at this (grandma’s) party.

While Rustie and Miriam seem charmed by their first days here, the oldest member of the group at 87, finds dealing with the realities of living in India unsettling.

“Give us a clue?” you scream. Yes, it’s Lionel Blair, who used to shine in that ITV charades favourite. He has been part of British showbusiness for so long it’s hard to remember a time when Lionel wasn’t putting dancers through their paces, wowing the masses on stage or working his magic behind the scenes.

Sheila, best known for her work with 1970s pop trio The Three Degrees, is keen to make sure she gets what she wants out of the trip, while Paul takes her to try out an Ayurvedic massage which she finds profoundly calming.

It’s a fascinating sight as they travel on traditional houseboats through the world famous backwaters, gliding along the vast waterways that crisscross through the villages and jungles.

Can our celebs enjoy a more rewarding retirement than in the UK?

That remains to be seen, though as a more gentle, exotic take on the Big Brother-style reality format, it offers a welcome change.