Duchess of Benidorm entertaining the other contestants

Along with "Come Dine with Me" both of these were filmed and recorded over the Summer - there is a great interest in television companies filming on the Costa Blanca at present. I sat down on 19th October to watch a "Viva España" show and who should flash up on the screen but the fabulous Phillip, better known here as the "Duchess of Benidorm"! Oh, I knew that we were in for a fun hour with him as one of the contestants and was delighted when he was crowned winner - wasn´t his home just gorgeous.

I gave Phillip a call and we made a date for a coffee and natter - so that I could hear all the nitty gritty of his experience, and whether it was like mine when I did "Come Dine with Me". However, Phillip is a pro and has done lots of television work so was use to all the waiting ... I was totally unprepared. But having said that, even he was rather exhausted by the end of filming!

Me with Phil enjoying that beautiful view as seen on TV

Phillip applied for the show back in May and was accepted as one of the contestants towards the end of June. So what made him apply I asked. He is hugely passionate about Benidorm and primarily wanted to dispel peoples perceptions that its not just high rise concrete apartments surrounded by all night bars selling 1 euro pints. "Benidorm has been my home for the last 15 years and I absolutely love it here" ... and so do all of us ex-pats who have made it ours too.

The filming of the four properties was all done over only 2 days I was surprised to learn. An additional half a day was spent with each contestant doing the interviews and panning shots.
These were interspersed throughout the program. Half a day of recording is a lot of editing... especially as it probably ended up as no more than 5 minutes of airtime.... this all sounded very familiar to me! However, what really shocked me, and probably you as well that they had 5.30am starts... not sounding so much fun to me now!

Sue hosting, with John, Phil & Orna the other contestants

A taxi came to collect Phillip (in the dark), then went and picked up the other 2 contestants before making its way to the property being viewed for an 8.30am start. Two of the other properties were actually some way out of Benidorm, one was in Jalon whilst the other was in Javea.... it was the same as when I did my show. Although under the umbrella "Benidorm" two of my fellow contestants also lived some distance away in Moraira and Javea!

The first thing that took an hour to film was the knock on the door - they couldn´t make any reference to the time of day, ie Good Morning or Good Afternoon and kept slipping up! Its very hard to just say Hi or Welcome Phillip told me.  Once that was done they then spent approximately two hours looking around the property. At the end they had to do their reveal card and scores, which again took time. In one instance it took 17 takes as Phillip had forgotten what he had written - they talk to the camera holding up their comment then turn it around with the score. If you look carefully at the picture with Phillip holding up his card you can see it is pitch dark outside in the mirror behind him! On both of the filming days he never got back before 1am... and with such an early start Im amazed how perky they all looked!

Me & Phils dog Charlie - who was banned on filming day

When Phillip did his hosting he entertained the other contestants with his trademark twist of "Play your Cards Right" which unfortunately was all edited out. What a shame he said as they all had such a laugh.... maybe it got a little too saucy for a daytime show Phillip! You can see and join in every night (well morning actually as it doesn´t start till about 1am) at the Casa Don Juan in the Old Town - but be warned, you may end up needing extra oxygen from all the laughter. What was amusing to him was the voice over about a screaming child which could be heard in the background at one point - there aren´t any children in the complex he said! Maybe it came from the beach below or was just added in for fun.

Phil knocking up a cocktail from Sue´s extensive bar

The last property out of the four was Sue´s... the palatial looking house which most people would have thought at the very beginning would be bound to win. Remember, especially you boys - its not all about the size! They spent over an hour recording in the cinema room alone, reclining up and down on the seats which ended up as about 30 seconds on the screen. The flamenco dancer who entertained at the end of the viewing was also filmed for about 40 minutes, from all angles and that too was edited down to probably less than 30 seconds. It looks so quick and effortless on the television but trust me, its far from it.

Winner Phillip!

The 3 envelopes which each contestant received with comments were revealed at Sue´s house on the second day.... each one was filmed in a different part of the property. "By this stage it was well into the early hours and we were all knackered" Phillip said. But Im sure the adrenalin from the revelation that he was the winner soon woke him up.... they were all sworn to secrecy not to let the cat out of the bag and Phillip told no-one, except for Charlie and partner Cristobel!
He has kept in contact with Sue and they have become great friends thanks to the show. She has even been down to see the Duchess at the Casa Don Juan. Well done Phillip and the Duchess - you are real ambassadors for Benidorm and lets hope that we all see much more of you on TV promoting the town!