Benidorm

The wedding party returns after a rather messy night out. There's just one problem: Kenneth is nowhere to be found. Initially worried, Jacqueline is relieved when he turns up having apparently had "the night of his life". Elsewhere, Rob acquaints himself with a much-anticipated chum from South America.

For sheer flamboyance, there's no beating tubby hairdresser Kenneth (Tony Maudsley), who flounced into the sea as Benidorm (ITV) returned.

He was trying to swim back to the Solana hotel, from an island off the Costa Blanca coast, but only his necklace was washed ashore. Of the rest, nothing was found, not even his silver posing briefs. If he doesn't turn up, it's a clever way to write his character out of the show -- with the possibility of a comeback one day.

Nigel Havers. as the smarmy dentist taking over Kenneth's salon, is smoothly amusing, and the wonderful Janine Duvitski as elderly swinger Jacqueline is back.

But most of the best-loved Benidorm regulars have long since departed, and the show has a decrepit air, like a cheap hotel at the tail-end of the season.

Full marks, though, to a hilarious cameo from Spandau Ballet's Tony Hadley, sending himself up as a shameless narcissist churning out the band's hits at a wedding. That was pure Gold.

The ITV institution is celebrating its 10th series in true Costa Del Sun style: that means sunburned bum cracks by the Hotel Solano pool, all-inclusive innuendo and (later in the series) evening entertainment provided by the Chuckle Brothers. In this episode, the big day arrives for hotel manager Joyce (Corrie veteran Sherrie Hewson) and Monty (John Challis from Only Fools and Horses), but will they make it to "I do"? Less a TV show, more a sunny retirement community for the light-entertainment stars of yesteryear.

Benidorm's Bobby Knutt snubs children in £350,000 will

The actor and comedian, who died aged 71 last September, instead divided his estate between his sister and his two closest friends. There was little or nothing for his four children.

Benidorm, ITV, review

Tony Hadley brings his comedy gold.

Sherrie Hewson interview

Benidorm's Sherrie Hewson reveals she hasn't been on a date in four years and doubts she'll ever find love after seven years on her own.

In praise of Benidorm, the UK's most under-rated sitcom

It's a funny old game, comedy. Steve Pemberton's critical accolades for The League of Gentleman, and BBC2's late night cult hit, Inside No 9, are legion. But you'll be hard pressed to read glowing reviews of his eight years starring in the ITV comedy Benidorm. In fact you'll be hard pressed to read anything glowing from sniffy critics about the hit sitcom, despite its millions of viewers, longevity and viewer-voted National Television Awards. In fact, one critic went so far as to describe the viewing public a "disgrace" for voting for it.

Sherrie Hewson almost drunk herself to 'death'

Sherrie Hewson has decided to give up alcohol because she was becoming too dependent on it while shooting Benidorm.

Derren Litten interview

We talk to the man behind hit sitcom Benidorm, Derren Litten, about working hard, playing harder and bringing the show to the stage.