Benidorm

Johnny Vegas: I love Costa Dull Soll

Johnny Vegas admitted he turned into a recluse to avoid hitting the booze while filming the new series of Benidorm.

Offering a recession-friendly alternative to putting an extra bar on the fire, here's a new series of sun-sodden sniggering from Spain. Harsh economic reality is biting at the Solana too, with staff unhappy at the prospect of a pay cut. Tiger Dyke is the victim of an even more aggressive form of cost-cutting, waking from a drunken stupor minus all possessions, but with a four-letter review of his personality crudely daubed on his forehead. Meanwhile, Jacqueline and Donald celebrate their anniversary in unorthodox fashion.

Benidorm triumphs at 2014 TV Choice Awards

The wonderful news from last night's TV Choice Awards is that Benidorm won Best Comedy Show.

ITV sorry for Benidorm's Rolf Harris references

ITV has apologised after an episode of Benidorm referencing Rolf Harris was repeated a day after the star was convicted of indecent assault.

Benidorm star Kenny Ireland fighting cancer

Benidorm star Kenny Ireland is fighting cancer, it has been revealed. The actor - who plays swinger Donald Stewart in the ITV show - has been written out of the latest series as he battles the disease and undergoes treatment.

Benidorm may have ceased being my cup of sangria a long time ago but fair's fair, the latest series finale was a cracker. It's unlikely you'll ever see Joan Collins, Rustie Lee and The Krankies together on the same bill again though. Well, unless they're called as character witnesses at the next Operation Yewtree trial.

There's a bit of a brutalist vibe about the Hotel Solana, the charmless edifice around which the action swings in Benidorm.

Derren Litten's sunburnt comedy closed its sixth run with a cast list that included Joan Collins, Janette Krankie, Rustie Lee and Mick from Brookside, not a line-up I thought I'd ever see in my lifetime.

Yet that bizarre bit of casting was as good as it got, because Benidorm is in need of a storyline on which to hang its rum collection of swingers, scallywags and Spaniards.

Collins made the most of her cameo as the Solana's boss, throwing a strop because manager Joyce had the temerity to get the hotel upgraded but the over-riding feeling was of characters treading water in the shallow end of the Solana's pool - someone needs to throw them a lifebelt because this show is sinking fast.

8 unexpected celebrity cameos on Benidorm

From Dynasty's Kate O'Mara to Corrie's Ken Morley - can you remember them all?