The Real Marigold Hotel
BBC ONE, 9.00PM
The beautiful city of Udaipur in Rajasthan, which is also known as the “City of the Lakes”, is the fabulously scenic setting for this third run of the series that dispatches various “senior” British celebrities on a freebie jaunt to India to get a month-long taste of life in a different culture – supposedly with a view to retiring there. Not that any kind of peaceful retirement could ever be in prospect with the likes of Janette and Ian Tough – aka The Krankies – in the entourage, or comedian Syd Little (of Little and Large fame) for that matter. Also in the group are actors Stephanie Beacham, Peter Dean and Susan George, former jockey Bob Champion, and journalists Selina Scott and Stanley Johnson. And luckily for them, the accommodation is a step up on previous series as the group is put up in a sumptuous lakeside haveli, or townhouse, where the rooms and service are second only to the views in terms of splendour. As ever, it takes some of the group longer than others to settle in (Champion, Little and the Toughs, in particular, struggle with the food) but the glories of Udaipur and its people soon begin to win them round. Gerard O’ Donovan