The new series started tonight on BBC1 and it's always good to see the old gang back. This time events started in Russia where our lads were finishing off a job in a large townhouse in St Petersberg. Just as payment is due, the mafia boss for whom they've been working is blown up in a CGI explosion that also takes with it all their money and belongings. They're required to be repatriated by HM Government as a result.
Events conspire for them to get on the "OED list" as a preferred set of builders working at diplomatic buildings around the world. Neville is inducted into MI6 and before the hour's up we're in Havana. I've been looking forward to seeing this series since I heard it was set in Cuba, although I thought that the BBC were prevented from actually filming the series on the island by the Cuban government. There was certainly a second unit in the city, but I'm sure I read somewhere that they filmed much of it on another island.
As for the series, well it was more of the same. You never know where the story is going to lead them, but the humour's still there, and you can believe the cast to have been through a bit - they're not the most attractive bunch in the world, and it's unlikely the series would ever have happened in America (never mind the Cuban aspect to this series). A bit too much CGI for my liking (rain & snow by my reckoning), but good fun nonetheless.
Posted by adambowie at January 4, 2004 10:33 PM