A brilliant opener to the third series of 'Rab C. Nesbitt'.
Mary has been admitted to hospital following a burst appendix. In the bed next to her is Mrs. Monteith, a nasty, dirt stirring old bag who makes the Wicked Witch of the West look like Snow White. To take their minds off things, Rab and Jamesie take Gash and Burney off to Blackpool, where they meet up with Mary's cousin Shug and his snobbish wife Phoebe. Whilst Phoebe and Shug make off with the boys to the Pleasure Beach, Jamesie and Rab hook up with a couple of local girls by the name of Cath and Sylvie.
While Jamesie is copping off with Sylvie, Cath opens up to Rab about the volatile relationship between her and her abusive husband who is serving time in jail. Later on, Rab phones the hospital to enquire after Mary, where he is told that she has died on the operating table...
Fantastic stuff. Like the 'Holiday' episode from series one, taking the characters from their normal confines made a refreshing change. As we later found out, Mary's death was in fact a lie told by Mrs. Monteith to Rab over the telephone. Shug and Phoebe, played by Sean Scanlan and Sara Corper, were first introduced in 'Offski' from series one when Rab went to stay with them in order to hide from the police. Scanlan later worked with Gregor as Dougie in 'The Tales Of Para Handy'. Shug was a good character and it was a pity he wasn't in many more episodes. Corper's television credits included 'Up The Elephant & Round The Castle', 'Sink Or Swim' and 'I, Lovett'.
Cath and Sylvie were played by Anita Dobson ( who is forever locked in viewers minds as Angie Watts from 'Eastenders' and who also worked with Sara Corper on 'Up The Elephant' ) and Gerry Cowper ( who some may remember as Trigger's sexy niece from the classic 'Only Fools & Horses' episode 'Tea For Three' ). Dobson, one of the most underrated actresses of the small screen and attractive woman to boot, is wonderful here. The scene in which she pours her heart out to Rab is deeply touching. The combination of Fisher and Dobson's talents were powerful and it was just a shame she wasn't on screen for that bit longer. Jean Anderson, who played Mrs. Monteith, has been in countless television shows such as 'Tenko' and 'Keeping Up Appearances'.
Incidentally, Blackpool is a wonderful place. In fact, it was the very first place me and my wife went on holiday together when we first started courting.
Funniest bit - back home, Rab is playing football with Gash and Burney. Taking a penalty kick at the ball, Rab kicks it too hard and it ends up hitting Mrs. Monteith on the head, who is walking nearby. Serves the old cow right.
Second funniest bit - Rab's dismal attempt to build a sandcastle.
Mary has been admitted to hospital following a burst appendix. In the bed next to her is Mrs. Monteith, a nasty, dirt stirring old bag who makes the Wicked Witch of the West look like Snow White. To take their minds off things, Rab and Jamesie take Gash and Burney off to Blackpool, where they meet up with Mary's cousin Shug and his snobbish wife Phoebe. Whilst Phoebe and Shug make off with the boys to the Pleasure Beach, Jamesie and Rab hook up with a couple of local girls by the name of Cath and Sylvie.
While Jamesie is copping off with Sylvie, Cath opens up to Rab about the volatile relationship between her and her abusive husband who is serving time in jail. Later on, Rab phones the hospital to enquire after Mary, where he is told that she has died on the operating table...
Fantastic stuff. Like the 'Holiday' episode from series one, taking the characters from their normal confines made a refreshing change. As we later found out, Mary's death was in fact a lie told by Mrs. Monteith to Rab over the telephone. Shug and Phoebe, played by Sean Scanlan and Sara Corper, were first introduced in 'Offski' from series one when Rab went to stay with them in order to hide from the police. Scanlan later worked with Gregor as Dougie in 'The Tales Of Para Handy'. Shug was a good character and it was a pity he wasn't in many more episodes. Corper's television credits included 'Up The Elephant & Round The Castle', 'Sink Or Swim' and 'I, Lovett'.
Cath and Sylvie were played by Anita Dobson ( who is forever locked in viewers minds as Angie Watts from 'Eastenders' and who also worked with Sara Corper on 'Up The Elephant' ) and Gerry Cowper ( who some may remember as Trigger's sexy niece from the classic 'Only Fools & Horses' episode 'Tea For Three' ). Dobson, one of the most underrated actresses of the small screen and attractive woman to boot, is wonderful here. The scene in which she pours her heart out to Rab is deeply touching. The combination of Fisher and Dobson's talents were powerful and it was just a shame she wasn't on screen for that bit longer. Jean Anderson, who played Mrs. Monteith, has been in countless television shows such as 'Tenko' and 'Keeping Up Appearances'.
Incidentally, Blackpool is a wonderful place. In fact, it was the very first place me and my wife went on holiday together when we first started courting.
Funniest bit - back home, Rab is playing football with Gash and Burney. Taking a penalty kick at the ball, Rab kicks it too hard and it ends up hitting Mrs. Monteith on the head, who is walking nearby. Serves the old cow right.
Second funniest bit - Rab's dismal attempt to build a sandcastle.
