In “Benidorm Is Murder,” shady deeds are being committed under the scorching sun.
The show, produced by Blackbox Multimedia and Clapperboard Studios, stars John Hannah (“The Mummy,” “Four Weddings and a Funeral”) and Carolina Bécquer as Dennis and Rosa: an unlikely crime-fighting duo who annoy the local police by taking over investigations in the Spanish seaside resort.
ZDF Studios is the international distributor.
“It’s a beautiful place where dark things happen. Also, it’s real. It has golf courses, water sports, and entertainment up the wazoo. Everything you need. Sometimes you watch these shows and go: ‘I don’t buy it.’ But in Benidorm, anything is possible,” says Hannah.
Bécquer agrees: “If it took place anywhere else, it would feel fake. It works because it’s Benidorm. That’s exactly the energy you feel when you’re there.”
Benidorm isn’t the most luxurious resort. But that’s the point, says Hannah, and that’s part of its charm.
“It’s a very working-class world, and the working class seems to be out of fashion in terms of their stories and their narratives. It’s populated by many people from that background, who are retired or on their vacation. Not everyone can afford the Riviera or the Caribbeans. But they still want sunshine!”
The show embraces Benidorm for what it is.
“It’s a strange world, architecturally and culturally. It’s a little British enclave that allows you to see characters you don’t really see on TV anymore. When I left drama school in the ’80s, there were many working-class tales. We had [actors like] Mark Strong, Daniel Craig, Gina McKee. This is escapism, but these are still working-class stories.”
Some of them are, well, a bit odd. Dennis and Rosa encounter all sorts of people, from feuding Take That tribute bands to Irish bachelorettes, comedians and bingo enthusiasts. But the show never looks down on them. Never.
“We also show the real people who are there. We try really hard not to be judgmental in real life, so why would we be in storytelling? Why [look down on] people who are perhaps a little overweight or have medical issues and require mobility scooters? They actually had mobility scooters races last year, and the police had to intervene,” he says.
“It’s a wacky place, but it allows people to live out their dreams, in a way.”
While the episodic stories reflect the never-ending parade of tourists and partygoers, the show also provides Dennis and Rosa with long-term arcs. They are complete opposites: an ex-cop who practically lives in a Scottish pub and a wannabe actress who’s a ray of sunshine.
“One of the things I like most about her is how passionate and enthusiastic she is. She comes alive when she’s doing what she loves, and I love the relationship she has with Dennis. There’s almost a father-daughter dynamic, but also a brother-sister one because they get on each other’s nerves. She’s constantly trying to get him out of the pub and into adventures,” notes Bécquer.
“There’s something really lovely about that. I know my daughter often finds me embarrassing, too,” adds Hannah.
“Maybe it’s because of the age gap or because Rosa has difficulties with her own father and Dennis is estranged from his daughter. They are two jigsaw pieces that fit together.”
He enjoyed playing Dennis, who has “a few football tops on rotation and does laundry only when someone mentions it.”
“When the writing is good, you find your character very quickly. It suited me, strangely. I also have a grumpy, Scottish side that I haven’t tapped into very often for work. I slip that suit on fairly easily.”
The show takes a darker turn towards the end.
“Dennis’s past tracks him down and it ends on a great cliffhanger. You think: ‘How the hell is he going to get out of this?!’ But I’m sure Rosa will save me somehow,” says Hannah. Bécquer has his back: “She’ll definitely try.”
Second season is already in development.
“Ian [Jarvis’] writing is so great. He blends the procedural side with real human beings. I’d be very happy to spend a lot longer exploring that,” says Hannah. Bécquer agrees: “All these characters have a purpose, which allows this show to have more seasons. Also, people love ‘cozy crime’. Sometimes, you need something that isn’t psychologically exhausting. Here, you’ll get some clues, you’ll get your answers, and you’ll have a good time.”
After all, sometimes viewers want a dark psychological thriller…
“…And sometimes they want to go to Benidorm,” laughs Hannah.
“We’re living in dark times. When I was younger, I felt that the future would be positive, that we would all feel part of Europe and share our cultures. Now, everything is quite worrying, whether you’re getting AI feeds or listening to what’s happening in America or even in France. Spain looks like a leading light in a way, with its progressive government. It’d be great to see more of that.”
“Sometimes, people just want a bit of escapism. Who doesn’t want sunshine and beaches when the world is so overcast and cloudy?”
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