benidorm

This sitcom is packed full of characters with one thing in common: you wouldn’t want to holiday with any of them...

 

What Is it?

Benidorm centres around a disparate group of British holiday makers, who make their way to the all-inclusive Solana holiday resort in Benidorm each year, all intent on getting the best value for money. Including middle-aged swingers Jacqueline and Donald Stewart, the extended and very loud Garvey family from Lancashire (complete with chain-smoking grandmother-from-hell, Madge), posh Martin Weedon and his miserable wife Kate, quiz champion Geoff 'The Oracle' Maltby and his mum, and gay couple Gavin and Troy, sparks fly as they stagger from one unlikely mishap to another.

Brainchild

Benidorm was created and written by Derren Litten, co-writer of The Catherine Tate Show. As well as being the driving force, Litten also has tiny cameo roles in each series, including credits as ‘man at the airport’ and ‘man outside the police station’.

Inspiration

The premise for Benidorm began in a sketch written by Litten about a couple of middle-aged swingers, slightly past their prime, on holiday in Spain. It was set around the swimming pool of an all-inclusive holiday resort, and the sketch was then extended to imagining who else would be sitting around the pool, where they were from, how they ended up there, and how they were likely to interact with one another. This formed the basis of the first episode, which first aired in February 2007.

The Real Thing

Unlike most conventional sitcoms, Benidorm is filmed entirely on location at the Hotel Sol Pelicanos-Ocas in Benidorm. The 60-strong cast and crew take over a couple of floors in the hotel, and a large section of the swimming pool area, and the series is filmed over a 3-month period, from February to May. Many of the holiday extras who feature in the series are drawn from the local British ex-pat community.

Braving the Elements

Spain doesn’t have a tropical climate, and can be pretty cold between February and May, the months of filming. The actors, especially those round the pool in shorts and swimming trunks, often need to fend off the cold between takes, with hot water bottles and cups of tea. Shooting in 2008 was delayed by frequent spells of poor weather and torrential rain, and some outdoor scenes had to be rewritten as indoor scenes, to make up for lost shooting time. The production has also suffered bouts of widespread ill health, known as the 'Benidorm Bug' by the crew. This Bug saw most of the cast and crew out of action for about a week in Series 2, filmed in 2008, and also incapacitated the director of photography, Andy Hollis, in Series 3 in 2009.

Local Fans

The logistical considerations for filming have increased as the show has gained in popularity. Without the luxury of a closed set on a secure lot, the production team have to work extremely closely with local officials, including the police and the mayor, to ensure that roads can be closed, traffic stopped and onlookers kept at bay, whilst filming. It helps that the local mayor is a huge fan of the show, despite its not-entirely- flattering representation of his town.

Sartorial Inspiration

The Oracle, played by Johnny Vegas, is the poster boy for the ‘Oh my goodness, what is he wearing?’ brigade, and the costume designers claim that their inspiration comes directly from actual holiday makers on the beaches, and the outlandish garments seen on the show are usually sourced from local markets. Vegas is fearless, and will don any outfit, regardless of how ill-fitting or mismatched, and grandmother-from-hell Madge runs a close second, as worst dressed in the resort.

Final Bows

Wendy Richard appeared as a guest on the show in Series 2, in what would turn out to be her second from last television performance, prior to her death in February 2009. She played Sylvia, a mobility-scooter-riding love rival for the affections of Madge’s boyfriend, Mel. There is a western-style shoot out (except on mobility scooters) between Madge and Sylvia, and Sylvia and her scooter end up in the Solana swimming pool. Richard performed her own stunts, despite failing health.

Now Where Have I Seen Them Before?

The Oracle: in addition to his back catalogue as a stand-up comic, Johnny Vegas has fronted a number of other comedy vehicles such as Ideal (2005 – 2009), and Massive (2008). Not forgetting his turn with the knitted monkey in the ITV Digital, and later PG Tips, commercials.

The Oracle’s Mum: Elsie Kelly played Mrs Tardebrigg in 327 episodes of Crossroads, over a 20 year period from 1968 to 1988.

Mick Garvey: Steve Pemberton is best known as Tubbs Tattysyrup in The League of Gentlemen (1999 – 2006), and played David Sowerbutts (and a host of other characters) in Psychoville (2009). Jacqueline Stewart: Janine Duvitsky appeared as long-suffering Jane Edwards in Waiting for God (1990 – 1994), and as slightly dim Pippa in One Foot in the Grave (1990 – 2000).

Awards

In addition to a BAFTA Nomination for Best TV Comedy 2008, the show won a National Television Award for Most Popular Comedy Programme in 2008, as well as a TV Quick Award for Best Comedy Show in the same year.