Probably more accurately described as a film version of Whatever Happened To The Likely Lads? this further proves that not all sitcoms which set the action on holiday come unstuck. Crucially – and like Holiday On The Buses, below – the holiday is in Britain, caravanning in Northumbria to be precise. Bob and Terry are taken away by Thelma and Terry’s new girlfriend, Finnish Christina with hilarious results! But of course, we know that the real comedy comes from the interaction of the Lads themselves and their nostalgic/chauvinistic/pathetic musings on their lives and life. The two B’s, Bolam and Bewes, are just great and the Clement and La Frenais script is predictably brilliant. Sod your Forrest Gump, how’s this for confectionary based philosophy; “In the chocolate box of life the top layer has already gone…and someone’s nicked the orange cream from the bottom!” Class.
Creamguide's Pick of the Day
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Wrestling’s Golden Age – Grapples, Grunts and Grannies
Sunday, 22.05, BBC4Mick McManus died this week, alas, and remember him this way with another outing for this absolutely brilliant documentary from just before Christmas about British wrestling at its earthiest. There are some hilarious bits in it, like Johnny Kincaid being told he had to pretend he was from Barbados even though he’d never been there, Klondike Kate reminiscing about the fishwives throwing foot-and-mouth-disease injections at her, an interviewee saying “excuse my language” after he’d said the obscene word “bum” and the fantastically good value Max “brother of Shirley” Crabtree, the big kahuna in the “sport” in its imperial phase, explaining how they came up with the concept of Big Daddy after Shirley complained to him that “me whole career’s gone to cock!”. Great stuff.
The tower block where Terry Collier lived was in Howdon, Wallsend, and was a familiar landmark, with two identical tower blocks, for 30 years for motorists heading to Newcastle. Unfortunately like a lot of other, less famous tower blocks, it was prone to broken down lifts, as in the film, vandalism and structural problems and was demolished in 1991. The Likely Lads connection meant nothing to the residents or the local council who were glad to see it demolished.
“I’d offer you a beer, Bob, but I’ve only got six cans.”
I watch this film at least once a year to remind me about England in the 70′s. All hail Radio Free Ferris.
“Don’t worry kidda, I’ll be back to cock it all up for you”
Also well known for cult horror star Anulka Dzubianka( hope I’ve got this right), trying to seduce Bob in the guest house. Always got the impression she might have turned into a vampire had things got a bit more dirty.