Benidorm’s farewell starts on Royal stage
SOME of Benidorm’s best-loved cast members are currently enjoying a touch of sunshine in Newcastle ahead of the world premiere of the first stage show based on the hit sitcom.
Following news that ITV1 has now axed the series, the Benidorm Live! show, which opens at the Theatre Royal today, will be the last ever chance for fans to catch up with their favourite characters.
The decision to cancel the sitcom after 10 successful years came as a shock to the Benidorm team, who had been expecting to fly back out to Spain to film series 11 after the theatre tour.
Tony Maudsley, who plays Blow ‘n’ Go salon owner Kenneth Du Beke, said: “I know there are a lot of disappointed fans out there. A lot are really upset.”
There had been some rumours about the show’s future but recent confirmation of its cancellation caught out everyone, especially given the fact that it had been enjoying a ratings spike, he said.
He’s also conscious Benidorm fans have invested a lot in the characters and the team would have liked the chance to wrap up loose ends in Spain in a final series.
But he said that Benidorm Live! – now turning out to be their last jaunt to the sunshine isle –will be a “stage show farewell”.
And it promises to be a fine send-off, with its special story set to capture all the sitcom’s sun-soaked mischief, karaoke bar antics and the characters’ sniping and banter.
Series writer Derren Litten teamed up with North East producer Michael Harrison to host the premiere in Newcastle, giving Geordie audiences the chance to see it first.
And he said of it: “It’s going to be an unique experience. It will be the bright, colourful, brash, lively Benidorm you’ve grown to love – hopefully – over the last 10 years.”
Following rehearsal time in London, its cast of six arrived in the city at the start of the week.
Former Coronation Street actress and Loose Women presenter Sherrie Hewson, who plays Joyce Temple-Savage – manageress of the series’ centrepiece Solana Hotel – revealed that it even has an on-stage pool in its authentic recreation of Benidorm’s familiar locations.
During breaks in rehearsals on Wednesday, the cast told how excited they are to be in Newcastle, starring in a stage premiere.
For Janine Duvitski, whose swinger character Jacqueline has been in the series ever since it made its debut a decade ago, it is extra special because her son and new grandchild live here and she said she leapt at the chance to spend longer in the city where she’s already a regular visitor.
They were all keeping the story under wraps but Adam Gillen, who plays salon worker Liam – son of Tim Healy’s transvestite Les/Lesley – said his character is missing his dad and will be involved in more “rough-and-tumble fun” with Kenneth.
Tony added that the audience can expect the usual from the salon owner himself, saying Kenneth will be “short-tempered, greedy, enjoying cream cakes, picking on Liam, having a great time, getting drunk!”
The other members of the cast, Shelley Longworth, who plays loudmouth Sam Wood, and Swiss-born dancer and actor Jake Canuso – known for his lothario barman Mateo Castellanos and whose real, and very English, accent comes a surprise – reveal the spray tans which they’ve just had done in Newcastle to be Benidorm-ready for the opening night.
They have been enjoying a very warm welcome when spotted in Newcastle and there are plans to take in a big night out during the show’s 11-performance run.
Tony said: “I can’t decide whether to go out with full ‘Kenneth hair’ or go out with a cap on! I’ll definitely be going out though.”
Benidorm Live! runs at the Theatre Royal until September 15, with the first show tonight, and then it embarks upon a national tour, to include Sunderland Empire from January 14-19 next year.
There are still some tickets available for the Newcastle leg.