Benidorm

Crissy Rock departs Benidorm

Benidorm actress Crissy Rock - who plays hotel manager Janey York - has been axed from the programme.

Benidorm to return, and Joan Collins wants to appear

Beindorm will return for a fifth season, TV Biz can reveal - and superbitch actress Joan Collins wants to be in it.

'Benidorm' series four closes with 5.8m

Benidorm closed for 2011 with a respectable 5.8m viewers, according to the latest overnight data.

The finale of a series that's a bit broad and overdone but fills a scheduling hole amiably enough. Tonight, transvestite Les (a good turn from Tim Healy) discovers some of Donald's clothing at a nudist beach, but no Donald, who has left a note for Jacqueline. Madge is about to open her new bar, the aptly and exotically titled Batley Arms. Hilarity of sorts results from a family trip to a theme park, while Pauline, tensely awaiting news of her divorce, decides to ease matters with a drink. Same time next year, one supposes.

Heavyweight swinger Donald goes AWOL on the nudist beach, his wife Jacqueline causes a water-skiing accident, Gavin's partner Troy surfaces with dramatic news, and Madge launches her new bar, the Batley Arms Thus ends another ribald season at the Solana Resort. The show may have lost three key Geoffreys - Perkins (its original producer) and Hutchings (who played Mel) have both died, while mummy's boy Geoff (Johnny Vegas) was dropped last year - but the sun still shines on Benidorm. Around seven million viewers tune in every week for Derren Litten's award-winning, lovingly spun sitcom, which remains refreshingly unabashed at mining all things crass, crude and obvious. A superlative cast makes even the bum notes sing. And Steve Pemberton shows he doesn't need the togs and teeth of his Psychoville and League of Gentlemen grotesques to create a great character. Trunks, lobster tan and a patina of sweat and he's ready to go.

The fourth series of the amusingly crass comedy series comes to an end tonight. As the Solana Resort begins to wind down, chaos still reigns among its holidaymakers. Donald (Kenny Ireland) heads off to a nudist beach, Pauline (Selina Griffiths) drowns her sorrows as she awaits news of her divorce and Jacqueline (Janine Duvitski) is involved in an unusual waterskiing accident. Business as usual then.

Benidorm might have seen better days. But like a hardened holidaymaker, it keeps slapping on the oil, pulling up its thong and soldiering out into the sun.

Tonight, leather-skinned Madge considers buying a ­run-down bar in memory of Mel. It sells the cheapest drinks in "Benny" and still can't attract enough customers. Hardly the best ad for a holiday hotspot.

Liam's having the same trouble with Natalie. She's not impressed by any of his offers - she's after Mateo. And it's looking good for her until cross dressing barman Les (aka Leslie) makes Mateo an offer he can't refuse.

Cue one of tonight's highlights - Jake Canuso's performance as Mateo on a double-date with Les is a masterclass in slapstick.

At this week's 80s night, Pauline falls even further off the wagon. But there's two thirds of Bananarama - Keren Woodward and Sara Dallin - add some class to the proceedings, and enliven karaoke night.

As if Derren Litten's comedy drama weren't camp enough, tonight pop trio Bananarama turn up as special guests at The Solana's Eighties night. Meanwhile Madge (Shelia Reid) gets the chance to take a lease on a bar in Benidorm and Kenneth (Tony Maudsley) tries to cheer up Gavin (Hugh Sachs). Naïve teenager Liam (Adam Gillen) is still trying to win over sexy Natalie. It looks as though his efforts are in vain.