List of Benidorm characters

Owner of the Solana

Manageress of the Solana

The Solana Staff

Solana Guests

Residents

Introduced in series 1

• Kate Weedon (Abigail Cruttenden, series 1–2; recurring, series 3) is a tightly-wound and working-class holidaymaker who is infuriated at her husband Martin’s booking of the Solana for their summer holiday and quickly grows disgusted at the chaos around her throughout her stays at the hotel. Intelligent, sarcastic and emotionally restless, Kate is dissatisfied in her marriage to Martin and is desperate to become a mother, something which is delicate in her marriage as Martin is infertile. She has a one night stand with barman Mateo during the first series, which sparks her eventual transformation into a more impulsive, self-aware character, which contrasts sharply to Martin’s stagnation. Her marriage to Martin breaks down off-screen after the second series and they separate. She briefly returns during the third series after Martin is robbed and helps him to secure a passport to return home though she rejects his suggestion of reconciliation as she has began a new relationship.
• Martin Weedon (Nicholas Burns, series 1–3; recurring, series 6) is the socially awkward, anxious husband of Kate. Desperate to be respected and admired by his wife, he is repeatedly undermined by his own bad decisions in his attempts to save his marriage. His discovery of Kate’s infidelity triggers a breakdown that exposes his vulnerability and begins a long-running feud with Solana barman Mateo, who he defeats in an arm wrestling competition. Despite his separation from Kate, he returns to the Solana with a new holiday companion named Brandy in the third series, where he attempts to step out of his comfort zone and appeal to her working-class, less luxurious lifestyle. After being robbed by Brandy, he attempts to reconcile with Kate, which is unsuccessful, whereas his distant relationship with his self-absorbed mother is also explored. He returns home attempting to rebuild himself after the conclusion of his marriage, with his pride and poor judgement having continued to sabotage him throughout their separation period. He briefly returns in the sixth series as a member of his friend’s stag party, where they cause chaos around the Solana pool area and bribe staff to allow their behaviour through financial gain. He has a one night stand with the much younger, glamorous Bianca Dyke though a subsequent date is unsuccessful as his attempts to impress her are thwarted. In a rare form of luck, he manages to win big in a casino, marking his final appearance.
• Noreen Maltby (Elsie Kelly, series 1–5, 7–10) is a kind-hearted, oblivious mother who frequently holidays with her adolescent son Geoff. Her intrusive, though innocent, behaviour often embarrasses Geoff, who publicly claims that she is his personal assistant, ashamed to be on holiday with his mother as an adult. After Geoff moves out of her home and starts a new life elsewhere, she holidays with her alcoholic daughter Pauline, with Noreen’s personality traits quickly confusing and angering her daughter in a similar fashion. Noreen attempts to build friendships with other regular holidaymakers and spends one year vacating solely, which she admits was a mistake. Her later storylines include the revelation that Geoff was adopted, which brings mother and son closer together, and dealing with Pauline’s repetitive relapses from her alcohol addiction.
• Geoff Maltby (Johnny Vegas, series 1–3, 7–9) is the insecure, socially awkward son of Noreen. A competitive pub quiz champion, he nicknames himself “The Oracle” and attempts to impress other holidaymakers with his general knowledge and frequently lies to gain the attention of others. He is embarrassed of his over-bearing mother and is often ridiculed as a result of her innocent actions. He develops a relationship with Chantelle Garvey, which enhances his emotional maturity, and they decide to move in together after the third series, going on to have a son. He returns in the seventh series with his mother, where he reveals he and Chantelle have separated and has a short-lived engagement to Ionella, which ends after his lies of wealth and luxury are exposed. He gradually becomes closer and more patient with his mother after it is revealed that he was adopted. His later storylines focus on his concerns for his sister Pauline, attempting to help her during her relapses with alcoholism and tries to end her controlling romantic relationship.
