Siobhan Finneran

Radio Times review

A pensioner expires under the hairdryer in Blow 'n' Go, leaving Kenneth and Liam in a pickle. Drippy Martin wakes up after the stag do in bed with (he believes) a teenage girl. Donald and Jacqueline, cavorting in lycra and anti-grav boots, take on the lads, Michael and Tiger, in a beach-volleyball contest. And Tonya Dyke (magnificent Hannah Waddingham) resorts to Abba at the karaoke to get the better of oily Mateo.

Sounds a riot, doesn't it? But apart from the odd racy line, Benidorm is creaking like an old banger in need of lubrication. The Garveys (Steve Pemberton, Siobhan Finneran and Sheila Reid - all of them a gift to any writer) deserve better material.

Interview with The Garveys

RT's Patrick Mulkern meets his sitcom heroes, Steve Pemberton, Siobhan Finneran and Sheila Reid.

"Benidorm is becoming the organ theft capital of Spain," reads Janice (Siobhan Finneran) in the local paper. The headline is referring to a gang who are kidnapping people and pinching their kidneys. So no wonder there's panic in tonight's visit to the sun-drenched sitcom when Madge (Shelia Reid) is seen being bundled into the back of a car. Elsewhere, Jacqueline (Janine Duvitski) coos over the flurry of messages she's receiving through the new swingers app on her husband's phone. "It must be that picture of Condoleezza Rice I put on my profile," she says.

A sort of low-rent Strictly Come Benidorm ensues as Cyril Babcock (Matthew Kelly) holds a dance contest at the Solana. This may not be a classic episode, but the terrific ensemble cast can elevate the run-of-the-mill. Hardly surprising - Janine Duvitski's comedy pedigree extends way back to Abigail's Party, on-screen hubby Kenny Ireland's to Acorn Antiques... And young Adam Gillen (as moronic Liam) is already proving a fine comedy actor.

And if you thought new girl Trudy might become top dog, think again. As mum Janice-cum-She-Ra, Siobhan Finneran seems light years away from Miss O'Brien (the harridan she plays in Downton) but is doubly formidable.

It's never been subtle, but with an increasing reliance on innuendo and slapstick for laughs, Derren Little's camp comedy drama has started to resemble an updated Carry On film. In tonight's episode, the Solana resort's exacting new manager Joyce Temple-Savage (Sherrie Hewson) organises a dance contest for guests. She ropes in an old flame, ageing TV judge Cyril Babcock (flouncing guest star Matthew Kelly), to supervise rehearsals. Over in the hair salon (now rechristened Blow 'n' Go) Kenneth has hired uninspiring new assistant Carmen (Alba Ortega), while over by the pool bar an unexpected visitor gives Janice (Siobhan Finneran) a nasty shock.

It's surely time for the sun to set on ITV's once-sparkling comedy drama. Back tonight for a fifth series, the characters now seem as tired as the hotel they hijack each summer. Loose Women's Sherri Hewson arrives as the Solana's exacting new manager Joyce Temple Savage ("I've got a lot of experience in the travel industry. I spent three years under Richard Branson.") Otherwise it's pretty much business as usual. Tanorexic pensioner Madge (Shelia Reid) harangues daughter Janice (Siobhan Finneran) about her missing husband. Hapless handyman Liam (Adam Gillen) is still desperate for dating tips. And ageing swingers Jacqueline (Janine Duvitski) and recently resurrected husband Donald (Kenny Ireland) are back on the prowl.

Siobhan Finneran reveals her new Benidorm secrets

As the new series of Benidorm kicks off on ITV1, we sit poolside at the Solana resort with actress Siobhan Finneran to find out what's in store for the Garveys this time round...

Quite a dolorous entry for this fourth season of Benidorm. Yes, there are still ample doses of vulgarity, bad behaviour (alcoholic Pauline goes on a bender) and eye-watering cross-dressing (Tim Healy's Lesley does country and western). Otherwise, the storm cloud over the Solana Resort mirrors the mood of the holiday-makers. Donald gets even worse health news, young Michael and nitwit Liam are unlucky in love, while Johnny Neptune (Ian Reddington) turns up and gives Janice the shock of her life. Be it gutsy karaoke, almost heroic head-butting or controlled heartache, this series has demanded much of Mrs Garvey, and Siobhan Finneran is simply magnificent.

The second episode of this saucy seaside comedy delivers more innuendo-laden material. Tonight, layabout husband Mick (Steve Pemberton) finds himself squabbling with uptight newcomer Pauline (Selina Griffiths), but their fights seem to end up with them in accidental sexual positions, much to the fury of Mick's wife Janice (Siobhan Finneran). That's about as sophisticated as it gets. The series boasts a raft of talented actors, including Tony Maudsley and Tim Healy, but relies for titters on jokes about gastric upset and the double meaning of "balls", which are about as funny as sunstroke.

With brassy characters, outlandish storylines and a sun-drenched setting, it's easy to see why Derren Litten's comedy drama has become so popular. It's back for a fourth series, although it's starting to lose its sparkle. New holidaymakers include portly hairdresser Kenneth (Tony Maudsley) and party girls Sam and Natalie (Shelley Longworth and Kathryn Drysdale). Meanwhile Solana stalwarts the Garveys (Steve Pemberton and Siobhan Finneran) return to track down a beleaguered Madge (Shelia Reid).