Fans of the comedy series Benidorm have been eagerly awaiting news of its return since it went off-air in 2018. ITV's hit series, featuring beloved characters played by stars like Tim Healy and Sherrie Hewson. It first premiered in 2007 and entertained audiences for nearly a decade with its depiction of holidaymakers at Spain's Solana hotel.
The show ended after 11 years, much to viewers' disappointment. However, there's now exciting buzz that Benidorm could be back on our TV screens soon.
Reports say ITV bosses are in discussions with show creator Derren Litten about a possible revival and Sherrie Hewson, who portrayed the hotel manager Joyce Temple-Savage, also hinted at a comeback during a podcast chat, revealing: "Benidorm is coming back."
Besides the potential series revival, it's intriguing to see how some Benidorm stars have been up to since filming wrapped. While some ventured into new roles, such as stints on ITV's Coronation Street, others faced dramatic health challenges, including an actor who experienced a life-threatening cardiac arrest but made a remarkable recovery.
Let's take a trip down memory lane and catch up with the cast, reports the Express.
Johnny Vegas
Fan-favourite Johnny Vegas, 54, has surely seen the pounds rolling in thanks to his stints on Benidorm and BBC's Home From Home, boasting a cool estimated net worth of £8 million. Which is a far cry from his on-screen persona Geoff "The Oracle" Maltby!
Johnny left the series back in 2010 after whispers of tension with the show's creator, which were swiftly shut down by both. He went on to make a grand return in 2015.
In a more recent adventure, viewers caught up with Johnny in Carry On Glamping, where in a delightful four-part series, he set off to fulfil his dream of launching his own glamping site, and took us all along for the ride in Patricia, his camper van named tenderly after his mum.
Johnny keeps lighting up our screens with TV roles and soon we'll hear his unmistakable voice as Mr Twit in the much-awaited animated Roald Dahl classic, as well as giving life to Giro in the highly anticipated Wombles Movie.
Tim Healy
Tim Healy turned heads during a public spat with his ex-wife Denise Welch over her cheeky Loose Women confessions regarding their past bedroom exploits. Denise's spicy remarks left him less than pleased.
The pair, parents to Matt, aka frontman of The 1975, and actor Louis, tied the knot back in 1988 and decided to part ways after decades together in 2012. Despite going their separate ways after a 24-year romance, Denise and Tim share they remain pals, even enjoying festive cheer at Christmas with their new beaus.
In a shocking incident, 73-year-old Tim had a brush with death during the shoot of Benidorm's ninth season, falling gravely ill from an undisclosed ailment.
Show creator Derren Litten revealed the harrowing details: "He died, he flatlined, they had to resuscitate him," and added, "He was in intensive care for a month."
Since exchanging vows with Joan Anderton in 2015, Tim has been busy with his role on Still Open All Hours which ran until 2019, and he also provided narration for the short film You Are Not Alone.
Hannah Waddingham
Hollywood star Hannah Waddingham, 50, graced Benidorm as Tonya Dyke back in 2014 and is now soaring high in her international career. Not just making waves in the UK, but also stateside. Hannah clinched a coveted best actress award in 2021 for her performance as Rebecca Welton in Ted Lasso.
Her impressive portfolio spans the ruthless character of Septa Unella in Game of Thrones, a turn as Sofia in Netflix's acclaimed Sex Education and a history of lighting up the West End stage in Spamalot. Besides her acting chops, she's carved out a spot as a sought-after host, taking the reins at the Olivier Awards, the Eurovision last year, and even the Earthshot Prize event by Prince William.
As a mum to her 10-year-old daughter Kitty, whom she shares with former partner Gianluca Cugnetto, Hannah recounted a nerve-wracking episode related to Kitty's hospital stay because of a rare autoimmune disorder.
"I can talk about it now, but I couldn't for a very long time. She was in the hospital for a while with them not knowing what it was," she recounted, thankfully adding that Kitty is "doing much better now".
Siobhan Finneran
Stealing our hearts as Janice Garvey, Siobhan Finneran became a household favourite in the hit series Benidorm, playing the beleaguered matriarch of The Garveys for six sensational series until her departure in 2015.
Yet, it's her portrayal of the conniving Sarah O'Brien in Downton Abbey that truly put her in the spotlight, captivating viewers with her stellar performances until her character bowed out in the third series.
