Benidorm star Kenny quits to battle cancer
THE Scots star of the TV show Benidorm has been written out of the latest series as he battles cancer, it emerged yesterday.
Kenny Ireland, 68, has played Donald Stewart, one half of a ‘socially liberal’ couple, in the Spanish-set STV show for almost a decade.
A spokesman for the Paisley-born star, pictured, confirmed that he was being treated for cancer following reports yesterday.
Mr Ireland is married to his agent Meg Poole. They have a daughter, August, and four grandchildren.
The actor was director of the Royal Lyceum Theatre in Edinburgh for ten years, where he headed a string of acclaimed productions. He also campaigned tirelessly for a National Theatre of Scotland.
The role of a sunburnt suburban lothario is a world away from his stage work in Scotland, but the actor has previously told how he believes in applying the same high standards to everything he does.
He said: ‘I have two attitudes that have seen me through my life. Firstly, the best thing to do is confound people’s expectations – when you’re a big fat guy in comedy, they don’t expect you to direct Shakespeare, and vice versa.
‘Secondly, I love being given something that I can do well. All satisfaction comes from making something happen that would not have happened if you were not there.’
Mr Ireland played Derek the handyman in Victoria Wood’s Acorn Antiques sketches in the 1980s. He has also had a steady stream of minor roles in many television dramas over the years, including Taggart, Hamish Macbeth and New Tricks.