Benidorm is Murder, the new Channel 5 detective drama from Death in Paradise writer Ian Jarvis, is set to take a darker turn, according to its star John Hannah. The series continues on Thursday, 6 August, at 9pm on Channel 5.
John Hannah Teases Darker Moments
John Hannah, known for his role in Benidorm, plays Dennis, a former detective who has moved to Benidorm and opened a Scottish beachside bar. He is joined by Rosa, played by Carolina Bécquer, a barmaid and crime drama fanatic. Together, they solve mysteries when tourists and locals are found dead in the picturesque location.
While the show initially appears lighthearted, with references to other cosy crime dramas like The Agatha Christie mysteries, Hannah hinted at darker moments ahead. He exclusively shared: “Every character has a thread that goes all the way through all the episodes that link.”
He added: “Lines that are mentioned here, like about Rosa’s relationship with her father, go all the way through and there’s a really touching bit later on. Those things are all joined up, and so the dark stuff comes later… like my character’s wife comes in and brings a world of darkness with her.”
Everything Explodes
Carolina Bécquer echoed the sentiment, saying: “As the episodes go on, you get to learn more about Rosa’s life and her own problem, and Dennis’ life. Each episode gives you a bit more… and then everything explodes.”
John added: “It gets quite dark… they take a bit of a turn. It’s still funny, but it’s dark and serious, and there are real consequences for people.”
In tonight’s episode, titled ‘Die Laughing’, Channel 5 teased: “Grudges and buried secrets surface after a corpse is found on the roof of a comedy club.”
A Show with Soul
Ahead of the series airing, John praised the writing, saying: “Every character is real, every character has a journey and a purpose and a soul. I think that’s what Benidorm and what Ian [Harvey] and Channel 5 wanted to create, a show with soul.”
He also discussed the challenge of balancing comedy and drama: “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.”
Benidorm is Murder continues Thursdays at 9pm on Channel 5.
