The third series of the ITV television series Benidorm, which is a sitcom set in an all-inclusive holiday resort (The Solana) in Benidorm, Spain, began broadcasting on 2 October 2009, consisting of six episodes. It was preceded by a special, which aired on 31 May 2009, serving as a bridge between the second and third series. The entire series was directed by Sandy Johnson and written by Derren Litten. Returning from the second series were the Garvey family, consisting of Mick (Steve Pemberton), Janice (Siobhan Finneran), Chantelle (Hannah Hobley), Michael (Oliver Stokes), Coolio (Zane Bainbridge, Leon Bainbridge, Nathaniel Walker, and Nicholas Walker), Janice's mother Madge Barron (Sheila Reid) and Madge's husband Mel Harvey (Geoffrey Hutchings); swingers Donald (Kenny Ireland) and Jacqueline Stewart (Janine Duvitski); mother and son Noreen (Elsie Kelly) and Geoff "The Oracle" Maltby (Johnny Vegas); homosexual couple Gavin (Hugh Sachs) and Troy Ramsbottom (Paul Bazely); Martin Weedon (Nicholas Burns); and Solana staff Mateo Castellanos (Jake Canuso) and manageress Janey York (Crissy Rock). Sheridan Smith joined the cast as Brandy, a new holiday companion and love interest of Martin. This was the final series to feature Vegas, Hobley and Burns, whereas it was the only series to feature Smith. Hutchings died in July 2010 and this was the final series in which he featured.

Overall, the series received an average viewership of 6.52 million, with the opening episode receiving 6.5 million viewers. The series concluded on 6 November 2009, with the series finale attracting 6.8 million viewers.

Cast

Main Paul Bazely as Troy Ramsbottom Nicholas Burns as Martin Weedon Jake Canuso as Mateo Castellanos Janine Duvitski as Jacqueline Stewart Siobhan Finneran as Janice Garvey Hannah Hobley as Chantelle Garvey Geoffrey Hutchings as Mel Harvey Kenny Ireland as Donald Stewart Elsie Kelly as Noreen Maltby Steve Pemberton as Mick Garvey Sheila Reid as Madge Harvey Hugh Sachs as Gavin Ramsbottom Crissy Rock as Janey Yorke Oliver Stokes as Michael Garvey Zane Bainbridge, Leon Bainbridge, Nathaniel Walker, and Nicholas Walker as Coolio Garvey Johnny Vegas as Geoff Maltby

Recurring Sheridan Smith as Brandy Shaun Foster-Conley as himself Tim Healy as Les/Lesley Conroy Abigail Cruttenden as Kate Weedon

Guest Sticky Vicky as herself Robin Askwith as Gary Snelling Una Stubbs as Diana Weedon

Episodes

Production Benidorm returned for an hour-long special on 31 May 2009, serving as a bridge between the second and third series after the former was left on a cliff hanger. The third series was confirmed to be broadcasting that same year, in a new 45-minute episode format.

Sheridan Smith joined the cast in the role of Brandy, a loud-mouthed Scouser introduced as a love interest for established character Martin. Weedon Emily Atack had been on standby to take over the role in the event of Smith being unavailable for filming. Series 3 also saw Tim Healy make his first appearance as Les/Lesley Conroy, originally a transvestite blind date for Geoff, who would go on to establish himself as a series regular. Healy reflected on being recruited by Litten for the programme after they met at the TV Quick Awards in 2007: "Derren was in the bar afterwards so I shook his hand and said, 'Well done, man, it's really funny.' I said, 'I'd love to do one.' So he said, 'What would you like to play?' By this time I'd had a few beers so I said, 'Something people would never expect me to play… I tell you what, a transvestite that kills somebody! Anyway six months later a script arrived and I did that one scene with Johnny Vegas [a hilarious blind date] and they asked me to come back and be a regular. So it was me own fault."

Other notable guest stars throughout the third series included Robin Askwith playing Gary Snelling, a conman and a thief who was revealed as Brandy's lover, and Una Stubbs, who made an appearance in the final episode as Martin's overbearing mother Diana.

Home media The summer special that preceded the third series was released on DVD in the United Kingdom on 1 June 2009. The third series was released on DVD on 9 November 2009. The DVD release is a 2-disc set which includes deleted scenes and audio commentaries.

The third series first became available for streaming through Netflix in the United Kingdom on 1 October 2015.

Notes

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