Benidorm is Murder on Channel 5: Cast list led by Rebus star John Hannah, and weekly guests revealed
You're in good hands with this entertaining crime drama
Benidorm is Murder on Channel 5 is fun, funny, and wholesomely entertaining, with a cast that makes it easy to like.
The six-parter follows “burned-out ex-police officer” Dennis who, having been disgraced back in the UK, is hiding his failures behind a Scottish pub in Benidorm. The only problem? The pub is failing too.
When aspiring actress Rosa takes a bar job in Dennis’ tavern, her enthusiasm for life rubs off on Dennis. And when a spate of crimes occur in the Spanish resort, Rosa encourages Dennis to help solve the mysteries. Even if the Spanish police don’t want him involved!
As it turns out, although Dennis appears to be a “homeless loser”, he’s actually brilliant at solving crimes… Together, the cynical former cop and his crime-drama-obsessed sidekick are the last people anyone would trust to solve a murder — which is exactly why they keep solving them.
Channel 5 tells us that “each episode delivers a fresh puzzle: clues, twists, a satisfying solution, and a corner of this febrile resort that turns unexpectedly deadly”. Here’s who plays who in the cast of thoroughly enjoyable comedy drama Benidorm is Murder.
John Hannah leads the cast of Benidorm is Murder playing Dennis Govan
Scottish actor John Hannah, 64, stars as burned-out ex-police officer Dennis. The character buys a tavern in Benidorm in a bid to escape the bitterness of his past. But, of course, history has a way of clawing its way back – something that becomes clear as the series continues.
Talking about his character, John said: “He is broken. Viewers see him sitting on the side-lines in this bar, not sure what he’s doing, not really trying to make anything happen. Because he’s tried that, and it all failed. He’s found a bush and he’s crawled into it. Basically, he’s miserable. And then like life, when you least expect it, something happens and Rosa walks through the door. She’s the catalyst for everything that happens, and she is fantastic.”
Of course, film fans will know John Hannah best as Matthew in the classic Richard Curtis flick Four Weddings and a Funeral. He was deservedly nominated for the BAFTA Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role. His reading of WH Auden’s Funeral Blues (Stop all the Clocks) broke our hearts at Gareth’s funeral.
John went on to star in the 1998 film Sliding Doors, as well as The Mummy franchise. He’s appeared in dozens more films, including The Hurricane, The Intruder, Circus, and The Words.
TV fans will know him for a multiple of roles, most notably Dr Iain McCallum in McCallum, and DI John Rebus in Rebus. He’s also appeared in New Street Law, Cold Blood, Spartacus, A Touch of Cloth, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D, Transplant, and Silent Witness.
Most recently, John played Richard King in the latest series of Black Mirror, Dr Neuman in the award-winning The Last of Us, and Sergeant Murray in Sandokan.
Carolina Bécquer plays Rosa
Madrid-born Carolina Bécquer portrays Rosa in her biggest TV role to date. Rosa is an aspiring actress, obsessed with classic British crime shows, who talks her way into Dennis’ bar. Actress Carolina admits she was “very nervous” on her first day.
Although she lives in the Canary Islands, she did live in England for a couple of years. She said: “I loved in Birmingham. I was studying business at university. And, as a kid, one of my last years in high school I lived in Canada and learned the language.”
Rosa has previously played Julia in the 2022 Spanish film 8 Years, appeared in the short film On/Off, and featured in commercials. Penélope Cruz is her acting inspiration.
Ariadna Cabrol stars as DS María Hernandez
Spanish actress Ariadna Cabrol portrays sharp but stern detective sergeant María Hernandez in the cast of Benidorm is Murder on Channel 5. She watches Dennis with “exasperated admiration” and it’s a real love/hate relationship.
Born in Matadepera, Spain, the 43-year-old has predominantly appeared in Spanish TV series and films. She is best known for for playing Lydia in El cor de la ciutat, and Tamara in Un golpe de suerte.
She’s been in dozens of Spanish-language films, including Secret Santa, Bellezonismo, and Painless.
