Benidorm – Series 1 [DVD]

Set in the all-inclusive Solana resort with a tremendous ensemble cast the first series of Benidorm proved a big hit for ITV – the critics said: “Benidorm rocks”; “unmissable TV”; “the ideal mix of sea, sun and silliness”; “beautifully written and performed”; “a gem of wry observation in withering bad taste”.
Benidorm regulars for twenty years, Jacqueline and Donald are enthusiastic middle-aged swingers who rarely leave their hotel. Known as ‘The Oracle’ because of his computer-like knowledge of trivial facts and figures, Geoff Maltby is on holiday with his mother, or PA as he calls her, but keen to hide the fact. Gavin and Troy are on their first break away together after setting up a successful hair salon. Kate and Martin’s marriage is at braking point after only one night in the resort. Then there are the Garveys; a Lancashire family who are on their first holiday abroad. Janice and Mick plus Janice’s mother – the sun-worshipping, chain-smoking Madge who can always be guaranteed to have a bad word for everyone. It’s sun and fun all the way in Benidorm…
The Solana resort, at the heart of Benidorm, sounds like quite a place to spend a holiday. It attracts a broad selection of characters, all sorts of antics, and fortunately for anyone picking this DVD up, a good few laughs too.
A comedy programme that slipped under many people’s radar, Benidorm puts an all-inclusive holiday destination at the heart of its setup, and then sets about filling it with a collection of fascinating characters. So you have the quiz kings for starters, along with a pair of mature swingers. There’s a standard-ish stereotypical family, a gay couple on holiday to celebrate, and a squabbling married pair too. It’s a broad ensemble, and this proves to be one of the many qualities of the programme.
However, also in Benidorm’s favour are some witty scripts, plenty of not-for-the-kids dialogue and a lot of belly laughs. All six episodes from the first series are collected here, and while the laughs don’t always constantly flow throughout, the hit count is certainly high. And given the lack of quality fresh British sitcoms of late, Benidorm proves to be quite a collectors item. It might not, on the basis of this first series, be on the way to being a flat-out comedy classic, but there’s so much enjoyment in the episodes here that a second series is hard to resist. –Jon Foster