Benidorm TV Series

I have never really been a 'Television Fanatic' but once stumbled across a program which instantly caught my attention BENIDORM...... love it or hate it - this program has every body talking. People who love it will defend this program even if it means dying a painful death and people who hate it are always on the fan pages with something to say regarding its story line or characters.

I personally LOVE this program and the main reason for this is the uncanny banter that is very difficult to 'pull off' and many shows try but fail. With my first encounter of Benidorm i was instantly hooked, so i researched  and purchased the box set.

Once my box set was delivered me and my fiancee watched every episode of the first 3 series over and over and was eagerly awaiting news of a 4th series.

Within the program there are some over dramatic characters which would normally put me off instantly but the fact is there are people like this in Britain (and I'm sure we can all think of somebody) and if we bought all these people together then Benidorm would be the end result. A fantastically over dramatic array of people with some bizarre story line which we know will be made more unbelievable by the next character we meet.

After falling in love with the show i was researching to see where it was filmed. To my surprise and disappointment discovered it was actually filmed inside a studios set in Benidorm itself.  However, the filming of the pool scenes is filmed at a hotel in Benidorm called the Sol Pelicanos/Ocas - each year from March to June they hire out a closed off area of the pool and the whole first floor of the hotel. Hundreds if not thousands who had no intention of going to Benidorm have booked up just because of the show. I was about to join the exited gang of people and fly to Benidorm to try and get some photos with the cast and visit some of the iconic locations they have filmed.

April 2013 soon came and i was flying to Alicante airport with a massive smile on my face and camera at the ready - After careful consideration (none really i had my mind set from day 1) i was staying at the Sol Pelicanos. On arrival we was allocated a room on the second floor with our balcony over looking the entrance to the hotel and directly above the balcony of the cast below - there was always outfit's and costume's hanging on the clothes rail below for the cast.

There was always much excitement in Benidorm when the cast and crew was there and everybody would know where filming was taking place. Not only due to the crowds but also due to the silver vans that are used to transfer cast between the studios, Sol Pelicanos and off set scenes.

When i woke up on morning one i was exhilarated to look off my balcony and see a silver van with a number in the window. I instantly got ready and ran for the pool to see what was happening. As soon as i reached the pool area there was already a crowd formed exited at the filming, this turned out to be a daily occurrence as people always tried to get a glimpse of filming. The first cast member i saw was Sheila Reid and in my opinion and thousands other the most famous and loved character on Benidorm.

Sheila Reid

As the morning went on more characters came onto set for filming and everybody was trying to get pictures. As a massive Benidorm fan two people in particular intrigued me as i had never seen them before, one was a small overweight male wearing glasses and sandals, the other a tall blonde women in a bikini, to me this could only mean one thing - another mismatch couple to hit the story line of the show.

To get from the hotel to the set, the cast had a long walk through everybody at the pool and each time they would be mobbed for photos, which i understand can get annoying as they are there from March to June but as an actor your also a celebrity and even some peoples idols, meaning you need to give the fans something back and most of the actors would. Jake Canuso for instance always tried to make time to come from set for pictures with fans, he even held me 1 year old daughter for a photo (but she cried).

Jake Canuso as Mateo

On one of the days i was in the pool with my daughter and everybody started cheering and clapping, this was because sheila Reid/Madge was walking to set. She even has to have people escort her to and from, which is understandable because she isn't as young as she would like to be anymore and must be hard to get away from everyone who wants pictures. Some cast members would moan they have a tight schedule to stick to but when a camera and fan are presented they would still take a couple of snaps. One cast member who didn't impress me was Siobhan Finneran/Janice Garvery as she would just rush through the crowd without even smiling and i didn't see her have one picture with a fan (very disappointing) now when i watch Benidorm i always think how moody she is in real life.

Oliver Stokes

Tony Maudsley as Kenneth

Kenneth Du Beke played by Tony Maudsley was fantastic he was laughing and joking with fans and had photos with lots of people myself included. Oliver Stokes was also a fan favorite and got lots of attention, as a young actor i think he found it difficult to say no so pictures.

Outside of the hotel and pool area, we visited sites where episodes have been filmed for instance the Neptunes bar is filmed across the road in Morgans Tavern. I found myself very upset with this particular venue as they said that we wasn't able to enter due to us having our daughter with us. It was around 11 in the morning and was pretty much empty but still didn't allow us in, they have a gigantic poster outside advertising that the program films on there premises and then deny fans that would like to have a coke inside and maybe a few memento snaps.

Morgan Tavern - Neptunes film set

We also visited the Benidorm palace were an episode is filmed but i never went in as it was in the day but i will certainty see the show on my next visit. One of my most memorable trips was to go on the same boat as the Garveys to Benidorm island better know was peacock island - whilst on the boat we had the most amazing experience when wild dolphins started to lead the boat and even gave a little performance (I have a great video contact me if you would like to see). The island is a wonderful place and has spectacular breath taking views of Benidorm's stretch.

Peacock Island

Peacock Island has amazing views and a small little restaurant - the island is a nature reserve and is the only undeveloped part of main Benidorm.

Benidorm Palace

 My experience of visiting Benidorm to see the cast and set was one of mixed emotions because as a loyal fan you want to continue believing the Garvey s and Stewart's are real family's and that the hotel is an actual place and not in a studio. On the other hand i swam in the exact pool and stood on Mateos pool bar he even held my daughter. I got to see how nice the cast actually are and experience some of the things they did, which make the jokes all that more personal. I recognise things when watching the program and think I've been there, i even went in the same joke shop as Mick Garvery. Its a great feeling and would recommend any fans to invest in going to Benidorm to experience it for yourself if you haven't already been. If you have already been i would hope you continue as i will because it truly is an amazing place and Benidorm has 'hit the spot' with British comedy

This is a real life Mick Garvey in Benidorm in on an advertising bike.

My next blog will be about the Benidorm town itself.