The Booze Cruise

5 blokes nip to Calais for cheap plonk in the days when it was allegedly cheaper, to buy the stuff in France than in the local supermarket.

This first episode of the trilogy introduces us to a number of family situations and we. Glimpse further edges to the relationships.

There is the happy family man Dave Bolton with his ever loving spouse, the lovely Cath the perfect couple.

There's Dave's best mate and fellow Booze Cruiser Rob along his significant other Leone, and his male proclivities.

Another ingredient is the Rainer family husband Clive his spouse Ruth, and their thoroughly spoilt daughter Chloe.

Any more for the skylark?

Rather there are the pensioners Grace and Maurice, who live somewhat adjacent to Rob and Dave.

Indeed they all reside almost cheek by jowl with one another, though they are separated by more than distance.

These are the main or principal ingredients but its how they stir together, that makes this a great and enjoyable jaunt.

What a delightful surprise. I hadn't thought I would watch this, expecting another example of of bad behaviour, foul language and drunkeness.

But nothing of the sort. Instead an excellent drama, full of comedy that made me laugh out loud (and that doesn't often happen these days). Brilliant. 10 out of 10. We need more dramas like this.

It was well written with great acting and good direction and editing. The fun was original and kept me riveted, wondering what was going to happen next. The upsets were not driven into pathos and left you feeling that all's well that ends well. More like this please (and an early repeat showing too).

It's five blokes on their dream escape to France to really stock-up and save a substantial wodge of cash in the process. It's pre-Brexit and at a time when it was very easy to bring back copious amounts of booze for personal consumption only back from the continent.

Of course that's now much more difficult. It's got a lot of slapstick British humour with plenty of quips and mockering. It's classic English humour.

It's not the best-of-scripts but it is done very well and I would not change too much. It's got some pedigree English TV actors lead by the illustrious Martin Clunes.

Literally five blokes on a mission to get their quality booze. Except it doesn't go as planned. There's an affair. There's several disasters. There's plenty of slapstick. It's getting the lads together and an adventure. It's quality British TV and pre-Brexit when life was a lot easier. Great stuff.

This was a one-off 2-hour drama on ITV. It is about a group of miss-matched neighbours going on a booze cruise to France. The script was very good with witty dialogue and strong characters. All the acting by the main and even the supporting cast was of the highest order with the veteran Brian Murphy brilliant as the moaning pensioner. It had plenty of laugh out moments and a clever 4-pronged plot. Though there were a couple of predictable moments on the whole it provided a decent level of entertainment. An enjoyable drama, which I recommend you watch.

The blokes are a really mixed bag. Back home, the ladies are also across different social backgrounds. Lots of little avenues off the main road here and they all work. Great little scenarios and twists. Not laugh aloud humour but gives you plenty to grin at and like. Just watched it again. Pity that the Clive character (M Clunes), is not in the 2nd and 3rd editions.