Costa plenty
Benidorm back with guest fest for it’s 10th year
SOME big name telly veterans will be singing, “We’re all off to sunny Spain” as they join the cast of Benidorm.
The Chuckle Brothers, Hale and Pace and Bobby Ball are among the guests on the 10th series.
Actresses Claire Sweeney and Kate Fitzgerald, who worked together on Brookside – remember that? – will square up for a fight in the Costa saga.
Hale and Pace join the series as undercover detectives Dennis and Nigel, investigating Les, played by Tim Healy, who returns to the show following illness.
And as our exclusive picture shows, the series kicks off with Joyce’s wedding.
Joyce, played by Sherrie Hewson, is led down the aisle by Mateo (Jake Canuso) to wed Monty (John Challis). But will she say “I do”?
Shane Richie is back for four episodes as entertainer Sammy Valentino, while the new faces include Laila Zaidi as Rob Dawson’s girlfriend, and Julian Moore-Cook as Joey’s pal Callum. Show creator Derren Litten says: “When I wrote the first script of Benidorm I had no idea it would change my life so dramatically over the next 10 years. I am so grateful to our fans and to ITV for giving Benidorm the best possible home we could hope for. Here’s to the next 10!” The cast are also going on tour soon and some people have predicted this series will be the last, but it seems that will depend on ratings. Derren tweeted: “If you watch it, love it and make a noise about it we’ll keep going.” ITV will show the documentary 10 Years On Holiday to celebrate a decade of Benidorm before the new series starts.
A TV source says: “The mostloved cast members will return in a one-off special that’s also packed with bloopers and out-takes.”