Figure of fun

Les Dennis plays an unfit divorcee who gets the workout bug

-  TESS LAMACRAFT, RICHARD MCCLURE

NEW DRAMA

Jimmy McGovern’s Moving On

Mon-Fri, BBC1 HD, times vary

Since daytime series Moving On debuted in 2009, the award-winning BBC1 drama anthology has brought us some of TV’s biggest names in dozens of memorable stories.

This week, the series – created by writer Jimmy McGovern – returns with five new standalone tales, including Wednesday’s episode starring Les Dennis as divorcee Joe, who spends his retirement enjoying boozy evenings with his pals – until a birthday gift changes everything.

‘Joe has done well in life – he’s got a nice house and a devoted daughter but now he’s retired and his entire focus is evenings out at the local rugby club. One night is pie night, one is steak, another fish and chips – it’s the same routine night after night,’ says Dennis.

UNEXPECTED GIFT

So when Joe’s daughter, Casey, played by Atomic Kitten singer Liz McClarnon, gives her dad a personal training session for his 65th birthday, he’s taken aback.