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The Comic Strip Presents ‘Five Go To Rehab’

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Three decades after the renowned Five Go Mad in Dorset, Jennifer Saunders, Dawn French, Peter Richardson and Ade Edmondson return to celebrate 30 years of the series, with The Comic Strip Presents ‘Five Go To Rehab’, which premieres on 7th November on GOLD at 9pm.

The famous children’s characters have been brought back from the past to confront today’s modern world, but this time they must account for their outmoded racist and sexist views. But the quintet seem blissfully unrepentant as they gather for a reunion on Dick’s birthday in leafy Dorset – still a magical land of rolling hills, woods, ruined castles and dodgy villains in big black cars.

Dick (Ade Edmondson) has changed little since those early years and is now Assistant Manager for Plasmold, a plastic guttering company in Dorking. Eager to rekindle the joys of their Famous Five youth, he has engineered a few surprises for their reunion. However the others are not as keen to revisit their past. George (Dawn French) is a struggling alcoholic with a string of ex-husbands behind her and only faithful Timmy by her side. Julian (Peter Richardson) having disappeared to Equatorial Guinea for many years, apparently working for a dubious ‘charity’, is now also in need of a stint in rehab. Anne (Jennifer Saunders) the pretty shy one never did become the ‘perfect housewife’. Now a militant feminist / animal rights campaigner, she lives life on the edge of a nervous breakdown.

The famous five are met along the way by a number of familiar faces. Robbie Coltrane returns as a guest house landlady and lecherous Gypsy. Stephen Mangan plays a sexually charged actor, eager to impress Anne and Nigel Planer returns as a police inspector and sinister barmaid. Rik Mayal plays an evil villain who is determined to decapitate a terrified Julian and Daniel Peacock also makes an appearance as snubbed Toby Thurlow who has had 30 years to plan his revenge on the famous five.

Five Go To Rehab was created by the award winnings writers Peter Richardson and Pete Richens who wrote the original Five Go Mad in Dorset film and have since collaborated on many of the Comic Strip films including The Strike, A Fistful Of Travellers Cheques, Four Men In A Car and more recently the highly acclaimed The Hunt for Tony Blair. Five Go to Rehab was directed by Peter Richardson and produced by Nick Smith who also produced The Hunt for Tony Blair.

‘The Comic Strip Presents ‘Five Go To Rehab’, 7th November on GOLD 9pm.

BRITONS VOTE CHERYL COLE, PETER KAY AND JAMIE OLIVER AS THEIR TOP CHRISTMAS DAY HOST.

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The nation’s sweetheart Cheryl Cole, funny man Peter Kay, celebrity chef Jamie Oliver, comedian Dawn French and Domestic Goddess Nigella Lawson have been voted Britons top Christmas Day hosts according to new research out today. Four out of ten adults stated they would love to receive an invitation to spend Christmas Day with one of these celebrities because they would be guaranteed a day of laughter, good food and entertaining conversation which are the three essential ingredients to make Christmas Day a success.

Making up the remainder of the top ten Christmas Dinner hosts was witty music mogul Simon Cowell, showbiz duo Ant & Dec, Friends star Jennifer Aniston, heartthrob David Beckham and singer Katy Perry.

The Travelodge poll of 6,000 Britons also revealed due to the hardship of this year 68% of adults want the warmth and love of a conventional family Yuletide gathering at their parent’s house this year – whilst a fifth of Brits, want to re-capture the magic of their childhood Christmas at their grandparent’s house this festive season.

In search of family love, over the next two days 45% of Britons will defy the peril of the big freeze and drive an average 122 miles in order to celebrate a traditional Christmas in the bosom of their family. Respondents reported they will spend an average eight hours this festive season driving to visit family.

Further findings revealed in the lead up to Christmas this year, a fifth of British couples argued regarding which side of the family they were going to be spending Christmas Day with. On average four heated arguments took place between couples before a final decision was made.

Over a quarter (27%) of couples surveyed stated they will be having two Christmas dinners this year, consuming a whopping 3086 calories – because they feel obliged to visit both set of parents on Christmas day.

Over half of the nation (51%) believes it’s important to spend Christmas Day with the family because that is the true essence of Christmas. Only seven per cent of Britons are spending Christmas day with their friends rather than their family this year.

The report also revealed a fifth of Britons have avoided the calamity of their family’s spare room and the prospect of sleeping on the floor and sofa by booking themselves into a nearly hotel on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.

One in ten adults surveyed stated their biggest bug bear when visiting their family is there is nowhere to sleep and they cannot bear the prospect of spending the night on the sofa or floor.

Shakila Ahmed, Travelodge Spokeswoman said, “It seems Britons will be driving home to the bosom of their family this Christmas despite the big freeze. In today’s climate Brits are longing for love and support from their families and are keen to re-establish family ties. Although when it comes to staying over a growing number of Brits are opting to stay in a local hotel so that they can get a good night’s sleep. We have seen a surge in Christmas bookings within the last few weeks and in our recent £10 sale, rooms were getting booked by the second for the Christmas period.”