Derren Litten, the creator of the hit ITV series Benidorm, has broken his long-standing silence in a rare interview with Liverpool Echo columnist Pete Price. Litten, who rarely speaks to the press, explained his reluctance stems from a fabricated interview given by a friend, actor Catherine Tate, which was full of lies.
Litten revealed that he played a key role in creating Tate’s iconic character Nan, and that Tate asked him to write for her series despite his lack of prior writing experience. He began his career as a magician to pay bills but his true passion was acting.
The writer is currently working on the eighth series of Benidorm, which draws around six million viewers. He revealed the concept originated as a sketch and evolved into a Blackpool-with-sunshine setting. Litten also shared behind-the-scenes anecdotes, including a blackmail attempt over a stolen script for 200 euros, to which he replied indignantly, “Is that all you want?”
A book titled Benidorm Diaries is due next year, featuring funny stories from the set. Filming for the new series begins in March, and Litten plans to write a play after the series concludes. He also praised Liverpool actress Elsie Kelly, who plays Noreen, describing her as a talented performer who blends perfectly with Johnny Vegas’s character.
