ATV Choice: The Spa – High Anxiety

Sky Living is making a weekly appointment with The Spa, a new comedy from Derren Litten.

Award-winning writer and actor Litten is going for giggles in this original new comedy set in a health club where an encounter with the staff poses more dangers than an advanced yoga class.

Led by Rebecca Front as bolshy manageress Alison Crabbe, The Spa boasts it can cure anyone, the fat, thin, or lazy, but that couldn’t be further from the truth.As Leighton Buzzard’s Slimmer of the Decade, Alison’s confident that she can turn the business into the ultimate recuperative retreat, but her tactless customer service, self-delusion and contempt for just about everyone have a tendency to encourage chaos instead of calm.

Adding to Litten’s outrageous dialogue and fearless storylines are an eclectic cast including dotty receptionist Sally – played by Niky Wardley – fitness instructor Marcus – played by Derren Litten – who temporarily uses a wheelchair while recovering from injury, and Eric – Tim Healey – a well-endowed handyman whose penchant for tight shorts results in many a mishap.

Add suicidal cleaner, hippie therapist and a militaristic personal trainer to the team, not to mention a culinary klutz newly appointed to the kitchen staff, and the only R&R this place can promise are raillery and ruckus.

The series kicks off with a typically abnormal day at The Spa as Rose goes to great heights to get noticed and Sally suffers the consequences of upsetting fussy regular Ms Begita Wylde – played by former EastEnders’ star Cheryl Fergison. Unluckily, Alison’s boozy bestie Ginny is on hand to capture all the antics for the club’s corporate video.