Benidorm cast now from ASDA key worker to tragic death and grown-up child stars

Benidorm was an overnight success when it hit our screens in 2007, following a group of charismatic holidaymakers at an all-inclusive resort on the eastern coast of Spain.

Written by Derren Litten, the show won the dong for Best Comedy Programme and Best Situation Comedy at the NTAs and the BAFTAs the next year, having earned a cult following.

Sadly, a decade later ITV announced Benidorm was getting axed following a decline in ratings, bringing an end to a golden era of comedy television.

May 2 marks three years since the final episode of Benidorm aired, bidding farewell to the Solana hotel and its infamous employees and patrons.

To mark the anniversary, Daily Star has taken a look back at Benidorm's cast members, following their careers over the past three years.

Jake Canuso

Who could forget Mateo Castellano, the flirty Solana barman at the heart of the ITV series?

Originally from Switzerland, British-Italian actor Jake Canuso, 51, was Benidorm's longest-standing actor, appearing in all 74 episodes.

When filming wrapped, he appeared in the stage adaptation Benidorm Live, later landing a leading role in a theatre production of Aladdin.

Canuso also appeared in the 2019 series Scarborough, which was written by Benidorm creator Derren Litten.

Letting his creativity flow, he also created a sculpture titled The Whispers Of The Unheard, which was exhibited in the Centro Cultural Conde Duque in Madrid last year.

Fans of his work are in luck – Jake offers personalised videos through a company called Memmo, in exchange for a fee.

“I hear Mateo is doing a lot of skiving off work to send personalised video messages directly from the Costa Blanca,” he said earlier this month, advertising the service.

Janine Duvitski

Jacqueline Stewart's antics with her husband Donald were often a central storyline on Benidorm, with the wonderful Janine Duvitski playing the part to a tee.

Following Donald's death, Jacqueline brought some poignancy to the comedy when she scattered her husband's ashes over the cliffside in Benidorm.

The 68-year-old has one film credit since filming wrapped, appearing in the critically acclaimed Little Joe in 2019.

Recent years have seen her take a step back from the spotlight, enjoying wholesome hobbies like portrait painting and cooking, as well as spending time with her family.

Janine has four children with her actor husband Paul Bentall, and her daughter Edith is famous in her own right as the lead singer of the London-based pop group Fours.

Kenny Ireland

Kenny Ireland's death cast a shadow on Benidorm, with his co-stars paying tribute to his warmth and friendship behind the scenes.

At the time of his passing, his co-star Danny Walters, who played Tiger Dyke in the show, said: "Very sad news about Kenny Ireland (Donald Stewart). Thanks for teaching me how to play backgammon. RIP Kenny."

The Scottish actor, who played Donald Stewart for seven years, died of cancer in July of 2014 at the age of 68.

One month before his death, it was revealed Kenny had been battling brain cancer, meaning season six was to be his final appearance.

In season eight, his death was written into the series, with his onscreen wife Jacqueline scattering Donald's ashes into the swirling ocean in emotional scenes.

Asa Elliott

Benidorm fans will remember Asa Elliott as the bar singer from the Solana Hotel, crooning to holidaymakers between 2010 to 2014.

The actor later joined the cast of Benidorm Live, as well as landing gigs singing on cruise ships travelling around the Mediterranean.

However, when the pandemic struck, the former actor decided to quit the showbiz world and bagged a job as a delivery driver for ASDA, working on the front line.

According to The Sun, Asa has been delivering groceries across Hull, with several Benidorm superfans delighting in receiving their shop from the singer.

Tony Maudsley

Corrie fans will recognise Tony Maudsley as the kind-hearted undertaker, George Shuttleworth, who has recently stolen Eileen Grimshaw's heart.

The actor, 53, joined the long-running ITV soap opera last year and has quickly become a popular fixture on the soap, with his character linking back to a Corrie original – George's father, Archie Shuttleworth.

Years before he popped up on the cobbles, Tony played the hotpants-wearing Kenneth Du Beke on Benidorm, who first appeared in series four.

As for future gigs, Tony has signed up to play a father figure alongside Nigel Havers in the film The Naughty Boys, which is currently in pre-production.

Johnny Vegas

Comedian Johnny Vegas has been busy since leaving the cast of Benidorm, having a reputation for being one of the UK's leading comedians and comedy panellists.

The funnyman, 50, played Geoff Maltby aka "The Oracle" on Benidorm, who was a pub quiz champion who would travel to the holiday spot each year with his mum.

With tens of TV and film roles to his name, Vegas has been a regular on shows like Taskmaster and QI since his departure from Benidorm, as well as appearing on Celebrity Gogglebox.

He is also active in charity work and spent some of the lockdown renovating an old Maltese bus he bought himself for his 50th birthday.

