Benidorm is Murder has reached the top spot on Channel 5's streaming service as the new cosy crime drama becomes a hit with viewers.
Cosy crime genre
Cosy crime has become a popular television genre over the last few years, and Channel 5's Benidorm is Murder echoes that very same sentiment loved by viewers.
John Hannah stars as Dennis who has swapped the chaos of the UK for a quieter life running a bar in Benidorm. But when tourists start turning up dead, he’s reluctantly drawn back into detective work- egged on by his barmaid Rosa, a crime drama superfan.
Cast and filming
With Dennis’s real-world experience and Rosa’s encyclopaedic TV knowledge, each episode sees the duo tackling a new murder in paradise, whilst trying to remain on the right side of the local Spanish cops. Further roles casted include Carolina Bécquer as Rosa, Ariadna Cabrol as Maria and Damian Schedler Cruz as Jesús.
The series was partly filmed in Carolina's home town of Gran Canaria, and she admitted she never thought in her “wildest dreams” that her first leading role in a comedy drama would be shot 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.
Streaming success
Scottish actor John Hannah transitioned from an apprentice electrician to international prominence, earning a BAFTA nomination for Four Weddings and a Funeral (1994). He is widely recognised for co-starring in Sliding Doors (1998) and The Mummy trilogy.
Now, Benidorm is Murder appears to be a hit too as it's currently secured the top spot on Channel 5's streaming service for today (August 8), according to Digital Spy.
That means the series has pipped The Crow Girl, NCIS: Los Angeles, Blue Bloods and Home and Away to the post. There are currently two episodes available for viewers to watch.
Future of the series
Channel 5 have not yet confirmed whether or not Benidorm is Murder will see a second series. However, lead actor John Hannah has shared that he personally only intends to do a maximum of two seasons for the show, citing a "two series only" rule he likes to follow to prevent the drama's formula from becoming too recognisable.
Explaining that this series is a "love letter" to Benidorm, John told the Radio Times: "We know British audiences love these kinds of puzzles, a nice crime thriller."
"This felt a bit cosy and a bit comedy, which is quite a tricky balance to get right. Sometimes these shows have characters pushed into being weirdo eccentrics for the sake of it. But Benidorm felt believable."
