The time has nearly arrived for parts of the resort to be turned into a film set as Tiger Aspect are back in town for what is rumored to be the very last ever series of the ITV comedy series Benidorm. Some will be breathing a sigh of relief at that news but rather like marmite, you either love it or hate it.

A number will be glad when it’s all over as the Primoti vans take up all the parking spaces outside the pink house, which is used as the set for the Solana reception and Iceland, where many expats go to stock up on their British goodies. I am sure that the store notices a big drop in takings when filming takes place as many give up out of frustration trying to find a parking space nearby.

Series 9, which was filmed here last year will hit our screens on Wednesday March 1 – 9pm in UK and 10pm here in Spain. The usual suspects will be back including Jack Canuso – Mateo; Janine Duvitski – Jacqueline; Tony Maudsley – camp crimper Kenneth; Johnny Vegas, Elsie Kelly and Selina Griffith who make up the Maltby family;

Danny Walters and side kick Nathan Bryon – Tiger and Joey and of course Sherrie Hewson, the harassed Solana manager Joyce Temple-Savage. There will also be some old faces such as Shelly Longworth, who played Sam back in series 5 and the much-loved Adam Gillen, who plays ditsy Liam.

Other faces with cameo roles are Nigel Havers, Kate Fitzgerald, who played Doreen in C4’s Brookside and is cast as Sheron’s mum, a man-eating cougar gran, George Shelley of boyband Union J and psychic Sue, aka Amanda Barrie makes an entrance with spoon bender Uri Geller.

The last episode will see 70’s ska-group Madness on the stage at Neptunes… aka Morgans Tavern, the real one with Suggs & Co, not one of the many tribute bands we have here…. Mind you, as there isn’t a Madness group maybe it will give some of our entertainers an idea! Will it be “Our House”, “It Must be Love” or “Baggy Trousers” singing out the series I wonder?

If you want to audition to be an extra in what may truly be the last series then head to the Hotel Melia next Friday, 24 at 10am. But remember, you need to be resident here with an NIE and Social security number. Many holidaymakers ask if they can be extras but sadly they can’t by law – they even offer to do it for free just for the experience and five seconds of fame.