It was confirmed Vegas split from his second wife, Maia Dunphy, in early 2020, with whom he shares one child, a son named Tom.

Maia told Dublin Live: “Johnny and I are not together now. It's difficult and heartbreaking and a source of daily sadness for me.

“It's something I am deliberately nebulous about because I don't want it to define Tom [the couple's son] or me, and I don't want to talk publicly about it.

“Like many people in the same situation, I'm just doing my best to get on with life under painful circumstances.”

Siobhan Finneran

The Garvey family, and their two children, grew up with the show, holidaying in Benidorm each summer with mum Janice Garvey at the helm.

Siobhan Finneran, 55, left the series in 2015 and has enjoyed a thriving acting career since, landing a leading role in the hit period drama Downton Abbey.

Her Benidorm exit left her in tears, as she told What's On TV: “We were in a terrible state. It was our decision to stop, but it was still heartbreaking. A lot of guest stars – brilliant people like David Bradley – have said it's a treat of a job, and they're right.”

Elsewhere, she played Clare Cartwright in Happy Valley, with her role as a recovering alcoholic and heroin addict landing her a nomination for Best Supporting Actress at the 2017 BAFTAs.

Netflix fans will remember her for her leading role as Detective Sergeant Johanna Griffin in The Stranger, which gripped the nation in early 2020.

Siobhan has two grown-up children – Poppy and Joseph – from her marriage to former husband Mark Jordon, known for his role as PC Phil Bellamy Heartbeat.

Steve Pemberton

Steve Pemberton left Benidorm at the exact same time as his onscreen wife, bidding farewell to Mick Garvey as part of a joint decision.

“Working on Benidorm has been the most fun I've ever had. I'd have kept going for the rest of my life, but there are other considerations,” he told What's On TV at the time.

The actor, 53, was already celebrated in his field, thanks to his role as a member of The League of Gentlemen from the late 90s.

Steve and Siobhan reunited on the small screen after their respective exits, appearing together on Happy Valley.

Elsewhere, he had a part in the groundbreaking drama Killing Eve, playing a baddie named Paul, and co-wrote and starred in the black comedy series Inside No. 9.

Living in London, Steve has three kids – Lucas James, Madeleine and Adam – whom he shares with his long-term partner Alison Rowles.

Oliver Stokes

Starting out on Benidorm as a child star, Oliver Stokes is all grown up today, looking nothing like the mischievous Michael Garvey of his childhood.

The former actor, 22, is a dad himself today, regularly sharing adorable snaps of his own son, little Archie, on Instagram.

After leaving Benidorm, he enjoyed further acting credits on medical soap operas Doctors and Casualty but seems to have taken a step back from the industry in recent years.

Aside from spending time with his little boy, Oliver is a keen fisherman, often posting photos of his catch online.

Hannah Hobley

Hannah Hobley was just 19 when Benidorm first hit our screens, playing daughter Chantelle "Telle" Garvey to Mick and Janice.

It was revealed Chantelle was pregnant during season one, with the teen mum welcoming a baby named Coolio when the family returned to holiday the next year.

Hannah, 32, left Benidorm in 2009 and has since turned her talents to the stage, appearing in productions of Sleeping Beauty and Dick Whittington.

Active on social media, Hannah has recently launched a TikTok account which shows her recreating the tune to popular TV show theme songs.

And, for a dose of nostalgia, she often shares behind-the-scenes pics from her time on Benidorm, with appearances from the likes of Sheila Reid and Johnny Vegas.

Sherrie Hewson

Already an established actress before joining the cast of Benidorm, Sherrie Hewson was cast to play the new manager of the Solana Hotel, Joyce Temple-Savage.

Sherry, 70, was a leading panellist on Loose Women at the same time, only to announce she had quit the daytime ITV series in 2016.

Her previous acting credits include roles on some of the nation’s best-loved soap operas, having appeared on Coronation Street, Emmerdale and Crossroads.

Marking her 70th birthday, Sherrie appeared on Loose Women last year to explain her decision to have a facelift as a gift to herself.

She told her former co-stars: “I’m not stupid, I know how old I am I’ve got wrinkles, I just wanted to have some plumpness back and made me feel a bit better about myself.

“It’s made me feel like I can look in the mirror.”

This year will see Sherry star in the crime flick The Krays: New Blood, telling the story of the notorious twin gangsters.

Sheila Reid

The matriarch of the Garvey family, Madge Garvey was known to always have a cigarette in one hand, and could often be seen speeding around the resort on an electric scooter.

Sheila Reid, 83, has seen her acclaimed acting career span back to the 60s, with tens of theatre, film and television roles to her name.

While filming Benidorm, she enjoyed a real-life wedding to her long-term partner Terry Bullen at a private ceremony back in 2008.

More recently, in 2017, she starred in the stage production of Silver Lining, which had been written by Bake Off star Sandi Toksvig.

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