Television icon Sherrie Hewson has broken her silence about the persistent rumours surrounding a potential Benidorm revival, while simultaneously announcing exciting new career developments as she embraces life after turning 75.
Benidorm and Coronation Street Comeback Dreams
The beloved actress, who memorably portrayed Solana manageress Joyce Temple-Savage in the hit ITV comedy, confirmed she would immediately jump on a plane if producers decided to resurrect the show. Speaking exclusively about the speculation, Hewson revealed her enthusiasm for returning to both Benidorm and Weatherfield, where she played Maureen Naylor in Coronation Street until 2004.
"We're always the last to know when it comes to Benidorm!" Hewson admitted with characteristic candour. "But wouldn't it be brilliant? It would be fabulous, wouldn't it? It still gets great ratings you know - I sit and watch it all the time!"
The actress, who celebrated her 75th birthday in September, heaped praise on Benidorm creator Derren Litten's writing abilities, particularly his skill in crafting strong female characters. "I was lucky because Joyce was a brilliantly written part," she reflected. "Derren Litten could really write for women and you can't say that about a lot of people."
No Retirement in Sight as Podcast Launches
Rather than slowing down after reaching her milestone birthday, Hewson is charging ahead with new projects, including her forthcoming podcast "Very Very Sherrie" launching next month. The twice-monthly show promises to feature big-name guests and reflect Hewson's famously unfiltered personality.
"You've got to remember I was on Loose Women for years - they couldn't shut me up," she laughed. "At one point they were kicking me under the table telling me to stop! You know me, I have no filter. I'll just say whatever comes, which is perfect for podcasts, isn't it?"
The podcast will steer clear of what Hewson describes as excessive focus on negative topics, instead embracing joy and forward momentum. "Too many podcasts lean on 'isn't it awful since the pandemic' and 'we've all got mental illnesses now' - we need joy!" she asserted. "We need to look to the future. Yes it's been a tough time but I don't give a s**t. Just get on with what your life now."
I'm A Celebrity Advice and Life Philosophy
While ruling out a personal appearance in the I'm A Celebrity jungle herself, Hewson offered strong opinions about how contestants should approach the experience. "Don't do it if you can't do everything!" she advised. "Everyone knows what the show's about. Like the eating task, it's disgusting but you know it's coming."
Drawing from her own experience on Celebrity Big Brother, Hewson emphasised that participants should honour their commitments without complaint. "You can't go into these shows knowing you're being paid to be there and then go 'oh, I'll only do certain things'," she stated firmly.
Her philosophy about ageing reflects the same no-nonsense approach. Recalling advice from her mother, who had a 45-year-old boyfriend at age 89, Hewson said: "She always said to me 'think, what's the alternative - you could be dead. What are you going to do about it? Nothing!'"
This straight-talking wisdom will form the foundation of her new podcast, which she describes as "liberating" after years of being told what she could and couldn't say on television. "Now I finally get to choose who I talk to and what we talk about," she revealed with evident excitement about this new chapter in her remarkable career.
