It’s been revealed by ITV today that the Solana Resort is set to re-open for business in a sixth series of the hit comedy, and former Hollyoaks star Phillip Olivier will join the cast, as will former Coronation Street star, Ken Morley.

Returning to enjoy the four star hotel treatment are Mick Garvey (Steve Pemberton), Janice Garvey (Siobhan Finneran) and Madge Harvey (Sheila Reid). Viewers will be surprised to see how grown up Michael Garvey (Oliver Stokes) has become – he’s now an adventurous teenager who’s set to cause his parents many troubled afternoons by the pool… Read more & comment »

Downton Abbey star, Siobhan Finneran, has revealed that she is the latest in, what seems to be, a long list of cast members to quit the hugely popular ITV drama ahead of its much-anticipated fourth series.

Siobhan, who also played Janice in ITV hit comedy Benidorm, has played manipulative and scheming Lady’s Maid, O’Brien, since the show first began back in 2010 and, despite her characters villainous ways, has been a firm favourite with audiences all over the world.
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With the 18th National Television Awards only two weeks away all the votes in the public choice categories have been counted and a short list has now been released for you to vote for your favourites!

The National Television Awards is a celebration of the last year on our television sets from soap’s to comedy, drama to factual, and whilst many of the awards are decide by an independent panel, the following 14 awards are left for you, the voting public to decide.
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Mrs Biggs star, Sheridan Smith has teamed up with funny man Johnny Vegas to star in a TV adaptation of the David Walliams kid’s novel, Mr Stink!

Britain’s Got Talent judge, Walliams, made the announcement of Sheridan’s, who is currently dating Amy Winehouse’s ex, Reg Traviss, and Vegas’, who starred in the hit ITV comedy, Benidorm, involvement in the project on social networking site, Twitter, earlier today, tweeting: “Sheridan Smith and Johnny Vegas are playing the mum and dad in ‘Mr Stink’. Exciting!”
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Sheila Reid is arguably best known for her role as Madge, the mobility scooter riding chain smoker in Benidorm…

However, in a new Sky Arts 1 series which is entitled Psychobitches, we’re to see a whole ‘nother side of her when she portrays a “comedy Mother Teresa.”

Psychobitches will focus on parodies of famous women in history, such as Eva Braun, who’ll be played by Catherine Tate, Beatrix Potter, who’ll be portrayed by Selina Griffith, and Joan of Arc who’s set to be played by Katy Brand.

We’ll see the women discussing their problems with a psychologist who’s to be played by Rebecca Front.

Speaking to What’s On TV about her role in the new show, which will portray Mother Teresa as “a beer-drinking, chain-smoking grump”, Sheila said, “At first I was quite nervous to be portraying this woman I’ve looked up to all my life in that way… Read more & comment »

Fans of hit sitcom Benidorm may have noticed that there’s considerably less Mick Garvey in the show’s new series…

And that’s because Steve Pemberton, who plays the unlucky sunbed shop manager, has lost two stones in weight.

Steve – who’s also starred in League of Gentlemen and Whitechapel – revealed that he was prompted to get into a healthier was of life over fears that his heart may be in trouble.

He also revealed that he’d previously had a heart attack when he was only 25, but in latter years, he’d been neglecting his health.

Speaking to the Daily Mirror, Steve said, “As you get older the things that really scare you are the thoughts of anything bad happening to your family… and your own mortality.” Read more & comment »

As fans of hit sitcom Benidorm will know, Madge Harvey has a rather amazing/shocking tan, and Sheila Reid who plays the feisty pensioner has revealed that she has to have a 20 minute spray tan every day before she begins filming.

74 year old Sheila – who’s also starred in All Creatures Great and Small, Auf Wiedersehen, Pet and Psychoville – made the revelation while appearing on This Morning, and added that the fake tan means she can never have a dip in the Solana’s pool!

Of the tanning routine, Sheila explained, ”I would frighten the horses if there was more than one person spraying me with fake tan.

“It takes about 15 to 20 minutes every morning to put it on. They top it up every day.

”I’m the only one who has never been in the pool because if I dived in it would look like some terrible pond in a muddy field…” Read more & comment »

What’s On TV have been speaking to Benidorm actor Adam Gillen about his role as dumber than a box of hair handyman Liam, and how he enjoys filming on location in Spain.

First, Adam said, “It’s brilliant to live and work in Spain for the time we film. I cherish my time here.

“We are one big family, and everyone looks out for each other.

“Before I ever came to Benidorm I didn’t think twice about the place, but now I’ve been here and worked here, I know how much fun it is.”

And of how Liam and his dad Les – the cross dressing barman who’s played by Tim Healy – get along in the second series of the show, Adam said, “Liam and Les are much more comfortable with each other because last year they didn’t know each other that well.