• Mick Garvey (Steve Pemberton, series 1–6; recurring, series 7) is the loud, flirtatious patriarch of the Garvey family, happiest with a beer in hand and on a cheap holiday deal. He frequently clashes with his impulsive mother-in-law Madge though comes to support her during difficult periods. He has a strong marriage to his wife Janice, despite their recurring arguments over his tightness when it comes to money. He takes over the artificial tanning business empire that belonged to his father-in-law Mel Harvey, though his incompetence and disobedience results in the business burning to the ground and leaving the family penniless after he failed to pay for the insurance beforehand. He leaves alongside the rest of his family for a new life in Las Vegas after it is discovered that Madge is the rightful owner of a hotel there.
• Janice Garvey (Siobhan Finneran, series 1–6; recurring, series 7) is the sensible counterbalance to her husband Mick, displaying traits of being practical, warm and fiercely maternal. She often acts as the emotional glue holding her chaotic family together. Janice is long-suffering but assertive, regularly calling out Mick’s selfishness while still being deeply in love with him. She provides stability for her children, particularly Chantelle, whose rebellion and teenage pregnancy worries her. Her recurring storylines focus on family loyalty, financial stress and marital compromise. She leaves in the seventh series with the rest of her family as they move to Las Vegas amidst the revelation of Madge’s multi-million pound fortune of a luxury hotel.
• Madge Harvey (Sheila Reid, series 1–6; recurring, series 7; guest, series 8) is the abrasive, wheelchair-using matriarch of the Garvey family. She is known for her heavy smoking, blunt manner and frequent use of insults, particularly at the expense of her family members. Despite her harsh personality, Madge demonstrates loyalty to her family and is often involved in their affairs. Madge finds love with self-made millionaire Mel Harvey and marries him in Benidorm though is left widowed when he dies off-screen on Christmas Day. They briefly move to Benidorm to take over the Benidorm Palace entertainment venue though Mel’s poor investments leaves Madge penniless. She pursues another short-lived business venture by taking over the lease of a bar in Benidorm, which she names in Mel’s honour, though loses control of the bar and returns home to the UK. She continues to visit Benidorm on holiday with her family, where she discovers that Mel’s ancestors own land in Las Vegas, resulting in them taking over a luxury hotel and leaving Benidorm for a new life. She returns for an auction to buy her grandson Michael a holiday home where she teams up with Solana manageress Joyce Temple-Savage for financial gain.
• Michael Garvey (Oliver Stokes, series 1–6; recurring, series 7) is the young son of Mick and Janice Garvey. He is depicted as intelligent and observant, often acting more mature than his age in contrast to his parents’ behaviour. Michael frequently comments on the situations around him with dry humour. As the series progresses, he grows more independent and becomes involved in typical adolescent experiences. He appears regularly during the early series as part of the Garvey family’s storylines.
• Chantelle Garvey (Hannah Hobley, series 1–3) is the teenage daughter of Mick and Janice Garvey. She is discovered to be pregnant on her family’s first visit to Benidorm and begins to embrace motherhood throughout her tenure for her son Coolio. Despite multiple hurdles, she enters a relationship with Geoff Maltby, which leads to greater emotional maturity, culminating in her moving out of her family home to gain independence living with Geoff. Off-screen, she gives birth to Geoff’s son Pythagoras but the couple eventually separate.
