Benidorm is Murder on Channel 5: 'Dark' ending explained as creator Ian Jarvis reveals all on 'ideas' for series 2 and beyond
Dennis was stitched up like a kipper!
Benidorm is Murder has come to a surprisingly brutal ending, as episode 6 saw our favourite detective-turned-pub landlord framed for murder – which sets things up nicely for a series 2.
It was a dark episode compared to the previously jolly cosy-crime-style escapades, so many viewers might not have seen it coming.
The series finale saw Dennis in grave danger. And while it looked like he might not actually come out of it alive, he did – but in handcuffs. If you’re anything like us, we were screaming at the TV.
The only silver lining? The Benidorm is Murder ending has made creator Ian Jarvis’ intentions very clear… He wants a series 2 and he’s left so many loose ends surely Channel 5 will have to commission one? Here’s what we know.
***Warning: spoilers from the ending of Benidorm is Murder ahead***
What happened in the ending of Benidorm is Murder?
The final episode of Benidorm is Murder was bleak, barely a hint of the light-hearted comedy that fans had grown to like. Which is why it worked so well – we weren’t expecting it. And, by this point, we cared about the fate of Dennis and Rosa. For that reason, the events felt so unjust.
The finale saw Tiff and Eddie making themselves at home in The Tavern. In the penultimate episode, we’d learnt that Dennis had unknowingly handed over half of his pub to his ex-wife in the divorce settlement. And it was frankly horrible to see Tiff and her fiancé Eddie in Dennis’ space, rubbing his nose in it.
Now co-owner of the pub, Eddie had set up a supposedly lucrative private “lock-in”… And when the guests arrived, it was clear something dodgy was about to happen. Ray, Gav, Ricky and, to Dennis’ horror, crime boss Stan Grainger arrived dripping in menace. Dennis sensed he was in danger. After all, he’d once helped send Stan to prison.
Totally spooked, and keen to protect Rosa, he sacked her on the spot, forcing her out of the pub before things got nasty. And they did.
Who killed Eddie?
After a boozy evening, puppet-master Stan coerced Eddie and Dennis to sing karaoke together. [Anybody else notice the Four Wedding and a Funeral easter egg? The unlikely pairing sang (rather badly) the Wet Wet Wet song Love Is All Around from the film’s soundtrack. A nice nod to the role that catapulted lead actor John Hannah to global fame.]
As the duo sang, the lights unexpectedly went out. When they returned, Eddie was lying dead on the floor, in a pool of his own blood with a kitchen knife sticking out of his chest.
By this point, it was crystal clear that Dennis was in big trouble. Stan ordered Dennis to work out who had killed Eddie. But it didn’t really matter – by this point most of us watching had guessed Dennis had been framed.
It was actually Stan who had murdered Eddie while the lights were out – with the help of his three criminal friends who were all in on it. But Eddie was just a pawn in Stan’s game. Stan was in Benidorm for one reason, and one reason only. To get payback on Dennis for his years in prison. He told him: “I want you to suffer how I suffered.”
Stan had it all planned out. The kitchen knife had Dennis’ prints on it, while he and his gang took away all of the evidence that proved they had been at The Tavern. Of course, Dennis had hated Eddie, so killing him wasn’t a stretch. And he’d threatened to kill him before…
At the end of the episode, all the evidence pointed to Dennis. And Maria had no choice but to arrest him on suspicion of murder.
How did the Benidorm is Murder ending set up series 2?
The final episode of Benidorm is Murder left the door wide open for a possible series 2. Fans will now be desperate to see evil Stan and his cronies caught and punished. We’re not big fans of Tiff either, as she was partly responsible for the whole sorry affair. What. A Cow.
Of course, we all want Dennis to be freed. And we know who will be able to help him… His trusty sidekick Rosa won’t let him languish in jail for a crime he didn’t commit. Mrs Marple would be turning in her grave at the thought!
A possible series 2 would hopefully see Dennis and Maria’s fledging relationship flourish, too. As well as his father/daughter bond with Rosa. We’d like to see Dennis’ real daughter Carla turn up at some point too. And, of course, there’s Tiff’s lingering feelings for Dennis, which she admitted to Rosa while drunk in the series finale.
Will there be a series 2 of Benidorm is Murder?
Channel 5 has not yet confirmed whether there’ll be a series 2 of Benidorm is Murder. But we’d be very surprised if there isn’t.
The comedy drama has all the ingredients for a hit, including a compelling lead actor in John Hannah, an unlikely but likeable crime-solving duo, fabulously eccentric characters, and beautiful filming locations.
And it’s obvious that Benidorm is Murder writer and creator Ian Jarvis has plans for a series 2. Talking about Dennis’ relationship with Inspector Maria Hernandez, he told us: “There is definitely chemistry between Dennis and Maria. That is evident from the get-go. That develops in a perhaps unexpected way, and I have got some ideas for how that might progress further in series two. That’s all I can say.”
As for Tiff, Ian also has plans for her character. He said: “I never thought there would be any spark or love remaining between Dennis and Tiff but, when you see them together, that was there straight away. I immediately thought I could do something more interesting with these two. There are tender moments between them. Tiff has made some mistakes. There is tragedy at the heart of her and a sadness to her. I would definitely love to see more of Tiff after what happens at the end of episode six.”
Benidorm is Murder series 2: ‘I’ve got at least two series more worth of ideas’
Ian told us he has “at least two series more worth of ideas for Benidorm is Murder”. He added: “Every time I go there, I get an idea about how to kill someone.
“In my job that is only a good thing. And it’s not just me; other cast and crew members when they were out somewhere eating or seeing something on the beach would go ‘that would make a good story of the week’. So, I really hope we get the chance to do this again.”
Watch this space!
Benidorm is Murder ending ‘will floor you’
Talking about the ending of Benidorm is Murder, John Hannah said: “Tamzin really delivers. The last two episodes are quite dark. Tiff and her man Eddie, Dennis’ ex-boss, are at the centre of that. When she arrives in episode five, there is very much some underhanded [bleep] going on. And then in six it gets darker. Episode six will floor you. There is still humour, but it goes to somewhere that you wouldn’t expect. I’ll be very interested to see how that plays with the audience.”
Meanwhile, creator Ian Jarvis added: “Everybody was up for doing something a little bit darker. The task was to write a ‘bottle’ episode, which is largely set in just one location. On a practical level it helps with the budget and with your schedule. I like a challenge like that.
“But if you are going to set a story in one contained space you need those drama beats, and you must feel that they have consequences. John is amazing in it and having this brilliant group of guest characters – these old lags, these East End criminals – who come into the pub. To a man, they were all fantastic. That might even be my favourite episode.”
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