Benidorm is Murder on Channel 5: Tamzin Outhwaite and Chizzy Akudolu guest star in the cast of episode 5
It's a tough day for Dennis when his ex-wife turns up...
Benidorm is Murder continues with episode 5 this week, and yet another mysterious death in the Spanish resort – and the guest cast welcomes several famous faces.
This week (Thursday, August 27, 2026), a group of friends are enjoying the sun, sea and sangria on Levante Beach. Wealthy Mick plants his Union Jack straw hat on a lounger and declares it his kingdom for the day, but he doesn’t wake up.
At first it looks like a heart attack in the heat, until Maria’s pathologist finds poison in his lungs and, strangely, not his stomach. Everyone close has a motive – including Mick’s long-suffering wife Caz, ex-con Colin, his son Travis, and Travis’ fiancée are all immediate suspects.
Dennis and Rosa, piece by piece, rebuild the day… But Dennis barely has time to catch his breath before his ex-wife Tiff arrives with shocking news.
Here’s who plays who in the guest cast of Benidorm is Murder episode 5.
Tamzin Outhwaite stars as Dennis’ ex-wife Tiff
London-born Tamzin Outhwaite, 55, joins the cast of Benidorm is Murder as Dennis’ ex-wife Tiff. She became a household name after portraying Mel Owen in EastEnders on and off between 1998 and 2019. During her time on the show, her character Mel married Ian Beale and Steve Owen. She was also kidnapped by ex-lover Dan Sullivan.
Her first run on the soap continued until 2006, before she returned again in early 2018. This time around, Mel was involved in a shoot-out and later died in a vehicle accident in 2019.
After her success in the BBC One soap, Tamzin went on to lead the cast of several popular TV series. She played Sgt. Jo McDonagh in Red Cap, Rhoda Bradley in Vital Signs, Rebecca Mitchell in Hotel Babylon, and Rose Chamberlain in The Fixer.
In 2013, she took over the lead role in New Tricks, portraying Detective Chief Inspector Sasha Miller. She played the role for two seasons before the show was cancelled.
Other notable roles include DI Rebecca Flint in The Fixer, Indie Hendricks in Dun’ Breedin’, Barbara Watson in Ridley Road, and Cathy Teel in Tower series 2.
More recently, Tamzin portrayed divorcee Sylvie Morgan in Channel 5 thriller The Wives. She’s no stranger to shiny floor shows either, having taken part in 2024’s Strictly Come Dancing Christmas Special, and ITV’s first season of The Masked Dancer in 2021. She performed as Scarecrow, and came 4th in the final. In 2022, she bravely took part in Freeze the Fear with Wim Hof.
‘There is tragedy at the heart of Tiff’
By episode 5, we know that Dennis’ former boss Eddie “stole his wife Tiff” and forced him to leave the police. Eddie “wanted Dennis out and made it look like he was planting evidence”. Bearing in mind what happened, it’s a wonder Dennis isn’t more bitter than he already is. But he isn’t that happy when she arrives in The Tavern.
Talking about working with Tamzin, John Hannah says: “Tamzin really delivers. The last two episodes are quite dark. Tiff and her man Eddie, Dennis’ ex-boss, are kind of 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. It’s amazing writing.”
Meanwhile, creator Ian Jarvis told us: “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. There were a few rewrites when Tamzin was cast. 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.”
Chizzy Akudolu portrays Caz
Strictly alumni Chizzy Akudolu stars as long-suffering wife Caz in the cast of Benidorm is Murder episode 4. She’s most famous for portraying Mo Effanga in Holby City, a role she played for 10 years between 2012 to 2022. Her Strictly stint came while she was on the medical series. In 2017, Chizzy was the first celebrity to be eliminated after performing a Foxtrot with pro dancer Pasha Kovalev.
The actress went on to take part in the Strictly Come Dancing 2019 Christmas special, where she was partnered with Graziano Di Prima. Debbie McGee won.
London-born comedian and actress Chizzy, 52, has been on our screens since 2004 when she played Melinda in an episode of Sean Lock comedy 15 Storeys High. That year, she was one of eight new comedy performers who won the BBC Talent Initiative, The Urban Sketch Showcase.
