Channel 5's new detective drama Benidorm is Murder has been dubbed a “gem of a show” by its lead star John Hannah. The cosy six-part series comes from Ian Jarvis, who has written for Death in Paradise and its spin-off Beyond Paradise. Simon Delaney is on board as lead director, with Dermot Boyd directing Episode 5.
Plot and cast
The series follows John Hannah as Dennis, a burned-out detective who traded the daily grind of the UK for a simpler life running a bar in sunny Benidorm. However, when tourists start turning up dead, Dennis is reluctantly drawn back into detective work by his new barmaid, aspiring actress and crime drama superfan Rosa, played by Carolina Bécquer.
The synopsis adds: “Using Dennis' real-world experience and showcasing Rosa’s encyclopedic TV knowledge, each episode sees the duo tackling a new murder, whilst trying to stay on the right side of the Spanish cops.” Fans of Death in Paradise will recognise a familiar arrangement of suspects' photographs displayed on a dartboard within Dennis' bar, a highly intentional tribute to the detective genre, reports Radio Times.
John Hannah's praise
Speaking about the show, John Hannah described it as a “gem of a show, filled with joy and humour”. He continued: “But there's a balance of comedy and serious emotional weight to the stories, which is testament to the writing. We have such a brilliant cast on this, everyone is pitch perfect for their roles, and I can't wait for viewers to meet Carolina who was born to play Rosa.”
Commissioning editor at Channel 5 Greg Barnett said: “I am thrilled to have John Hannah on board. He's absolutely perfect for the role of Dennis - a character with sharp intellect, dry wit, and life experience - and from what I've seen already, viewers will fall in love with him.”
Premiere date
Benidorm is Murder premieres on Thursday, July 30 on Channel 5.
