Wales on Sunday, 24 February 2002, by John Gilheaney.
Crisis? What crisis? Love life begins at 50, according to 
new TV series *Manchild.* We put the theory to the test...
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Don't worry lads - if you time your divorce right your 50s 
can become a full-on hedonistic quest for pleasure!

That's the message from BBC2's new comedy drama *Manchild*.

The show follows the trials and tribulations of four midle-
aged men aiming to make the most of their "middle youth."

The well-to-do quartet fret about their middle-aged toys, 
fantasise about Charlie Dimmock and pull beautiful women - 
but find their libido somewhat lacking.

[.....]

Shakespeare wrote of the seven ages of men.

Terry, played by Nigel Havers, has his own take on the male 
journey through life. He sees the teenage years as a hormone 
fuelled quest for sex. The 20s as a time for a wife and a 
career. The 30-something years are a time for making serious 
money. And the 40s is the time to "unpick the unholy mess 
marriage, family and work have made of your life." The 50s 
is when the fun starts.

AGE NO BARRIER TO GOOD LOVIN'

Age is no barrier to an active sex life - that's the good 
news. The bad news is that most forty plus Britons are 
laging behind the rest of the world. 

A poll of 26,000 40-80 year olds discovered that 75 per cent 
of bonk-loving Brazilians had sex at least once a week. The 
amorous Italians finished just one per cent behind with 74 
per cent getting all hot and steamy once a week. While the 
frolicsome French and the gorgeous Germans came in third and 
fourth places respectively. Britain came equal sixth with 
the US with 59 per cent.

So, what type of manchild are you...

So come on all you middle aged lovelies, time for a bit of 
honesty.

Which Manchild do you most resemble?

NAME: Terry.

PLAYED BY: Nigel Havers.

MANCHILD CREDENTIALS: Well-spoken charmer who likens 
marriage to share dealing.

MANCHILD WEAKNESS: Is pathetically fond of his Yamaha 
motorbike and has a beautiful 25-year-old girlfriend with 
whom he has nothing in common - so she has a fling with his 
son.

ATTITUDE: Time it right and your 50s can be a full-on 
hedonistic quest for pleasure.


NAME: Gary.

PLAYED BY: Ray Burdis.

MANCHILD CREDENTIALS: A newly-wealthy middle-aged man who 
fancies Charlie Dimmock.

MANCHILD TOY WEAKNESS: Saucy gadgets.

ATTITUDE: Is quite keen on an affair but is a bit reluctant 
to tell his wife of whom he is bored.


NAME: James.

PLAYED BY: Anthony Head.

MANCHILD CREDENTIALS: Laid-back James' life is in turmoil 
after he pulls a very sexy woman in her twenties, takes her 
back to his unique flat and finds that he's not quite the 
man he used to be.

MANCHILD TOY WEAKNESS: After seeing his flat it's got to be 
trains. James lives in what appears to be a refurbished 
Inter City 125.

ATTITUDE: Waiter, could you send a glass of your finest 
champagne to those two lovelies over there?


NAME: Patrick.

PLAYED BY: Don Warrington.

MANCHILD CREDENTIALS: Single, solvent and 50.

MANCHILD TOY WEAKNESS: Patrick is a collector of Beatles' 
memorabilia who never got hitched and had quite a thing 
about Yoko Ono.

ATTITUDE: Give Love a Chance.

You can see *Manchild* on BBC2 every Tuesday night at 10pm.



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