• Donald Stewart (Kenny Ireland, series 1–6) is a regular guest at the Solana with his wife Jacqueline, known for his outspoken and often politically incorrect views. A swinger, he shares an open relationship with his wife and his openness about their sexuality often makes other holidaymakers feel uncomfortable. Donald fakes his death by staging a suicide on the beach for an insurance payout though is ultimately caught out by the police and serves a custodial sentence. He uses this experience to frighten other guests at the Solana, including Gavin Ramsbottom and Kenneth Du Beke, for comedic effect, which frustrates Jacqueline. Donald dies off-screen and Jacqueline, Kenneth and Troy Ramsbottom scatter his ashes in Benidorm.
• Jacqueline Stewart (Janine Duvitski, series 1–10) is the wife of Donald and travels regularly to Benidorm with him. She is portrayed as unintelligent, gormless and uneducated though displays characteristics of a compassionate nature. Alongside Donald, she is very open about her sex life as a swinger, making other guests feel uncomfortable and both are often ridiculed. After Donald’s death, she finds comfort from the support of her friends and eventually permanently relocates to Benidorm. After gaining a wealthy inheritance from a friend, she buys the Blow ‘n Go salon within the Solana and is last seen organising a date with fellow swinger Ron Pickford.
• Gavin Ramsbottom (Hugh Sachs, series 1–5) is a holidaymaker who frequents the Solana with his husband Troy and is characterised by his flamboyant and snobbish personality and expressive behaviour. A hairdresser by trade, his storylines frequently centre on his relationship with Troy, including issues of trust and commitment, as their relationship is comprised with Troy’s infidelity with Mateo, Troy’s hidden fatherhood and Gavin’s infidelity with a young barman named Emilio. Off-screen, Gavin and Troy decide to end their marriage and Gavin is last mentioned by Kenneth Du Beke who explains that Gavin is travelling in Venice alone.
• Troy Ramsbottom (Paul Bazely, series 1–3, 8–9; guest, series 4) is the husband of Gavin and a frequent holidaymaker at the Solana. After a one-night stand with Mateo, Troy proves his commitment to Gavin by proposing. Troy reveals that he is the father of a young adult named Jamie from a previous relationship before he came out as gay, with Gavin supporting him and suggesting to invite Jamie to join them on their holiday. Troy later discovers that his estranged father is dying and remains home to support him, whilst Gavin takes their annual holiday to Benidorm with Kenneth Du Beke taking Troy’s place. Troy returns and reveals his father left his entire estate to him in his will, making them wealthy as his father was a major property landlord in their local Derby area. This takes a toll on their marriage due to the stress that running the properties has on Troy. Troy returns to Benidorm for Donald Stewart’s funeral where he reveals he and Gavin have ended their marriage and he subsequently becomes the owner of the Blow ‘n Go hair salon situated in the Solana, causing friction with head stylist Kenneth over his authority. Troy later sells the salon to Jacqueline.
• Mateo Castellanos (Jake Canuso, series 1–10) is a long-serving employee at the Solana resort, working primarily as a barman and waiter. He is portrayed as a womaniser who frequently engages in relationships with guests, including married woman Kate Weedon, Brandy, Natalie Jones and Terri Dawson. His character is often involved in comedic storylines relating to his romantic pursuits and interactions with other staff and visitors. Mateo briefly leaves Benidorm for a new life in Madrid after the breakdown of his marriage though returns due to the city’s cost of living to the delight of Solana employees, where he inherits a fortune from a resident at his former hotel.
• Janey York (Crissy Rock, series 1–4; recurring, series 7; guest, series 5) is the first manageress of the Solana resort. She is depicted as professional and authoritative, though often frustrated by the behaviour of guests and staff. Janey frequently clashes with Mateo due to his unprofessional conduct. Her storylines involve managing the day-to-day operations of the hotel and dealing with various crises. She later leaves her managerial role for a new hotel in Altea though briefly returns in an attempt to sabotage her successor Joyce Temple-Savage’s management, where she admits that she misses Benidorm. She returns once again, resuming her position as the Solana manageress as part of staff cut-backs but leaves with her nephew Jason after intercepting a prestigious employment opportunity for Joyce.