The talented actress has graced our screens in the lottery-based drama The Syndicate and two series of Happy Valley as Claire Cartwright. Siobhan's impressive resume also includes roles in critically acclaimed series such as The Moorside, The Loch, Cold Feet, and the gripping Sean Bean crime drama Time.
At 58, Siobhan is a proud mum to two children from her marriage to ex-husband Mark Jordan, whom she divorced in 2014.
Jake Canuso
Bringing a touch of Mediterranean to our screens, Swiss actor and dancer Jake Canuso, 55, charmed audiences as Mateo, the Solana resort's suave barman. .
After Benidorm, Jake Canuso took his character Mateo to the stage in Benidorm Live and landed the lead role in a theatre run of Aladdin. In 2019, he was called over by Derren Litten, the creator of Benidorm, for a role in Scarborough.
He tried his luck on Dancing on Ice in 2020 but didn't make the cut. Nowadays, Jake is keeping himself busy by creating personalised video messages through Memmo.
Steve Pemberton
Steve Pemberton, who played Mick Garvey in six series of Benidorm, is a work-shy dad who often clashed with his sharp-tongued mother-in-law Madge, portrayed by Sheila Reid. Steve also co-wrote and starred in the sitcom Psychoville and the comedy-drama Inside No 9, which won him a Bafta in 2019.
Recently, he played Robbie Williams' father in the biopic Better Man and made cameo appearances in Amazon's Good Omens, Sky's Brassic and BBC's The Cleaner.
Janine Duvitski
Janine Duvitski and Kenny Ireland were key characters who played fun-loving swingers Donald and Jacqueline Stewart. Unfortunately, Kenny passed away at the age of 69 in 2014.
The writers of the show commemorated Donald's death, with Jacqueline scattering her husband's ashes over a cliff in Benidorm.
Janine has scaled back her acting career but she did appear in the 2019 film Little Joe. These days, she's more focused on her four kids and her husband, Paul Bentall.
Her daughter Edith is also following in her footsteps, albeit in music, as the lead singer of the London pop band Fours.
Tony Maudsley
You might know Tony Maudsley from his role as Kenneth DuBeke in Benidorm, but he's also had a stint on Coronation Street as George Shuttleworth, charming Eileen Grimshaw in the process. He's been acting since 1998, when he landed a part in the film A Life for a Life.
Hannah Hobley
After leaving Benidorm in 2009, Hannah Hobley took a different path. She hasn't been on TV much since 2017, opting for pantomime performances instead.
Her last role was in Beauty and the Beast in 2022. Now, she's a full-time mum to her daughter Beatrice, born in November that year.
Hannah shared some adorable photos on Instagram, saying her little girl was "well and truly worth the wait". She and her partner announced the arrival of Beatrice, saying: "@nathrichsmith and I would like to proudly introduce you all to our daughter, Beatrice Hobley-Smith. Born on the 5th November. A date we will always remember."
Sheila Reid
Sheila Reid, 87, remains loved for her iconic portrayal of Madge Harvey, who had a cigarette constantly in hand. Sheila's illustrious career has included captivating roles on Channel 4's Humans and BBC's Doctors. A lesser-known fact about the fabulous Sheila is that she was a founding member of the Royal National Theatre in the year 1963.
Oliver Stokes
Oliver Stokes, known for playing Michael Garvey during his teenage years on ITVs hilarious comedy, has settled into life as an adorable dad to his son Archie, with their loving relationship frequently showcased on Instagram. Now at 26, Oliver continues to pursue acting with stints in shows like Doctors and Casualty.
Off screen, you're likely to find him at Victory Leisure Homes in Yorkshire or indulging his zeal for nature. An accomplished "Mountain walker and outdoor enthusiast", Oliver has summited an impressive 131 out of the 214 Wainwright Peaks.
Sherrie Hewson
Sherrie Hewson is no stranger to soap fame with her stint on Coronation Street. Benidorm fans know her for her role as Joyce Temple-Savage from the fifth series onwards.
Reflecting on how audiences often mistake her for her fictional counterpart, Sherrie expressed: "She was a right madam. She was very curt with everyone. Joyce thought she was absolutely sensational and that everyone else was as common as muck. It was wonderful to play. But it's not who I am."
Sherrie has since graced our screens as a regular panellist on Loose Women from 2003 to 2017 and made a splash joining the ' Hollyoaks ' cast on Channel 4.
