Benidorm ‘axed’: Show’s creator suggests show is to end after 10 series

Benidorm’s creator has hinted that the series will end tonight after 10 series.

The new series of Benidorm kicked off in March. The landmark tenth run sees legendary comedy duo Hale & Pace join the cast as undercover detectives investigating Tim Healy’s character Les/Lesley, who returns to the series full time.

The nine-episode series also sees Shane Richie back, reprising his role as lively entertainer Sammy Valentino and John Challis becomes a series regular with his character Monty Staines.

The series will concludes this Wednesday night with its series finale.

Show creator Derren Litten said on Twitter: “Crazy to think Wednesday will be the last episode of Benidorm!

“I created the series over 11 years ago, wrote it, guest starred in it and ended up directing it.

“It’s difficult to think what else there is to do! Thank you for watching! #MuchasGracias ?”

The penultimate episode last week had 3.2 million viewers. The first instalment was watched by 4.3 million viewers on ITV, down 400,000 on last year’s series opener.

The episode was followed by a report in The Sun that ITV were set to drop the show in 2019.

“Benidorm has been a huge success for ITV for a decade, but bosses feel it’s run its course,” a TV insider claimed. “The ratings have started to drop off and a number of the fan favourites have left, so it just feels as though the time is right to let it go out while it’s still on a high.

“It has been ITV’s longest running comedy, which is a real achievement.”

However there may be some good news for fans of the show.

Reports have claimed that a potential ‘spin-off’ could be in the works, set in Scarborough.

A source remarked: “It’s like the first casualty of Brexit — Benidorm has relocated to Scarborough.”

For now, the 10th series of Benidorm airs Wednesday nights at 9PM on ITV.