Talking about his character’s relationship with María, John told us: “There’s a line from A Touch of Cloth, which I’ve never forgotten, which is brilliant: ‘As you say, there’s a little bit of history, there’s a wee bit of chemistry, and there might be some physics and some biology later on as well!’ But, at this point, on the surface, Maria is a bit of a Sword of Damocles hanging over him. She’s constantly threatening his legal status. Of course, she’s a woman and he’s a man so, as I say, there is that chemistry.”
Benidorm is Murder cast: Brian Bovell portrays Archie
London-born Brian Bovell plays Archie, a regular punter at Dennis’ tavern. Creator Ian Jarvis describes him as “an amalgamation of a hundred different characters”. He’s a pub poet, an intellectual working-class man.
Hollyoaks fans will know Brian as Leo Valentine, a role in played from 2006 to 2010. While Corrie fans might know him as
Brian, 66, has been acting for four decades, and his first ever role (a scientist in Babylon) was in 1980. He went on to play Bill in Driving Ambition, Billy in Prospects, Fitz in South of the Border, and PC Charlie Webb in The Chief.
Gimme Gimme Gimme fans will know him as
The jobbing actor has also starred as
From 2016 to 2022, he played
Who else appears in the cast?
Damian Schedler Cruz stars as the young (and rather foolish) PC Jesús Ballesteros. Yes, people really are called Jesus in Spain. However, the actor is actually Mexican-Austrian, not Spanish, and lives in London. His role in the cast of Benidorm is Murder is his largest to date. He’s previously popped up in small roles in Silo, Avenue 5, FBI: International, and Still So Awkward.
Belgian actress Eva van der Gucht, 48, plays stall-holder Jackie. Talking about characters like Jackie, actor John Hannah said: “Those characters are high intensity flavours, bright colours. They are kind of the eggs and the anchovies in a Caesar salad. It’s not just British people in Benidorm. The next town along is very much a Scandinavian resort. There are a lot of Dutch people out there who Jackie, played by Eva Van Der Gucht, represents.”
Eva is probably best known for her role in the film Everybody’s Famous! The film was nominated for an Oscar for best foreign feature film in 2001. The actress is also famous for playing the lead role in S1ngle, as well as prominent roles in improvised Dutch series De vloer op, and its spin-off De vloer op jr.
Who guest stars in Benidorm is Murder?
Alistair McGowan stars as “TV legend” presenter Vince Starky (episode 2). He’s best known as an impressionist who had his own sketch show Big Impression in the 00s. He’s also famous for his mimicry on Spitting Image. More recently, he voiced David Beckham in BBC One sitcom Twenty Twenty Six.
Denise Welch portrays Ziggy (episode 2). Of course, she’s known as a Loose Woman, as well as for her roles in Waterloo Road, Coronation Street, Spender, Down to Earth, and Hollyoaks.
James Barriscale stars as stand-up comedian Frank Mann (episode 2). The Good Ship Murder fans will know him best as Captain Richard Marlowe. He’s also appeared in The Bill, WPC 56, Doctors, Hijack, and Casualty.
In episode 3, Amy Huberman plays an “amazingly awful maid of honour” at a hen party. TV viewers will know the Irish actress and comedian best for her roles in On Home Ground, The Clinic, Threesome, Cold Feet, Striking Out, and Finding Joy. More recently, she’s played Orla Wild in the cosy crime Harry Wild, and Liz Maguire in Robson Green thriller The Game.
Meanwhile, Tamzin Outhwaite stars as Dennis’ ex-wife Tiff in “darker” episodes 5 and 6. Tamzin is best known as Melanie Owen in EastEnders, Sgt. Jo McDonagh in Red Cap, Rebecca Mitchell in Hotel Babylon, and DCI Sasha Miller in New Tricks. She recently played Stella Harper in Murder Before Evensong.
Main cast list of Benidorm is Murder
John Hannah stars as Dennis.
Carolina Bécquer plays Rosa.
Ariadna Cabrol María is DS Hernandez.
Brian Bovell portrays Archie.
Damian Schedler Cruz Jesús stars as PC Ballesteros.
Eva van der Gucht plays Jackie.
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