Celebrities seduced by the magic of India T

HIS delightful, heartwarming and surprising series is back for a third run, once again sending a group of celebrity senior citizens over to India, to give them a taste of what life would be like if they chose to retire there.

And it’s another eclectic bunch, featuring comedians Syd Little and Janette and Ian Tough (The Krankies, to you and me), journalist and presenter Selina Scott, actresses Stephanie Beacham and Susan George, Grand National-winning jockey Bob Champion, EastEnders actor Peter Dean and politician turned I’m A Celeb-er Stanley Johnson.

Their adventure takes them to Udaipur in Rajasthan, the City of Lakes, where they will spend a month living together in a Celebrity tourists Selina Scott, Peter Dean, Ian and Janette Tough, Bob Champion, Susan George, Stephanie Beacham, Syd Little and Stanley Johnson stunning traditional ancestral mansion, throwing themselves into every aspect of Indian life and culture.

And given that Bob has never even eaten curry in his life, it could be a bit of a struggle.

But, as in previous series, the participants’ willingness to embrace everything that’s put in front of them is joyful and inspiring to watch. As is how, even with the things they find challenging (the heat and noise, the crazy traffic and whizzing mopeds, doing the food shopping and having to watch a chicken being beheaded), they are still open-minded and willing to give everything a go.

Despite the difficulties and their initial cynicism, it looks like once again the celebs could all end up being seduced by India, its people and the extraordinary way of life there.

“It’s intoxicating – pure gold,” says Selina. And so is this series.