Can a popular television series from the 1980s really bear reviving for the stage of the 21st century?

Only just. I was a television reviewer when the three series of Eric Chappell’s Duty Free went on air.

For me the double-entendre humour and endlessly contrived thwarted infidelities soon palled, yet the fortnight’s Spanish holiday which was the setting for the shenanigans went unrealistically on and on. And drew huge audiences, it must be admitted.

The original two couples of David and Amy and Robert and Linda, who meet initially as strangers in a resort hotel, were played by Keith Barron and Gwen Taylor and Neil Stacy and Joanna Van Gyseghem, respectively. All, except Ms Van Gyseghem, are back to reprise their roles for this sequel. Carol Royle plays Linda.

David and Linda have planned an illicit reunion in the same hotel, 20 years on from their first fling which ended with dire threats from their partners. And then there are no surprises. Their suspicious spouses turn up to spoil their fun and there are the predictable games of hide and seek, silly disguises and misunderstandings with other hotel guests.

They are a strong enough group of actors to carry off the giant cliché, or should be. It’s just a bit of fun. But they really need to up the pace. They could get away with the corny old gags and innuendo if the audience didn’t have so long to anticipate them.

It is a great set – it transports you to the land of sun, sea and Sangria. But it’s really time the sun set on this caper.