The new crime drama Benidorm is Murder, from the creator of Death in Paradise, launches tonight on Channel 5. Starring John Hannah as retired detective Dennis, the series follows him and aspiring actress Rosa, played by Carolina Becquer, as they solve murders in the Spanish resort.
Where is Benidorm is Murder filmed?
Benidorm is Murder was filmed partly in and around Benidorm in the province of Alicante, Spain, although the opening two weeks of shooting took place in Gran Canaria.
Reflecting on filming in her home town of Gran Canaria, Carolina Becquer said she never imagined in her "wildest dreams" that her first leading role in a comedy drama would be filmed there. "I remember when I got the call and they told me I got the job, I didn't want to celebrate, I couldn't believe it. I didn't believe it was real until I was on set, it was so surreal, not just my first big role but my first job basically," she said.
Cast on filming in Benidorm
John Hannah said of filming in Benidorm: "I hadn't really been there before, I'd been in the hills before. The other thing I think it gives, being a real place with its own kind of dynamic and vibe... you get some very broad characters, and I think in other shows they tend to create eccentricity for the sake of it, to create a kind of quirky character who comes in and does this." He added: "You can find anybody in Benidorm, and that helps with that energy. You've got such a broad canvas that any of those quirky characters fit in that canvas."
Carolina Becquer shared her "lively" experience staying in Benidorm while filming: "It was what you would expect from Benidorm, very lively at all times of day, there was always something going on." She also noted the warmth of the people.
Plot and airtime
The synopsis for the new Channel 5 series states: "Dennis is a burned-out ex-police officer hiding behind a failing Scottish pub in Benidorm. Rosa is an aspiring actress, obsessed with classic British crime shows, who talks her way into his bar, his investigations, and his life. Together, they're the last people anyone would trust to solve a murder — which is exactly why they keep solving them. Set in the glorious and chaotic Benidorm — tribute acts, bingo queens, hen parties, sunburnt tourists and bar owners hanging on by a thread — Benidorm is Murder treats its setting as a beating heart, not as a punchline."
Each episode delivers a fresh puzzle: clues, twists, a satisfying solution, and a corner of this febrile resort that turns unexpectedly deadly. Watching with exasperated admiration are sharp Spanish inspector Maria and puppy-ish young cop Jesús, who grudgingly learn to value the pair's instincts even as they roll their eyes at their methods. But the deeper Dennis and Rosa dig into Benidorm's underbelly, the more his past claws its way back. When an old enemy walks into The Tavern and a lock-in ends with blood on the floor, Dennis becomes the number one suspect in a murder mystery even he might not be able to solve, reports the Daily Record.
Benidorm is Murder airs on Channel 5 on Thursday, July 30 at 9pm.
