Get ready to start waving and cheering |
On Monday the turnout was fabulous at the Sol Pelicanos Hotel - the fictious Solana Resort from the hit ITV comedy "Benidorm". The Thomson reps did a great job to ensure a large turnout of holiday makers - perhaps the promise of a pool side breakfast was too good an opportunity to miss. I bet many had been up half the night producing their "Hello banners" to wave ... quite where they got the brightly coloured card Im not sure. But they were all in high spirits and excellent voice when the cue came to wave and cheer. There were even volunteers willing to jump into the rather cold water ... at 7am it certainly woke them up.
The Dutchess and Levi with "Sam" and "Kenneth" |
The sight of "The Dutchess" and "Levi" in eye catching regalia at 6.45am - long sparkly frocks, high heels clanking, diamantes and full make up certainly made many of the hotel guests and staff do a double take..... I could just see them thinking "is it?" (as in is it a man or a woman).... not quite sure what to make of it all. I even heard a child of about 4 asking his mother "why is the lady all dressed up and I've got my swim things on" !
Steve Hargrave playing mother and pouring tea! |
Poly came and "put the kettle on" - Steve had paid a visit to "Grannies Tea House" last week and she also bought some delicious home baked scones and jam - they were yummy (bet that you're all singing the nursery rhyme now) Goldie only had to walk a few steps from his salon at the Indoor Market where Steve had his locks trimmed and Michelle, editor of Round Town Times bought a batch of papers hot off the press with photos of yesterdays broadcast from the Levante beach.
Me with Shelly & Tony - who are back in 3 weeks time. |
Todays special guests from the ITV hit comedy series were Shelly Longworth, who plays Sam and Tony Maudsley who plays Kenneth.
They both flew in specially for the live broadcast yesterday afternoon and are due on a plane back this afternoon! What a flying visit - but they are looking forward to coming back on 22nd August for a 3 month stint when series 5 begins shooting.
All the cast will be in town so watch out - you never know who you may bump into in Benidorm!
Benidorm tribute group "Sister Act" |
Today "Sister Act" were invited to come and sing by the poolside and there was also a group of Flamenco Dancers which gave a quick dance performance .... even Shelly joined in and I must say did an excellent job of keeping up with the professional dancers. Rikki Stevens - resident comedian and ventriloquist here in Benidorm made an appearance with "Fred the Monkey". I must point out that Fred is NOT a real monkey ... you may laugh but a reader wrote into one of the local papers once threatening to report Rikki to the RSPCA as they thought it cruel ! Really ......
Steve chatting between shoots with holiday makers |
The two days of live broadcasts and recorded footage which was shot throughout the previous week has given viewers the opportunity to see what a wonderful place Benidorm really is. It has in the past often been portrayed in a less than faltering light but this has shown what a great and varied place it is for both young, old, couples and families - the only problem is that you just can't get to see and do everything in a week!
Rikki & Fred with Shelly and Tony. |