The Real Marigold Hotel

Inspired by the movie The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, this reality TV show followed a group of aged celebrities as they travelled to Jaipur to see if they could imagine retiring in accommodation (a haveli) in a country with strict social hierarchy and ever widening social inequality.

The three part programme was more about the personalities and how they take to life in India and in fairness most of them seemed to adapt really well.

Chef Rosemary Shrager and actress Miriam Margolyes were the big personalities and at times dominated the programme at the expense of others. Sharager wanted to make sure she could make hearty meals for everyone with fresh ingredients and spices. Margolyes with her flatulence and constant wanting to go for a wee probably due to the meals she was eating.

Sylvester McCoy, Roy Walker were more reserved. Walker reflected he wish he could had visited India with his late wife and certainly missed her when they went to the Taj Mahal. Jan Leeming was equally reflective of life as an older woman living on her own in Britain. Patti Boulaye, originally from Nigeria rather took it all in her stride. Maybe she knew what it was like to be a foreigner in another land.

At the end former darts player Bobby George was the only one who gave serious consideration of living in India. At least it would be good for his arthritis.

It was a fun enough series, some of it was a travelogue as they visited popular tourist sites in the region. Maybe a bit too frothy for my liking. Having visited Rajasthan myself there was more to Jaipur and its people than featured here.

OMG! I'm watching the second series currently and I'm stunned. I just never realized India was so amazingly beautiful. I've traveled extensively but I always avoided India because the ridiculous media have always portrayed it as slummy and third world. The first series took me aback, but this second series has me flabbergasted, literally. The people, architecture and the sheer beauty of the landscape. My holidays are in August and I WILL be in Kerala, India. It's the people I'm most looking forward to meeting. Amazing series. Well done!

I absolutely loved this series. I am a fan of the films, so the concept of this series had me intrigued right from the start. I have watched season 1,2 and 4 but only watched a part of season 3, I couldn't get into that season very much as I was not familiar with any of the people involved in it. Being Australian, I have to admit I did not know who some of the people involved were, but I did recognize a few in the other seasons and if I was curious about who someone else was I googled them. I will definitely go back and give season 3 a go. It would be fantastic to have an update to see if anyone actually really considered the move to India. It was marvelous learning about all the different areas in India. A great series, especially if you are a fan of the movies.

Just watched last episode of second series in tears. As the first, it filled me with emotion and joy. Please please please do another series but how about mixing some non celebs in to get another viewpoint( me me me). Loved everything about this stunning series.

I Thought the first was hard to match but this was superb too. It's made me want to see India for myself. More please x