LIFE'S A BEACH
Where original Benidorm cast are now – Asda delivery driver to Coronation Street star and teen mum’s real-life family
One huge star popped up in Game of Thrones and broke America thanks to roles in Sex Education and Ted Lasso
IT ran for ten hilarious series but Benidorm fans were sad to see the holiday come to an end when it was axed, in 2018.
Now writer Derren Litten has sparked fresh hopes of a return trip after announcing he was coming back to script writing for TV, two months after revealing his new career as a DJ in Spain.
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The writer - who even guest-starred in a number of Benidorm episodes - took to X (formerly known as Twitter) to reveal his return, teasing: "You will be watching the fruits of my labour in time to come."
Derren also hinted at its return in October, telling a fan convention saying: "Ladies and gentlemen, in the worlds of Madge Garvey in series seven episode two, 'Never say never. Never say never.'
So what have the rest of the stars been in up in the last five years? After swapping the Solana and Neptunes Bar for the likes of Asda and Corrie, we take a look.
Johnny Vegas
Johnny Vegas, 50, has amassed quite a fortune during his career thanks to Benidorm and BBC's Home From Home.
He is said to be worth around £8million through his acting career and endorsements.
It's a far cry from his character Geoff "The Oracle" Maltby on Benidorm.
Johnny left the series in 2010 after a reported falling out with the show creator - which they both denied - but he returned to the role in 2015.
Most recently, he has starred in Blood Actually, a 2023 murder mystery spoof.
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Johnny can also be seen in Carry On Glamping.
In a four-part series Johnny sets out to open his very own glamping site and travels around the UK in his camper van, named Patricia after his mother.
Hannah Waddingham
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London-born Hannah, 49, appeared in the sitcom as Tonya Dyke, in 2014, before becoming a huge star both in the UK and the States.
She starred as Septa Unella in one season of Game of Thrones before landing the role of Sofia in the Netflix smash Sex Education and playing Rebecca Welton in the US hit Ted Lasso, for which she won a best actress award in 2021.
The former West End star, who first found fame as a lead in Spamalot, has also become an accomplished presenter, hosting the Olivier Awards, this year's Eurovision and Prince William’s Earthshot Prize.
The mum-of-one - who shares eight-year-old Kitty with ex Gianluca Cugnetto - recently opened up about a health scare which saw her daughter hospitalised with a rare auto-immmune condition, five years ago, after falling ill.
“I can talk about it now, but I couldn't for a very long time. She was in the hospital for a while with them not knowing what it was,” she said, adding that Kitty was “doing much better now.”
Hannah has also revealed she keeps her Emmy award in her daughter's bedroom to remind her that "mummy will only ever be away when it's for a really, blooming good reason.”
Jake Canuso
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The Swiss actor and dancer Jake Canuso, 51, was the only Spanish character in the regular cast.
As barman Mateo, he frequently caused problems for the guests at the fictional Solana resort.
He was on the show since it started but there's much more to him than just playing a sleazy cocktail maker.
When filming ended he reprised the role in the stage adaptation Benidorm Live, and later won a lead role in a theatre production of Aladdin.
In 2019 Benidorm creator Derren Litten cast him in his series Scarborough and a year later, he auditioned for Dancing on Ice but failed to make the cast.
Currently Jake is offering personalised videos to fans through online website Memmo in exchange for cash.
He said: "I hear Mateo is doing a lot of skiving off work to send personalised video messages directly from the Costa Blanca."
Siobhan Finneran
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Actress Siobhan Finneran played was the long suffering mum of The Garvey family.
Siobhan appeared in six series of Benidorm as the lovable Janice before leaving in 2015.
Her most acclaimed role is that of Sarah O'Brien in period drama Downton Abbey, and appeared through to series three.
The actress appeared in the lotto-based drama The Syndicate and appeared in two series of Happy Valley
Siobhan also starred in the acclaimed The Moorside.
She recently starred in The Loch and Cold Feet - and most recently as Claire Cartwright in Happy Valley.
The 57-year-old has two children with ex-husband Mark Jordan, who she divorced in 2014.
Steve Pemberton
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Steve Pemberton is one of the most recognisable faces on the British comedy circuit - and is best known for starring in The League of Gentlemen and Benidorm.
Steve appeared in six series of Benidorm as Mick Garvey and the work shy dad frequently clashed with his sharp-tongued mother-in-law Madge - played by Sheila Reid.
Steve also co-wrote and appeared in the sitcom Psychoville and the comedy-drama Inside No. 9 – for which he won a Bafta in 2019.
Recently he’s starred in Amazon series Good Omens as well as Sky’s Brassic.
Other shows he's appeared in include Doctor Who, Blackpool, Shameless, Whitechapel, Happy Valley and Mapp and Lucia.