She went on to play Mattie in one episode of EastEnders, and various characters in the sketch show Stupid. After winning small roles in Green Wing, The Complete Guide to Parenting, and Roman’s Empire, she portrayed Angel in the Channel 4 Big Brother zombie-thriller Dead Set.
Chizzy’s other notable roles include Cookie in Jinx, Grace 2 in Campus, and Addy Smith ‘The Squeak’ in Too Close. More recently, she’s starred as Jasmine Peters in Criminal Record, Lola in The Woman in the Wall, Mercy in Best Interests, and Reverend Kate in the Beyond Paradise 2024 Christmas special.
Most recently, she portrayed stern social services worker Lucy Harding in the cast of Little Disasters, and Maggie Hayton in Grace.
She’s also taken part in Celebrity Masterchef, Celebrity Hunted, and performed on Let’s Sing and Dance for Comic Relief.
Ian Conningham stars as ex-con Colin in the cast of Benidorm is Murder episode 5
UK actor Ian Conningham portrays as ex-con Colin in Benidorm is Murder episode 5. He is a jobbing actor of more than 25 years, but is perhaps best known for playing DS Caine in the Vicky McClure thriller Insomnia.
He’s also played a detective in Coronation Street in 2017, and the 2021 thriller The Girl Before. Other notable roles include Peto in The Hollow Crown, Graham Avens in EastEnders, Barton in Outlander, Tiberius in Britannia, and Offa in The Last Kingdom.
Other notable roles include a car salesman in Body Horror, Richard Moore in Manhunt, Dr Nick Gent in David Tennant drama Litvinenko, and Jason Burntwood in The Archers.
More recently, the actor portrayed Dr Thomas Abingdon in The Jury: Murder Trial.
Alan McKenna guest stars as Tiff’s fiancé Eddie
Sixty-year-old actor Alan McKenna guest stars as Eddie. And, we warn you, you won’t like him one bit. Eddie is Tiff’s new bloke, soon-to-be husband, and Dennis’ former boss. He’s the man behind Dennis’ downfall at home and at work.
Soap fans will know the actor best for playing Gus Malcolms in Emmerdale, a role he portrayed between 2023 and 2024. Gus was the manipulative ex-husband of Rhona Goskirk, who became the centre of a major surrogacy and fraud storyline involving stolen frozen embryos. Safe to say, Alan is rather partial to playing villains.
In 2018, the actor starred as Ronan Truman – notorious drug lord and father of Cormac – in Coronation Street. While Doctors fans will know him as Patrick McGuire, a role he played between 2000 and 2012. Completing the soap circle, he starred as Tony Andrews in EastEnders from 2006 to 2007.
Away from soaps, Alan made his very first screen performance playing Lycanthrope in the iconic 1997 film An American Werewolf in Paris. He went on to portray Mr Parker in Waterloo Road, Dr Burns in DCI Banks, Phil Crabtree in Happy Valley, and Sir Richard Pole in The Spanish Princess.
In Save Me, he portrayed DCI Ian Thorpe. More recently, Alan has played Frederick Abberline in Jack the Ripper: Written in Blood, and Anthony Eden in Suez: 24 Hours That Broke the British Empire.
Who is in the regular cast of Benidorm is Murder?
John Hannah plays Dennis.
Carolina Bécquer stars as Rosa.
Ariadna Cabrol portrays Maria.
Brian Bovell is Archie.
Damian Schedler Cruz plays Jesús.
Eva Van der Gucht returns as Jackie.
Who is in the guest cast of Benidorm is Murder episode 3?
Tamzin Outhwaite plays Dennis’ ex-wife Tiff.
Chizzy Akudolu plays Caz.
Ian Conningham is ex-con Colin.
Alan McKenna guest stars as Eddie.
Millie Inbetween’s India Jean-Jacques stars as Lauren.
Jobbing actor Brian Marks is the very quickly deceased Mick.
Noé Sébert, who played Josh Turnbull in two episodes of Ackley Bridge, is Travis.
Marbella actor Julio Minchala plays man selling roses.
Spanish actor Aaron Cabrera Quesada is the waiter in restaurant.
Marbella’s Adrián Cubas Reyes plays waiter in cafe.
Read more: ‘Brilliant escapist’ filming locations in Benidorm is Murder with ‘a very unusual dynamic’ and vibrant seafront
