Benidorm Creator's Daily Heartbreak Over Divorce From Jake Canuso
Derren Litten, the 55-year-old creator of the hit ITV sitcom Benidorm, faces daily reminders of what he describes as his "miserable" divorce from lead star Jake Canuso, 56. The former couple decided to separate in 2022 and finalised their divorce two years later, but Derren continues to reside in Spain where he owns cocktail bar Mateo's Benidorm.
Constant Reminders in Spain
The cocktail bar is named after Canuso's ever-flirtatious barman character Mateo, meaning every time Derren heads to work, he inevitably evokes memories of their once happy marriage. This situation has become particularly poignant as Derren recently shared his heartbreak over being forced to sell the Spanish home where he wrote his hit show.
The luxury four-bedroom villa has now been placed on the market, which Derren attributes to what he calls a "shameless, career gold digger." While it's not completely clear who Derren is referring to, concerned fans have speculated whether this relates to his former partner.
Divorce Aftermath and Valentine's Day Contrast
Derren revealed he was left "poor" in the aftermath of his divorce from Jake when he shed light on their split for the first time in 2023. He wrote on social media at the time: "I don't really talk about my personal life here but the reason I've been a bit scarce on the socials is for the last 18 months I've been going through a pretty miserable divorce. So I'm obviously poor now."
This Valentine's Day looked dramatically different for Derren compared to his ex-husband. While Derren spent the day solo, writing on social media about "lying on my bed trying to decide which pot noodle to have next... another winning Valentines Day," Jake was busy filming content for Cameo.
Jake offers personalised videos in character as Mateo, with five-star reviews and a cheeky tagline: "Mateo from Benidorm at your services." His videos start at £56 and are typically delivered within 24 hours. In the run-up to Valentine's Day last year, he promoted the service saying: "It's nearly Valentine's Day. Last chance to get a cheeky Valentines message from Benidorm's Barman Mateo."
The Villa Forced onto the Market
Derren announced the sale of his Spanish villa on social media, sharing estate agent details and writing: "Would you like to buy the house where I wrote the Benidorm TV series? I love this house but thanks to a shameless, career gold digger I have to sell. As the Spanish say, 'No pasa nada!'"
The refurbished Mediterranean villa, priced at £806,173, features:
- Tropical gardens with palm and cocoa trees
- A large private pool with covered terrace
- A summer kitchen with barbecue and bar directly connected to the kitchen
- Master bedroom with en-suite bathroom and direct pool access
- Spacious living room and separate dining area
- Two additional bedrooms sharing a second bathroom
- Separate office space in the garden that could serve as a fourth bedroom
The property is located in Alfaz del Pi, a short walk from the town centre and just 15 minutes from the beaches and nightlife of Benidorm where Litten's hit sitcom is set. There are five golf courses within 10 minutes, including Villaitana Golf with two 18-hole courses designed by PGA Tour legend Jack Nicklaus.
Impact on Benidorm Revival Plans
The messy divorce appears to have impacted plans to revive Benidorm, which began in 2007 and ended in May 2018. A TV insider revealed last year how plans could be difficult as Canuso's character Mateo was a lead star.
"Mateo is Benidorm, he's the character that everyone wants to see," they said. "He's been part of the Solana since the beginning so for him not to feature in any future reboot, well it just would not be the same without him."
Another source added: "Conversations have been had. The only way Jake will return is if ITV make him a huge offer, one that he could not possibly turn down. But obviously Derren is making negotiations difficult. He is the writer and creator and believes that he should make all the decisions."
The insider concluded: "The fans would want to see Mateo, which ITV get. It's all become one big headache."
Sly Digs and Public Commentary
Proving just how much he is reminded of his ex Jake while living in the villa in Spain, Derren took to Instagram last year with a sly dig. In a video, he laughed as he displayed three LED light up letters, saying: "Bonjour, Derren here in my lovely home in Spain. A few tributes to my exes there."
Fans teased in the comments: "Gosh, Derren how many EX's do u have? Which one do u miss the most? (let me guess)" and "Love the tribute to the ex's... xx."
Just two months after Benidorm's cancellation was confirmed in 2018, the show won best comedy at TV Choice Awards, with Litten calling out the decision in his acceptance speech at the time. Fans have been begging for more episodes ever since the series ended.
