THREE IN A BED 8/8
Channel 4
Let the battle of the B&Bs commence. It's the final episode of brand new series Three in a Bed , and this week the B&B owners are Blackpool joker Wilf Taylor and his wife Pat, husband and wife Nick and Georgina Maynard, and spiritual eco B&B owners Melvyn and Anne Firmager. Each of these confident couples will be testing each other's businesses to breaking point, striving to show why their establishments and locations are number one.
The couples will be judging their fellow hoteliers on everything from decoration to cleanliness and from the all-important home-cooked breakfast to the tourist attractions of the area. At the end of their stay, the guests only have to pay what they think their visit was worth. But in this weekly competition between Britain's B&B owners, there can be only one winner…
When there are three in a bed, who really gets a good night's sleep?
First up is a trip to the heart of the North West in Britain's very own Las Vegas - Blackpool. Wilf and Pat have been in the B&B business for 25 years and the 3-star Granville is their pride and joy. With 12 rooms costing up to £50 a night and a licensed bar, The Granville made a loss last year. But determined Wilf refuses to give up, and hopes the visiting B&B owners can offer up some advice.
After check-in, the guests have a chance to investigate their home for the night. Eco friendly Melvyn is the first to spot a problem… there's a lack of herb and fruit teas. But at least The Granville does use energy-saving light bulbs.
On their excursion, Wilf and Pat take the opportunity to show off Blackpool's highlights - the world famous illuminations. But, of course, Melvyn is concerned about the use of electricity in the area.
A meal and a game of bingo later, the visiting guests are left contemplating what they think the B&B is worth ahead of the all important breakfast tomorrow. Will the bright lights of Blackpool sway these tough customers?
Next up is a trip to 18th-Century Frampton House, located in the Dorset countryside. Owned by Nick and Georgina Maynard, the 5-star B&B offers three double rooms at £90 a night.
After settling in, Nick and Georgina decide to take the group to the high seas for a day of deep-sea fishing. On their journey, the guests are able to take in Dorset's world heritage Jurassic coastline. But this group aren't just there to admire the views. They soon get stuck into the fishing, with Wilf making the first catch - a tope, also known as a shark! But it's an endangered species, so a very pleased-with-himself Wilf is forced to put the fish back.
Anne has another successful run catching three fish in a row, but the tears soon flow as she realises she doesn't like to see the fish suffering.
Back at the B&B, Pat and Wilf scrutinise their surroundings. Can a draughty window and some purely decorative curtains cost the Maynards the top spot?
The final B&B is eco-friendly Nut Tree Farm, set in the heart of spiritual Somerset. Melvyn and Anne offer three double rooms at £75 a night. But this is more than just a B&B. Spiritual Melvyn has built his very own stone circle on ancient ley lines in the garden for meditation and healing work. On arrival, Melvyn treats the guests to a meditation session in the stone circle… which goes well until Wilf's mobile phone goes off.
Afterwards the group head off for a tour of Somerset including Chalice Well, a famous healing centre. All is going well until, over dinner, Nick points out his concerns about the spiritual aspect of Nut Tree Farm. Nick believes the Firmagers are putting off potential customers by concentrating on such a niche market.
Can Nut Tree Farm prove Nick wrong and show the others how it's done? After the guests have paid up, only one of these B&Bs will be crowned the best value for money. When your home is your business, everything is personal.
