Waiting For God - Series 3 (DVD)

...more fun.

Waiting for god was a comedy programme set in the Bayview retirement home which focused on two of its residents who prove that just because you're old it doesn't mean you're passed it.

Below is a review of the main characters and some of what happens in this series not giving too much away for those who have not seen it.


Diana Trent (Stephanie Cole): is a retired photo-journalist who ...
...at the prospect of years of being patronised by the condescending staff at Bayview and her frustration is soon channeled into attempts to get up the noses of the management of the retirement home especially Harvey Bains (Known as the 'Idiot Bains') She is often crusading for the sake of all the residents of Bayveiw the fact that this winds up Harvey is always her little bonus. Whether she is winding the mobile library woman up the wall or attacking ... more

The perhaps 'not-so dynamic duo' return for the third series of this classic BBC comedy series and again prove that growing old disgracefully is far more fun.

Waiting for god was a comedy programme set in the Bayview retirement home which focused on two of its residents who prove that just because you're old it doesn't mean you're passed it.

Below is a review of the main characters and some of what happens in this series not giving too much away for those who have not seen it.

Diana Trent (Stephanie Cole): is a retired photo-journalist who has found herself in a retirement home and is irritated at the prospect of years of being patronised by the condescending staff at Bayview and her frustration is soon channeled into attempts to get up the noses of the management of the retirement home especially Harvey Bains (Known as the 'Idiot Bains') She is often crusading for the sake of all the residents of Bayveiw the fact that this winds up Harvey is always her little bonus. Whether she is winding the mobile library woman up the wall or attacking the hapless gardener she is an OAP with attitude. Although don't call her old, or you may find your leg has got in the way of her walking stick.

Tom Ballard (Graham Crowden): Tom is a kindly old duffer who frequently lives in a fantasy world following his retirement as an accountant. His fantasies include escaping form Colditz and climbing Everest. He has in reality done neither but Diana plays along with it to keep him happy. He is widower and his increasingly 'odd' behavior leads his alcoholic and adulterous daughter-in-law Marion and henpecked son Geoffrey to move him into Bayview. Tom finds himself next door to Diana, a fate not easy to survive. Despite this the two form a strong alliance as together they wage war against those in authority. Tom is at times the voice of conscience but whether Diana listens to him is another matter.

Harvey Bains (Daniel Hill): The manager of Bayview he 'runs' the home. Baines management style involves trying to run the retirement home profitably while keeping the residents controlled in order to make himself look good in the eyes of the board. His life would be almost perfect if it wasn't for two things, Tom and Diana. His money making schemes are often subverted by Tom and Diana. He is also often trying to find a wife, the only problem is no woman in her right mind would go near him.

Jane Edwards (Janine Duvitski): Harvey's put-upon assistant. She is utterly in love with Harvey, not that he notices or cares. Jane is also the matron of Bayview but in Diana's words "She couldn't intensive care a Rabbit". She is not the most intelligent person and despite how Diana and Tom occasionally talk to her they are both very fond of Jane and will help her wherever they can.

Other characters include:

Geoffory - Tom's henpecked son, a D.I.Y obsessed cheese slices sales man who is as boring as watching paint dry.

Marrion - Tom's revolting pill popping, gin swigging daughter in law. To her Tom only has one redeeming feature - his money.

Basil - The oldest resident of Bayview, and has a sex drive of a twenty year old.

Jenny - Runs the dining room and loathes Harvey. Jane is one of the most popular members of staff.

In this third series Tom and Diana have to help a local Vicar who has a tenuous grip on reality and help Tom's daughter in law who has become very depressed. Perhaps getting these two talking will help? After Tom's quite revolting grandchildren are so awful to him whilst he is looking after them Diana decides some discipline is in order. She is just the person to teach these two brats a lesson they won't forget in a hurry.

There is also a scandal at Bayview after a drunken evening Tom and Diana are found in bed together. Jane is horrified, Marion is disgusted and Harvey now thinks Diana will now be a pussy cat, well until she slashes his tyres. They also must subvert Harvey's new building programme at Bayview, why? Well it's an idea of Harvey's so it's fair game.

A place becomes available on the local council and Diana decides she is just the person to fill the seat. Harvey is also going for the seat and is up for selection for the same party. However, Harvey has also just sacked the only really popular member of staff, Jenny, to cut costs. Diana has a choice, stop Harvey getting the nomination to stand as candidate or get Jenny her job back, after all she can't do both - can she?

Diana's niece also pays her a visit and she is pregnant. She wants Diana to be there when she gives birth. Diana in the delivery room? Not if she can help it. But would Tom be any better, after all she is giving birth, not going to the "mad hatters tea party".

The Christmas special is also included in this disc. Here Diana's usual awfulness goes into overdrive, she hates Christmas and it was her job that caused her to do so. However, a visit from Diana's niece. Sarah, may solve the problem especially as she has recently given birth to a baby. Diana always tells Sarah that the child is hers, Sarah was merely the thing that gave birth. Harvey has also been up to his old tricks and spent the homes entertainment fund on a new jacket for himself. Tom decides to get even but is inviting two homeless people to bayview really the right way to do it?

There is unfortunately no extras with the disc.

Just to add, the DVD carries a 12 certificate. (at the time of writing Ciao still had it as tbc)
 

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