Prunella Scales and Patricia Routledge are full of fighting spirit in this eighth series of the acclaimed BBC Radio 4 comedy.

The caustic correspondence between Irene Spencer and Vera Small is always richly entertaining, and these latest letters are no exception. Catty and competitive as ever, the pensioner pen-pals find themselves in yet more trouble in this latest series.

Fundraising for her ancient local hospital, Irene organises a charity dinner, which Vera attends on the arm of her new beau, local millionaire Alan Trumper. Unfortunately, Vera has a choking incident and is admitted to that very hospital. Visiting her, Irene then has a mishap with a trolley, and ends up stuck in the same ward. Soon the Ladies are sniping at one another, vying for Alans attention, and complaining about the struggling hospitals standard of cleanliness superbugs are taking over and rats running rampant on the wards.

Meanwhile, Veras granddaughter Sabrina has accidentally let the cat out of the bag about Veras harbouring of illegal immigrant Youssou, and no sooner is Vera out of hospital than she finds herself arrested.

While in prison, she finds out that Alan has a sinister plot in mind, and sets out to warn Irene who manages to embroil them all in a complex plan leading to injury, impris

Prunella Scales & Patricia Routledge are full of fighting spirit in this eighth series of the acclaimed comedy