Benidorm

My cousin Brian recommended this show to me. Available on Netflix UK (if you're in the US, I'm sure you'll be able to watch it with a little ingenuity.) British humor alludes many Americans. I, however, appreciate it very much. The writing is simple and the comedy bits well worn, but there's something quite endearing about this show which takes place at a fictional "all-inclusive" resort in the seaside town of Benidorm, Spain.

The characters are outlandish and VERY funny! From a swinging older couple to a bragging liar who visits every year with his Mum to a very much in love gay couple who excel at barbed humor to a cheap as hell son in law who relishes verbal sparring matches with his mother in law...the character development draws us in. Like I said in the title, it's campy British humor. It allowed me to escape to Spain and laugh at these very entertaining people for an hour. It's ironic that Brits and Americans share a common language, yet have so little in common when it comes to humor. I think Americans are decidedly more conservative in their acceptance of comedy compared to folks from the UK. A quick example would be the character "Les/Leslie" who plays a transvestite on the comedy. As I was watching him, I kept thinking to myself.. ."Hmmm, this would NOT play well in Texas or Kansas !"

One of the funniest characterizations came from Geoffrey Hutchins, who plays entrepreneur Mel Harvey on the show. He really made the first couple of seasons work. A very funny actor with a rich voice, the comedy he brought in his interactions with the other actors was memorable. I was so sad to read that he had passed away after the 2nd season wrapped up. I was looking forward to seeing much more of him. He did an ABSOLUTELY HILARIOUS version of "Lonely Girl" by Eddie Holman on the show in the karaoke bar at the fictional resort...NOT TO BE MISSED...he was actually amazing with his falsetto voice!

Watch Benidorm! It's pure British CAMP at its best!

Brilliant script, great characters, amazing cast, a true comedy all-around and a very good depiction of the British culture. There's been episodes where I literally can't stop laughing out loud! Lesley is my all-time favourite character! Keep up the good work 👍

A refreshing new comedy based on the typical average Joe's holiday abroad for the past 30 years - a week in Benidorm. Why did nobody think of it before? Up to date themes are used to great effect. Including a gay twosome, a married couple who's action between the sheets has run out of steam and a middle-aged couple of unlikely "swingers" who unashamedly recount their exploits in graphic detail. It would be interesting to hear how paying holiday makers at the Los Pelicanos Hotel fared whilst the TV crew took over parts of the complex for filming last year. Regular Benidorm holidaymakers will recognise much in this series of programmes. One commentator has remarked that the show loses something from barely straying from the confines of the "all in" deal at the hotel. But I would suggest that this has been done to contain costs. I once wrote gags for BBC TV and was more than once ticked off by a script editor for including too many characters or setting in my sketches.

It's good to hear that ITV's Director of Entertainment, Paul Jackson, has ignored less than favourable reviews of this first series to commission a further extended series which should commence filming in Benidorm later this year. Let's hope that writer, Derren Litten, has a few more laughs up his sleeve.

Benidorm

Watched The Lot

There was some golden comedy moments but we had several characters that were just nasty and rude for no reason and yet this was meant to be entertaining. Often it descended into "soap" territory that often ruined a basic sitcom.

The earlier seasons and characters were better written and acted but they just seemed to run out of ideas despite the flexible format and it just fizzled out.

Overall I'm giving this a hard 7 even through it was quite variable and fell apart is series 9 and 10.

Once a fantastic show which was a hilarious documentary like look into how British families act abroad and the situations that they end up in this show fell from grace in a spectacular fashion vastly changing cast members which had a detrimental impact upon the success killing off the majority of the humour and completely losing its charm. Not worth your time now but earlier seasons were fantastic