Benidorm is Murder on Channel 5: John Hannah plays 'burned-out detective' who seeks a 'simpler life' in Spain
"It's a gem of a show, filled with joy and humour"
Channel 5 has released a sneak peek of its new comedy drama Benidorm is Murder, starring Scottish actor John Hannah as a detective turned bar owner in Spain.
But it doesn’t take a former cop to guess that he soon finds himself dragged back into his former occupation when a series of crimes take place. Yes, this upcoming series is for fans of A Taste for Murder, The Good Ship Murder, and The Madame Blanc Mysteries…
Whodunnits in beautiful locations – what’s not to love? Here’s exactly why we’re excited for the show to land, and what the plot, cast, and locations look like.
What is Benidorm is Murder about?
The upcoming John Hannah-led comedy drama Benidorm is Murder introduces Dennis, a burned-out detective who makes the bold decision to swap his stressful life in the UK with a “simpler” one overseas.
Fed up of the daily grind, “the grumpy but secretly brilliant” Dennis moves to the Spanish coastal resort of Benidorm to run a bar. However, you guessed, it, Dennis soon starts solving murders again. There is a clue in the name, after all!
The synopsis tells us: “When tourists start turning up dead, Dennis is reluctantly drawn back into detective work by his new barmaid, aspiring actress and crime drama superfan Rosa.
“Played by Carolina Bécquer, Rosa’s enthusiasm and determination to prove herself pulls Dennis out of his bar and into the action.”
Using Dennis’ real-world experience and showcasing Rosa’s encyclopedic TV knowledge, each episode sees the duo tackling a new murder, whilst trying to stay on the right side of the Spanish cops…
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How many episodes is it? When is the start date?
The new cosy crime is six episodes pf one hour each. Channel 5 has not yet revealed the start date, or if the series will land as a boxset.
We do know it is coming sometime in 2026.
Who is in the cast?
Scottish John Hannah, 64, plays detective-turned-bar owner Dennis in the cast of Benidorm is Murder on Channel 5. Four Weddings and a Funeral fans will know him for his heartbreaking but hopeful portrayal of Matthew in the 1994 film.
He’s also famous for playing Jonathan in The Mummy, and James in Sliding Doors. On TV, he’s best known for his roles in McCallum, Rebus, New Street Law, Spartacus, and the sequel Spartacus: Gods of the Arena. Other notable roles came in Damages, A Touch of Cloth, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., and Transplant.
John Hannah said: “Benidorm is Murder is a gem of a show, filled with joy and humour. But there’s a balance of comedy and serious emotional weight to the stories, which is testament to the writing. We have such a brilliant cast on this, everyone is pitch perfect for their roles, and I can’t wait for viewers to meet Carolina who was born to play Rosa.”
Spanish actress Carolina Bécquer plays Dennis’ sidekick Rosa. The bilingual actress is a newbie compared to her co-star. Her only role before this was starring in the Spanish film 8 Years.
Hollyoaks’ Brian Bovell stars as “Benidorm enigma” Archie, a philosopher, poet and permanent fixture at Dennis’ bar. Once in a while, he removes his head from the clouds to casually spot something everyone has missed.
Benidorm’s actual policing team include the formidable DS Maria Hernandez, played by Barcelona-born Ariadna Cabrol. Silo’s Damian Schedler Cruz stars as the new – and very green – PC Jesús Ballesteros.
As the bodies pile up, so do the guest stars, and these include:
- Waterloo Road’s Denise Welch.
- Big Impression’s Alistair McGowan.
- EastEnders’ Tamzin Outhwaite.
Where was it filmed?
Benidorm is Murder was actually filmed in Benidorm, the Costa Blanca resort in Spain.
Locations used include Benidorm town hall, and the famous Levante and Poniente beaches. The town is famous for its towering skyline, vibrant nightlife, and wide sandy beaches.
Of course, this is not the first time a comedy has been set in Benidorm. The ITV series of the same name aired for 10 series from 2007 to 2018.
Much of the ITV sitcom Benidorm was actually filmed on location in the real Spanish seaside resort of Benidorm, Spain. However, the fictional Solana Hotel does not really exist.
Read more: Sally Phillips leads new cosy crime drama The Hairdresser Mysteries on BBC, a ‘nostalgic nod’ to the 70s
