By Anna May @AnnaMayMight

Sexy Noel? Oh yes. This guy is the star of the show, in my opinion. However, he’s not just the owner of the campsite that’s home to three very dysfunctional families for the entire series. No…he also has all the appeal you’d expect from a middle-aged recluse whose only function in life is to feed and change his invalid mother, whilst stammering inappropriate responses to anyone who deigns to speak to him.

The brilliant David Bamber plays Noel with no holds barred, which may take a little time to get used to, but I can pretty much guarantee you’ll soon be looking forward to the next time he pops up. If you’re not…this series probably isn't for you.

Moving on…Julia Davis not only wrote Camping, but stars in it too! Each character she’s written here has their own personal issues to overcome, so when her own character, Fay the nymphomaniac, shows up you just know there will be no man left untampered with and no relationship left untested.

Similar to her role in Nighty Night, Julia Davis uses Fay to shake up proceedings and whip everyone into a frenzy that aptly builds up to one of the most bizarre climaxes imaginable…and I should know, because...um...no…wrong window...

Sooo, what is the series about? Well…it centres on a camping trip (No, really? Yes, really!), which has been very regimentally organized by the bitter and spiteful Fiona, to celebrate her down-trodden husband’s 50th birthday. You may recognize Vicki Pepperdine, who plays Fiona, in her more recent role as Princess Anne in The Windsors. Both roles typify the humour she is great at. Absolutely love her.

Now, here’s a treat for League of Gentlemen fans everywhere, as the hen-pecked hubby is played by none other than Steve Pemberton. Ardent fans, like me, will already have no doubts as to his versatility as actor…and the depth of emotion he’s able to project, with even the simplest of facial expressions or changes in posture, had me floored throughout the series. Julia Davis wrote a very tragic character for him here, but he plays Robin in such a way, we can’t help but feel respect for him and admire his selfless positivity in the face of constant belittlement. You’ll laugh at him, but inside you’ll be feeling guilty that you did.

As if their relationship isn’t strained enough, these two have a young son, Archie, perfectly played by Oaklee Pendergast, who Fiona is convinced could become gay as a direct result of, among other things, eating certain foods. As alarming as Fiona’s observations are with respect to Archie’s physical and mental state, Julia Davis has pushed the boundaries here to the limit and there are some hilarious, albeit uncomfortable, moments to be had at the poor little lad's expense.

It’s clear Fiona’s overall obsession with her son’s health confirms a definite need to feel in control of something, no matter what it is, so imagine her annoyance when the two other families she’s invited to her finely-tuned celebration take it upon themselves to bring extra campers. This does not fit in with her plans and, boy does she let everyone know about it.

For a start there’s timid, but chirpy, Kerry, whose arrogant pig of a partner, Adam, has brought his constantly masturbating teenage son, Davey, along. Shaun Aylward does a great job as the neglected teen and it’s not long before we find out just how much of a twat his father really is.

Adam, played by Jonathan Cake, is a recovering alcoholic, but he’s such a massive bell end, you’ll be hard pressed to feel any sympathy for him at all, as he whines on about himself and parades round like he's super stud of the year. Instead, you’ll be willing him to get totally wankered and dive off the nearest cliff. Not to worry, though, because he’s destined to suffer a far more satisfying fate.

When newly single Tom, played by Rufus Jones, shows up late with newly-acquired sex mad girlfriend, Fay, on his arm, that’s the end of Fiona’s reign over proceedings…and all anyone can do is await their turn to have their vulnerabilities exposed and harshly dealt with. Needless to say, Fay’s very provocative behaviour soon brings everything to a head…literally.

As already mentioned, this lot are also forced to co-exist with salivating camp-owner Noel and witness his day-to-day activities, such as hosing down his unseen mother’s spectacularly humungous knickers as they hang on the washing line…and, believe me, whatever picture you now have in your mind of that scene…you have NO IDEA!

I have to say, my favourite scene of the whole series is Noel rocking out to Rick Astley’s ‘Never Gonna Give you Up’ in an attempt to impress the frosty-gusseted, yet sexually frustrated, Fiona. Mind you, there are plenty of other scenes I could rave about, but I don’t want to spoil it for any new viewers, so I won’t even mention there might be just a tiny bit of full-frontal nudity. Oh, no, I’ve typed it out now, haven’t I.

Ooh! This series is sounding more interesting by the second, isn’t it? Of course it is, but if you’re banking on a nice pair of boobs and a neatly trimmed lady garden….again…you have NO IDEA!

Six 30 minute episodes. That’s three hours of muttering, “Omg,” every two seconds. Give it a try.

I said ‘banking’!

Camping: Still available as a box set on Sky