'The Sun Trap' was David Nobbs' first sitcom since 'The Fall & Rise Of Reginald Perrin'. It was set in Spain and focused on a group of British expatrriots. The cast included Donald Churchill, Zena Walker, Graham Crowden, Joan Benhan, Derek Waring, and Jo Rowbottom. Most have bizarre nicknames. Waring's character 'Robert' is known as '42 In The Shade' because he used to be a television weatherman ( he got the push after messing up one broadcast and telling viewers there were snow drifts in the Irish Sea! ) and 'Gloria' ( Jo Rowbotom ) is known to all and sundry as 'Mrs. Scrap' simply because her late husband was once a scrap dealer. The first episode has 'Fiona' ( Joan Benham ) being dropped from the local newspaper - The Island News - and being replaced by 'Helen Halliday' ( Zena Walker ). This creates bad feelings amongst the expats, particularly when Helen reports an affair between Gloria and Robert ( which they'd been hoping to keep a secret ).
Unlike 'Perrin' which was centred around Leonard Rossiter, 'The Sun Trap' is an ensemble show. Nobbs gives his characters some good lines. The show's main fault is the absence of younger characters. It is populated entirely by middle-aged fogeys. On the plus side, the BBC authorised expensive location filming in Spain, meaning the show has an authentic look absent from other Spanish sitcoms such as 'Don't Drink The Water' and 'Duty Free'.
Funniest moment - Helen misses England and wants to go home. Peter ( her husband ) tells her not to be silly and repeats how wonderful Spain is. Just as he appears to be winning the argument, Robert shows up and gives them a cactus as a present.
Unlike 'Perrin' which was centred around Leonard Rossiter, 'The Sun Trap' is an ensemble show. Nobbs gives his characters some good lines. The show's main fault is the absence of younger characters. It is populated entirely by middle-aged fogeys. On the plus side, the BBC authorised expensive location filming in Spain, meaning the show has an authentic look absent from other Spanish sitcoms such as 'Don't Drink The Water' and 'Duty Free'.
Funniest moment - Helen misses England and wants to go home. Peter ( her husband ) tells her not to be silly and repeats how wonderful Spain is. Just as he appears to be winning the argument, Robert shows up and gives them a cactus as a present.