In February 2018 he appeared on Benidorm Ten Years On Holiday to talk about his time on the show.
He lives in London with partner Alison Rowles and their three children.
Janine Duvitski
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Janine Duvitski and Kenny Ireland were central characters who played fun-loving swingers Donald and Jacqueline Stewart, but sadly Kenny died aged 69 in 2014.
Writers marked Donald's death in the show, with Jacqueline scattering her husband's ashes over the cliffside in Benidorm.
Janine has stepped away from the limelight in recent years but starred in acclaimed Little Joe in 2019.
She now enjoys spending time with her four kids with her actor husband Paul Bentall, and her daughter Edith is making waves as the lead singer of the London pop group Fours.
Hannah Hobley
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Hannah, who played Charlotte Garvey in the show, delighted fans in November last year when she announced the birth of her first child.
She shared a series of sweet snaps on her Instagram and said the little girl was "well and truly worth the wait".
She added: “@nathrichsmith and I would like to proudly introduce you all to our daughter, Beatrice Hobley-Smith. Born on the 5th November. A date we will always remember.”
As well as Benidorm, Hannah starred in the 2007 period drama Cranford.
Tony Maudsley
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Actor Tony Maudsley, 53, played beloved Benidorm star Kenneth DuBeke.
His career started when he landed a role in the film, A Life for a Life, in 1998 where he played the part of Stefan Kiszko.
Since then he has starred in many TV shows including Doc Martin, Miss Marple and Ordinary Lives.
He has also starred in films including Sleepy Hollow where he played Van Ripper and Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, playing Grawp, Hagrid's giant brother.
Corrie fans will now recognise Tony as kind undertaker George Shuttleworth, who won the heart of Eileen Grimshaw.
Sheila Reid
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Scottish actress Sheila Reid, 83, is best known for playing the chain-smoking Madge Harvey.
Since then she’s had roles on Channel 4’s Humans and BBC’s Doctors.
But before all that, she was an original member of the Royal National Theatre in 1963.
She played Bianca in the National's 1965 film version of Othello, with Laurence Olivier in the title role.
Her other film appearances include Brazil (1985), The Winter Guest (1997) and Containment (2015).
Sheila also starred in the BBC Christmas special of Call the Midwife in 2012.
Oliver Stokes
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Oliver Stokes played teenager Michael Garvey in the ITV comedy.
He is now all grown up and has a son of his own, little Archie, who the proud dad often shares photos of on Instagram.
He has since enjoyed roles on soaps Doctors and Casualty and is a keen fisherman.
But his day job is working at luxury caravan manufacturer Victory Leisure Homes in Yorkshire.
Asa Elliott
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Benidorm’s bar singer Asa Elliott quit TV to become an ASDA delivery driver when his acting work dried up over lockdown.
The actor, 39, played the singer at the Solana Hotel from 2010 to 2014, before joining the cast of Benidorm Live in 2018/19.
Asa became a delivery driver after the pandemic cancelled his singing jobs on cruise ships in March - just two weeks after the birth of his first child.
The singer delivered shopping to Hull residents, with some superfans spotting who was giving them their goods.
Now back in showbiz, he played Prince Charming in Cinderella in panto in Stockton-on-Tees this Christmas.
Asa and wife Natalie welcomed their son Buddy in March 2020 and a little girl called Rockie in 2022.
Tim Healy
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Tim hit headlines when he fell out with his ex Denise Welch over comments she made about their sex life on Loose Women.
Her remarks clearly didn't go down well with her ex who she shares two sons with - 1975 frontman Matt and actor Louis.
Denise and Tim were married between 1988 and 2012.
Despite the end of their 24-year marriage, Denise and Tim have always insisted they've remained close friends and have even spent Christmas together with their other halves.
Last year, Tim - who starred in Auf Wiedersehn, Pet - was forced to cancel his yearly charity show in honour of his co-star Sammy Johnson.
He said: "Everything is becoming more and more expensive and that includes the cost of putting on a show the size of ours," he said.
Sherrie Hewson
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Former Coronation Street star Sherrie Hewson played manager Joyce Temple-Savage since series five, and says men always mistake her for her character.
She said: "She was a right madam. She was very curt with everyone. Joyce thought she was absolutely sensational and that everyone else was as common as muck.
“It was wonderful to play. But it’s not who I am.”
Sherry was a regular on Loose Women between 2003 and 2017.
Single Sherrie tried her hand at online dating - but was terrified by the results.
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Sherrie said: “I really don't understand that kind of explicit enjoyment that people get out of knowing what shock you'd have on your face because it's an explicit picture of a penis.
“When I got one I was like, 'Oh my god, I haven't seen one of those in 15 years'.