Benidorm

Interview with Donald and Jacqueline

Donald and Jacqueline - aka Kenny Ireland and Janine Duvitski - are ITV's sauciest swingers - but what makes them blush?

The behind-the-scenes secrets of ITV's hit sitcom

Radio Times goes on set and discovers that the Solana Resort - known to millions of viewers - isn't all filmed in one place.

Benidorm's Crissy Rock took out teeth to punch thug

Instead of calling for the law, the fuming Benidorm star removed her dentures, gave them to a friend and punched someone who attacked her granddaughter in the face.

Benidorm poolside filming photos

A photo gallery from filming on the new series of Benidorm.

'Benidorm' 2012 ends with 5.9 million for ITV

Benidorm closed its doors for 2012 with 5.9m viewers last night (Friday), overnight data reveals.

In the 1980s I bumped into Kate O'Mara on the Doctor Who set disguised as Bonnie Langford - erm, she was, I wasn't! And she's almost as startling tonight in a now rare TV role as Mrs Simmonds, a well-preserved or, well, preserved glamourpuss who the Solana staff are fawning over.

In a plot redolent of Fawlty Towers, a hotel assessor is in residence and it all goes disastrously wrong for manageress Joyce (Sherrie Hewson). She "normally gets on with the gays", but her antipathy for hairstylist Kenneth boils over in a hysterical poolside brawl. The scene-stealer, though, is young Michael (Oliver Stokes) with his poignant turn at karaoke, in a finale that captures those end-of-holiday pangs. A sixth series, por favor.

It's the end of another season at the Solana and new manager Joyce Temple Savage is still optimistically chasing her fourth star. Incredibly, she's only been in the job a week, but they don't half cram in some memorable moments into those ­all-inclusive breaks.

Moments like tonight's ­hilariously violent catfight between Joyce and hairdresser Kenneth in which the feathers - and sangria - really fly. But will this be enough to impress the hotel inspector, played by a bemused Kate O'Mara?

She's been enjoying free room service in the ­penthouse, but it would require very thick gin goggles indeed to view this as a luxury resort. Whatever the rating, Benidorm has served up some four-star comedy this year - and some poignant moments, too.

It's not quite My Big Fat Benidorm Wedding, but prepare yourselves anyway for the sight of Madge dressed like Barbara Eden in I Dream of Jeannie.

She's getting into character for her marriage of convenience to her unlikely toyboy Mohammed - but Mick and Michael discover that she's not the only one who's doing a little dressing up.

There's plenty of other detective work afoot too, because Joyce has enlisted the help of Donald and Jacqueline to spy on the Solana's staff.

She reckons there's a mole in her midst who's been supplying the local paper with unflattering stories about the resort - and the swingers throw themselves enthusiastically on to the case.

And might there be yet another Solana wedding on the cards? Sam's one night stand with the gormless Liam isn't quite over yet.