John Hannah has spoken about his role in the upcoming Channel 5 crime drama Benidorm is Murder, created by the mastermind behind Death in Paradise.
Plot and Setting
The series follows Scottish actor John Hannah as Dennis, a former detective who finds himself investigating crimes again after employing Rosa, a new barmaid with a passion for crime dramas. As tourists and locals begin to die, the unlikely duo chaotically solve mysteries.
The synopsis describes the setting: '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.'
John Hannah's Take
Hannah explained how the setting distinguishes the show: 'It's a real character in the show, a real place with real, colourful characters who are there. Therefore, no matter how broad they are, it's authentic.'
He added: 'There's great writing, I'm sure the other shows have great writers too but for me, with a lot of those kind of shows, I switch off when something happens that I just don't believe in.'
The actor continued: 'Every character is real, every character has a journey and a purpose and a soul. I think that’s what Benidorm and what Ian [Jarvis, creator] and Channel 5 wanted to create, a show with soul.'
Reading the Script
Talking about the script, Hannah said: 'Getting that comedy-drama balance is very difficult, and it was. There were funny moments, I responded to it personally, and the drama and twists and things, they really work.'
Co-star Carolina Becquer, who plays Rosa, commented: 'I loved it, I love crime dramas and mysteries, I was not expecting it to be so funny. I think that’s one of the things that attracted me most from the script. I was reading it at home and laughing out loud, and Rosa’s character, I felt an immediate connection to her.'
She added: 'I felt such a strong connection to her, I knew who she was and how I wanted to play her, and that had never happened before. And in the audition, I just had so much fun, it was so fun to play her.'
Air Date
Benidorm is Murder airs from 9pm on Thursday, 30 July on Channel 5.
