24. Benidorm (ITV1, 2010)
Its Christmastime in Benidorm as the Garvey family return to visit their uniquely foul-tempered elderly relative Madge whos struggling to locate her nightclubs guest act Su Pollard. This episodes a bit scattershot with so many tenuously connected plotlines but they seem to work reasonably well on their own if not together. The episodes main aim is to kill Madges husband Mel due to the death of actor Geoffrey Hutchings before production began on the episode but it still weaves some good comedy moments around that required scene. Geordie actor Tim Healey is excellent in his supporting role as transvestite handyman Les/Leslie, and its got brilliant cameos from Cilla Black, Su Pollard, and Roy Wood as well as an incredibly disappointing one from Louie Spence (Which is disappointing solely because it exists) and theres some pretty serious mood whiplash towards the end as we go straight from Roy Wood performing
I Wish It Could Be Christmas Every Day to the characters learning of Mels death but the drama of the scene works well enough. Its far from perfect but its good fun and pays a decent tribute to both Mel and Geoffrey Hutchings.
Best Moment: Madges argument with Su Pollard and its aftermath.