When some cricketing force majeure robs “Thelma” (Pauline Collins) of her overbearing husband, she can finally look forward to some years without bothering about his chrysanthemums or aversion to tuna. Unfortunately, her rather venal son “Derek” (Peter Capaldi) and wife “Veronica” (Anna Wilson-Jones) have other plans and before she knows it, “Thelma” has been bundled into a care home where she is expected to take her pills and behave herself. Her observations after a few days, though, lead her to believe that this cannot be what her future holds. Allying with nurse “Gina” (Angela Bruce) she begins to sow some seeds of mischief despite the controlling efforts of boss “Hawksmoor” (John Alderton) and the domineering matron (Isla Blair). She also quickly realises that many of her fellow inmates have plenty of life left in them too, and so an illicit trip bowling ensues and then a veritable revolution that sees them fine dining on egg, chips and wine before her leading a large-scale walkout. Taking refuge in a local hotel, they attract some local media attention with her giving interviews galore and causing no end of embarrassment for her slimy son - who just happens to work for the company that owns the care home and the hotel. The message here is clear and that’s that we ought not to be writing off the elderly by zombifying them for profit and convenience, and although it pings fairly and squarely at corporate greed it also takes a swipe at disinterested offspring who don’t or won’t take the time for their parents either. The ensemble cast is what really makes this: a potpourri of familiar British faces delivering characters with an amiable collection of eccentricities and ailments as well as an version to all things cabbage, and it’s written in a gentle and breezy fashion to keep us smiling rather than laughing. Look out for a lively and lovely contribution from Sheila Reid (and a bit of Ivor Novello) and a suitably hammy one from Tony Robinson showing up the facileness of the television chat show host, too. It’s good fun, this.
