Benidorm is an award-winning British television comedy-drama

Comedy-drama

Comedy-drama is a genre of theatre, film and television programs which combines humorous and serious content.-Theatre:Traditional western theatre, beginning with the ancient Greeks, was divided into comedy and tragedy...

 that is produced by Tiger Aspect

Tiger Aspect Productions

Tiger Aspect Productions is a British television production company, particularly noted for its situation comedies. Co-founded by producer Peter Bennett-Jones, its productions have included popular hits such as The Vicar of Dibley and Mr. Bean...

 for ITV

ITV

ITV is the major commercial public service TV network in the United Kingdom. Launched in 1955 under the auspices of the Independent Television Authority to provide competition to the BBC, it is also the oldest commercial network in the UK...

 and written by Derren Litten

Derren Litten

Derren Litten is a British comedy writer and actor. He is best known as the co-writer of the award-winning The Catherine Tate Show, for which he wrote and appeared as several different characters in the first two series and the 2005 Christmas Special...

, co-writer of The Catherine Tate Show

The Catherine Tate Show

The Catherine Tate Show is a British television sketch comedy written by Catherine Tate and Aschlin Ditta. Tate also stars in all but one of the show's sketches, which feature a wide range of characters. The Catherine Tate Show airs on BBC Two and is shown worldwide through the BBC...

, exploiting the working-class stereotype of this popular tourist destination.

As of December 2010, there have been three series, as well as two special hour long episodes. A fourth series was launched on 25 February 2011, featuring some cast changes following the departure of Johnny Vegas

Johnny Vegas

Johnny Vegas is an English actor and comedian. He is known for his angry rants, portly figure, high husky voice and support of St Helens rugby league club. More recently he has moved into dramatic acting.-Early life:He was born in St Helens, Lancashire, the youngest of four children of Laurence...

, Hannah Hobley

Hannah Hobley

Hannah Hobley is an English actress and classical singer. She is best known for playing Chantelle "Telle" Garvey in ITV's Benidorm Her character featured in the pilot episode, and was a regular for the first 3 seasons before leaving with love interest "The Oracle"...

, Nicholas Burns, Abigail Cruttenden and the death of Geoffrey Hutchings

Geoffrey Hutchings

Geoffrey Hutchings was a British stage, film and television actor.-Early life and career:Hutchings was born in Dorchester, Dorset, England. After attending Hardye's School, he studied French and Physical Education at Birmingham University before he became a member of the Royal Academy of Dramatic...

.

On 22 February 2011, series creator Derren Litten

Derren Litten

Derren Litten is a British comedy writer and actor. He is best known as the co-writer of the award-winning The Catherine Tate Show, for which he wrote and appeared as several different characters in the first two series and the 2005 Christmas Special...

 announced that the fourth series would be his final one, but the future of the show, based on viewing ratings and continued interest in the cast of characters, could continue under new direction.

On 14 April 2011, almost a week after series 4 had finished, ITV announced that Benidorm will return for a fifth series, due to start shooting in the summer, with Derren Litten returning to write some of the new series.
Benidorm is a prime-time ITV sitcom set in Spain, which features a strong ensemble cast composed of a number of well-known faces.