Growing Old Disgracefully: Season 1

Episode 1

46min - Meet the OAPs who have created a pensioners party playground! They’re living it large in Tenerife, blowing their pensions, winter fuel allowances and their children’s inheritance on cheap booze, conga and karaoke. GROWING OLD DISGRACEFULLY follows a cast of British oldies as they live it up in the sun. First, there are Scouse couple Gordon and Marie. With the kids all grown up, mortgage paid off and a final salary pension, they’re partying like its 1969. And as they winter in the sun, Gordon and his mates toast the winter fuel allowance: “We don’t care about spending the kids inheritance”. When their daughter visits from the UK to celebrate her fiftieth birthday, she cannot keep up with the party-mad pensioners. And next there’s Leapy Lee, aged 74, who is still performing his Sixties hit single to an ageing but enthusiastic audience. But the arrival of Bettina, his devoted but sex mad Scandinavian girlfriend means he needs a helping hand. ‘I think Viagra’s a wonderful invention’ Lee says. Grandfather Pete has already blown his own inheritance. Now he’s working in Tenerife as a bar promoter. But Jaegermeister-drinking Pete has received numerous warnings for boozing on the job. When he arrives late for work – and drunk – he’s quickly given a final warning. And there’s Cheryl, the hardcore, shot-sinking granny who loves to party with clubbers half her age. “My motto is, if you can’t remember it, it didn’t happen’.” They’re all ageing disgracefully: living booze fuelled lives of sex, anti-inflammatory drugs and rock and roll. They may have an appointment with the grim reaper - but he’ll have to catch them first.