The Quest (ITV) BASED on an idea by David Jason. Directed by David Jason. Starring David Jason.

The credits gave every suggestion that this was a one-man show, the man in question being one of TV's most bankable stars whether he's playing Del Boy or Frost. Yet this wasn't the case. He left the script writing to Douglas Livingstone and, together with equally familiar co-stars Roy Hudd and Hywel Bennett, left the bulk of the acting to three newcomers in this nostalgic coming-of-age TV film. As for his direction, this was fluid and confident without being over-flashy or displaying a determination to stamp his own mark on the material at whatever cost to the story.

The result was hardly earth-shattering but still pleasant fun in a Heartbeat sort of way. Plenty of songs from the era - Lonnie Donegan will be able to eat well for several weeks on the royalties - and recreation of the late 1950s gave this the same feel, but saucier.

Three virginal Southern lads Dave, Ronno and Charlie were out to improve their success in the mating game. They hit on the idea of going North. "You know what they say about Northern girls," said Dave in a nudge, nudge, wink, wink way. Armed with the belief that "all the girls go like rabbits" north of Watford and with "something for the weekend" purchased from the barber's shop (and I don't mean Brylcreem), this trio of uneasy riders headed off on their motorbikes.

Their holiday home named Shangri-la may have been a ramshackle caravan but at least there were girls on the camp site. The scenery may have been breathtaking but the lads were more interested in gawping at their breasts than reflecting that Wordsworth might have picnicked on the same lovely spot.

They ended up in Blackpool sneaking into a boarding house to snuggle up to three girls on the razzle, with predictably comic results, leading to a hurried naked exit. Their escapades were framed by scenes with the three old friends meeting up again at a retirement do. There was a half-hearted attempt to fill us in with what they'd been doing for the past 40 years although, quite honestly, old hands Jason, Bennett and Hudd had very little to do.

Greg Faulkner, Max Wrottesley and Jim Sturgess all gave likeable performances as the innocents abroad (and to them the North was as adventurous as leaving the country) in pursuit of grammar school girls, with only a copy of Health and Efficiency for guidance about the female form.