“They’re more of a team this time, with dad Les behind the bar and Liam as the handyman caretaker… Read more & comment »

It’s been reported today that Benidorm star Tim Healy has found a new love in the form of Joan Anderton, who he met at his local pub.

Tim of course split from Loose Women star Denise Welch when it was revealed she’d been having an affair with Lincoln Townley.

A source close to Tim told the Sun, “Tim has been spending a lot of time in the pub so it’s not surprising it’s where he met his girlfriend.

“They met a few months ago. She’s a down-to-earth mum who’s done various jobs, from cleaning to working in a cafe.

“They seem really happy. Tim never craved the partying lifestyle Denise enjoys. Joan has a grown-up son who lives with her, but she’s been single for a long time… Read more & comment »

As fans of Benidorm will know, Madge Garvey married businessman Mel Harvey who she met in Spain, however, he died, leaving Madge a lonely widow.

The character of Mel was written out when, sadly, Geoffrey Hutchings, who played him, died suddenly in July 2010.

However, Shelia Reid, who plays the mobility scooter loving Madge, has told What’s On TV that her character is about to get a new love interest.

She explained that Madge’s new bloke is Mohammed, who’s played by former Casualty star Dhafer L’Abidine, who she meets when he brings her some papers Mel left in his office.

We’ll meet him in episode four, and of the new romance for Madge, Sheila said, “Well, he’s is extremely handsome. Madge is fairly won over.

“He brings her some things that Mel left in Mohammed’s father’s office. Mel did some business with his dad in Morocco and he left this cigarette case with a photograph of their wedding in it, so he brings it to return to Madge… Read more & comment »

The Solana’s new manageress – Joyce Temple-Savage (Sherrie Hewson) is organising a dance competition for the guests. Everyone is eager to take part, and rehearsals are supervised by an old flame of Joyce’s – TV’s Cyril Babcock (Matthew Kelly) – an ageing juve whose impatience with the talent-lite contestants leads to a hilarious dance-off with smouldering Mateo (Jake Canuso).

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As fans of Benidorm will know, the hit show returned to our screens last Friday, with one notable exception to the regular characters; Mick Garvey.

Mick’s wife Janice (Siobhan Finneran) explained her husband’s absence from the annual family holiday at the Solana by saying he would be following the family out to Spain once he’d resolved some problems with the family’s sun bed business back in England.

Mick will return to Benidorm at the end of episode two, and be fully a part of the storyline in episode three.

And meanwhile, Steve Pemberton, who plays Mick, has explained to What’s On TV what his character will get up to when he returns to the show.

He said, “There’s a big stag do planned in Benidorm for Mick’s brother, Pete (Shaun Dooley).

“Their dad, Stan (David Bradley), is there, too. Although these two have never been to Benidorm before, they are very ‘Benidorm’ if you know what I mean… Read more & comment »

ITV1’s award winning comedy Benidorm, returns to our screens for a fifth series tonight.

Our favourite holidaymakers are in for a shock this year as the Solana resort gets a new manager and she means business! Joyce Temple Savage (played by Loose Women’s Sherrie Hewson) is on a mission to upgrade the Solana resort into a 4 star hotel – at all costs.

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The new series of Benidorm kicks off on ITV this Friday – yay! – and ahead of it, Loose Women star Sherrie Hewson has been telling What’s On TV magazine about her character, the snooty Joyce Temple Savage.

As fans of the show will know, Sherrie’s character has been brought in to shake up the Solana hotel and resort complex in the wake of the departure of its previous manager, Janey, who was played by Crissy Rock.

However, her attempts to make the hotel more appealing to a discerning clientele do not go down well with the karaoke, burger loving, beer swilling regulars.

Of the role, Sherrie said, “In my 40-odd years as an actor this is one of my best roles.

“I think Derren Litten is the most amazing writer and when he contacted me he and said ‘what do you think about being in Benidorm?’ I just said ‘wow’… Read more & comment »

The Garvey family have strong ties with Benidorm, given that they holiday at the Solana all-inclusive resort every year, and matriarch Madge (Sheila Reid) met her late husband Mel (Geoffrey Hutchings) there…

And of course, the Garveys – initially minus Mick (Steve Pemberton) who’s busy working back home – are back in Spain for the new run of Benidorm, which airs as of Friday 24 February at 9pm on ITV.

Ahead of it, Siobhan Finneran, who also stars in Downton Abbey, has been telling What’s On TV magazine about what to expect in the new series.

As to Mick’s absence from the annual family trip, Siobhan, who plays Janice Garvey, said, “Well, Janice, Madge and Michael are there without Mick at first because he’s dealing with problems at one of the sunbed shops at home.

“Janice knows a little bit more than anyone else but not all the details. Mick does get to Spain later in the series which is good, as Janice is having a hard time dealing with their son Michael… Read more & comment »