Ep 6. Maplin Intercontinental

The show Hi-de-Hi! follows a group of entertainers who work at the fictional holiday camp Maplins during the 1950s. In season 4, episode 6 titled "Maplin Intercontinental," the staff is preparing for the arrival of a group of international guests from different countries. Jeff and Spike, two of the entertainers, are in charge of the welcome committee and are assigned to greet the guests as they arrive.

Meanwhile, the head of security, Mr. Partridge, is worried about the safety of the guests and hires a personal bodyguard to protect them. The bodyguard turns out to be a beautiful woman named Ingrid who catches the eye of the camp's resident lothario, Ted. Ted tries to charm her, but Ingrid is not impressed and rebuffs his advances.

As the guests arrive, the staff is struck by the cultural differences between them and the British holidaymakers. There are Japanese businessmen who are used to bowing instead of shaking hands, glamorous French ladies who expect to be kissed on both cheeks, and an American couple who are loud and brash.

The staff must adapt to the different customs of the guests, which leads to some humorous misunderstandings. For example, one of the Japanese businessmen is confused by the British custom of queuing and cuts in front of everyone, causing a commotion. The French ladies are offended when Ted kisses them on the hand instead of the cheek and the American couple are shocked by the lack of air conditioning and demand to be moved to a different accommodation.

As the week progresses, the staff and guests begin to bond over their shared experiences, and the entertainers put on a special show for them. Ingrid, the bodyguard, is impressed by the staff's professionalism and begins to warm to Ted, who has toned down his usual lecherous behavior.

However, the peace is short-lived when a thief is discovered in the camp, stealing from the guests. Mr. Partridge sets up a sting operation with the help of the staff to catch the thief. The thief turns out to be a member of staff, and the episode ends with Mr. Partridge warning Jeff and Spike that they must stay vigilant as there may be more thieves amongst them.

In conclusion, Hi-de-Hi! season 4 episode 6 "Maplin Intercontinental" is a lighthearted and enjoyable episode focusing on the cultural differences and shared experiences between the holiday camp staff and international guests. Despite the threat of a thief amongst them, the episode is ultimately about the universal theme of human connection and finding common ground.