Benidorm series 6 kicks off tonight on ITV1 at 9pm. The Solana hotel may have been upgraded to four-stars but has the cliental?
Benidorm’s newly four-starred Solana is open for the Summer season, with manageress Joyce Temple-Savage (Sherrie Hewson) proud of the all-inclusive services on offer. It’s a star-studded new series, too: Joan Collins, Matthew Kelly, Philip Olivier, Nicholas Burns, The Krankies & Rustie Lee are all making VIP guest appearances, and the Solana itself has some fantastic new guests in residence.
Mick Garvey (Steve Pemberton) is currently stuck at the airport. He’s been detained by a customs officer who’s found something dodgy in Madge’s luggage, so Janice(Siobhan Finneran), Madge (Sheila Reid) and Michael(Ollie Stokes) go to the Solana without him. They’ve encountered a family from Watford who have also just arrived, but are already determined to leave. Clive andTonya Dyke (Perry Benson and Hannah Waddingham) were expecting a truly four star welcome for their holiday, but the state of the room ensures they have the first of their massive arguments, much to Madge’s amusement. Their 16 year old son Tiger (Danny Walters) soon spots Michael by the pool, and can tell that he’s the sort of fella who’ll make a useful partner in crime.
Meanwhile Joyce is hoping that Donald (Kenny Ireland) and Jacqueline (Janine Duvitski) will forget that she offered them a free holiday this year, but they stage an eye-catching protest, proving to the staff and guests that they’re as much a force to be reckoned with as ever.
Mateo (Jake Canuso), Lesley (Tim Healy) & Liam(Adam Gillen) know that despite its four star status, life at the Solana is as unpredictable as ever, especially where the constantly partying Kenneth (Tony Maudsley) is concerned. Kenneth is worried about mysterious and intimidating messages he’s been getting, which threaten to ruin the grand reopening of Blow n’ Go. Liam, who’s now working with Kenneth at the salon, reckons it’s time for Kenneth to make a new start, and wants to do whatever he can to help. Lesley, on the other hand, is ambitious to become the Solana’s assistant manager, so is more than willing to go the distance when it comes to staff discipline.
Mateo has problems all of his own – a new cocktail waiter is in town (Jason, played by Philip Olivier), who’s easy on the eye and far more motivated by work than Mateo will ever be. Mateo and Jason fight over Bianca Dyke (Bel Powney), who’s arrived at the hotel to be with her family. Liam swoons over her too, resulting in some hefty soul-searching between him, Lesley and Kenneth over whether he is ever going to find the right ’girl’.
Series 6 sees the welcome return of Martin Weedon (Nick Burns), who’s now single, and on the lookout for fun with a rowdy stag party. We welcome back Cyril Babcock (Matthew Kelly), too – and look forward to a grand finale in Episode 7, with VIP guests Rustie Lee, The Krankies and Joan Collins.
