Our Indian Summer

Amanda Barrie and Dennis Taylor are among the new batch of residents checking into the Marigold Hotel…

- Rebecca Mahoney

When we discovered The Real Marigold Hotel would be returning with a brand-new batch of senior celebrities, we have to admit that we were seriously concerned about whether the travel documentary series would be as fun without Rosemary Shrager’s loud belly laugh and Miriam Margolyes’ flatulence problem!

But after hearing tales of naked massages, white-knuckle tuktuk rides, ‘Delhi Belly’ attacks and a crisis involving the underpants of a former East Enders bad boy, TV Times can confirm that the new stars are every bit as entertaining, if not (dare we say it) more so.

Former Corrie star Amanda Barrie, twinkle-toed entertainer Lionel Blair, snooker legend Dennis Taylor and TV chef Rustie Lee are among the intrepid senior citizens who set out to sample retired life in India for the four-part series, which begins this week with a surprise meet-and-greet for the celebs at London’s Heathrow Airport.

‘We didn’t know who else was going on the trip, so you see real expressions of surprise at the airport,’ says Dennis, 68, who’s also joined by wildlife expert Bill Oddie, Dr Miriam Stoppard, Three Degrees singer Sheila Ferguson, and actor Paul Nicholas, aka Walford bad guy Gavin Sullivan.

‘Well, I did have an inkling because I saw the name “Lionel” in an email and I told my wife Lionel Richie was coming! I soon realised it would be Mr Blair, and I tell you something, that man is incredible for his age!’

At 88, Lionel is the eldest of the celebrities, and when he first arrived in the port city of Kochi, in south-west India, he struggled.