Benidorm series 0 gs into production

Benidorm series 10 goes into production

- Series 10 goes into production

- Legendary comedy duo Hale & Pace join the series

- Tim Healy returns full time

- Shane Richie joins the series to reprise his role as Sammy Valentino

- John Challis becomes a series regular as Monty Staines

ITV's award winning comedy Benidorm returned to the channel last night for its ninth series winning its timeslot and peaking at 4.9m.

The popular comedy has been commissioned for a tenth series on ITV, which goes into production on location in Benidorm this month and will air 2018 on the channel.

First screened in 2007 in a 30-minute format, the show has grown to be hugely popular with ITV viewers and has been BAFTA nominated and won numerous TV awards over the years including two National TV Awards.

Series 10 will see legendary comedy duo Hale & Pace join the series as undercover detectives investigating Tim Healy's character Les/Lesley, who returns to the series full time.

Shane Richie is back for four episodes reprising his role as lively entertainer Sammy Valentino and John Challis becomes a series regular with his character Monty Staines.

Troy (Paul Bazely), The Oracle (Johnny Vegas) and Tiger (Danny Walters) won't be returning for series 10. The Dawsons (Julie Graham, Steve Edge, Kate Fitzgerald, Bobby Knutt and Josh Bolt) all return with Billy and Sheron celebrating their silver wedding anniversary.

Joyce Temple Savage (Sherrie Hewson), Mateo (Jake Canuso), Noreen (Elsie Kelly), Pauline (Selina Griffiths), Liam (Adam Gillen), Kenneth (Tony Maudsley), Sam (Shelley Longworth), Joey (Nathan Bryon) and Jacqueline (Janine Duvitski) all return.

Storylines and guest stars will be revealed nearer transmission.

The show's creator Derren Litten will pen episodes 1-3 and 8-9 of the new series and Mark Brotherhood (Shameless, Mount Pleasant) will write 4-7.

Benidorm has been commissioned for ITV by Saskia Schuster, ITV's Comedy Commissioning Editor.

Show creator, writer and exec producer Derren Litten says "When I wrote the first script of Benidorm I had no idea it would change my life so dramatically over the next 10 years. As I put the finishing touches to the 74th episode I am so grateful to our fans and to ITV for giving Benidorm the best possible home we could hope for. Here s to the next 10 years!

Saskia Schuster, ITV's Comedy Commissioner says Benidorm is very much part of the ITV family with viewers taking these wonderful characters to their hearts. Show creator, writer and exec producer Derren Litten has some great plans for the tenth series and it's a real treat to welcome Hale & Pace and Shane Richie to the Solana resort.

Paul Jackson and Derren Litten will serve as executive producers. David Sant will direct episodes 1-5, Duncan Foster will direct 6-7 and Derren Litten will direct 8-9.

Benidorm is a Tiger Aspect production for ITV.

LINK:	http://www.itv.com/presscentre/press-releases/benidorm-series-10-goes-...
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