Introduced in series 2

• Mel Harvey (Geoffrey Hutchings, series 2–3) is the second husband of Madge Harvey. He is portrayed as a loud, brash and often boastful businessman who asserts his position as successful from his previous business ventures that saw him become a multi-millionaire, though his subsequent ventures are typically exaggerated or short-lived. Mel is characterised by his quick temper, impatience and tendency to assert authority, often clashing with members of his extended family. His attempts at business leadership are frequently undermined by poor judgement and lack of organisation, leading to various problems for both his staff and other Solana guests. Despite this, he remains a dominant presence within the Garvey family dynamic, often attempting to take control of situations. Mel’s relationship with Madge is portrayed as volatile but longstanding, with both characters displaying similarly blunt and confrontational personalities. His presence adds to the broader family tensions depicted in the series. Despite taking over the Benidorm Palace entertainment venue, Mel dies off-screen on Christmas Day, leaving Madge a penniless widow. Madge subsequently vows to make Mel proud to honour him after his death.

Introduced in series 3

• Brandy (Sheridan Smith, series 3) is the holiday companion of Martin Weedon after the breakdown of his marriage to his wife Kate. Originating from Liverpool, her working-class background contrasts with Martin’s prestigious upbringing and their personalities often clash. She has a one-night stand with Mateo where it emerges she is planning to rob Martin and other Solana guests. She makes Martin believe that a relationship is on the cards to gain his trust before fleecing him and fleeing with her partner Gary. Off-screen, Brandy and Gary are caught by the police for their crimes.

Introduced in series 4

• Les/Lesley Conroy (Tim Healy, series 4–10; recurring, series 3) is the transvestite bartender of the Solana resort. He initially appears as a date for Geoff Maltby, frightening Geoff due to his hidden identity as a transvestite. He briefly works for Mel and Madge Harvey at the Benidorm Palace but finds work at the Solana after Mel’s death. Despite threatening colleague Mateo Castellanos due to his strong work ethic, the pair develop a supportive friendship after Les prevents Mateo from being dismissed. Les shows a loving relationship with his son Liam, displaying compassion and sympathy as he guides his son through life choices. Les remains a loyal, supportive member of staff at the Solana. However, he flees after an arrest warrant is released due to his tax evasion in the UK, leaving Liam devastated.
• Liam Conroy (Adam Gillen, series 4–7, 9–10; guest, series 8) is the immature, irresponsible son of Les Conroy. He is introduced as visiting his father whilst he is working at the Solana though decides to remain in Benidorm to be closer to Les, gaining employment as the Solana’s handyman. Liam has unrequited love affairs with Solana guests Natalie Jones and Bianca Dyke, leaving him questioning his masculinity. After showing an interest in beauty, Liam becomes a hairdresser at Blow ‘n Go, where he develops a strong friendship with Kenneth Du Beke. Liam leaves to work in Madrid but later returns to Benidorm to the delight of Les and Kenneth. Liam later decides to return to the UK to support his father through his court battle over tax evasion.
• Sam Wood (Shelley Longworth, series 4–5, 9–10) is introduced as a lively and outspoken holidaymaker, vacating with two different friends, Natalie Jones and Trudy. She breaks her leg after a drunken night out in Benidorm, causing her to become infuriated and insecure. A similar chain of events follows the next year when she breaks her arm on the Solana dancefloor. Sam returns years later as the new holiday rep of a company owned by the Solana Group, BeniGo Travel. She clashes with other Solana staff, notably Mateo, as a result of her money-making schemes and smug persona. However, she gradually develops a loyal stance for the Solana, building friendships with once-rival staff.
• Kenneth Du Beke Gupter (Tony Maudsley, series 4–10) is the flamboyant manager of the Blow ‘n Go salon at the Solana. He is characterised by his dramatic personality, sharp wit and displays of immaturity. Kenneth often displays a temperamental and demanding attitude, particularly towards his employees, but also shows moments of loyalty and affection. He initially comes to Benidorm as a holidaymaker, keeping his employer Gavin Ramsbottom company in place of his husband Troy. He later decides to remain in Benidorm to set up his own salon within the Solana. His friendship with Liam Conroy becomes a significant storyline, with the two forming a close personal and professional partnership.
• Natalie Jones (Katherine Drysdale, series 4) is the holiday companion of Sam Wood. She is shown to be the more patient and caring of the duo. Having previously engaged in a short-lived love affair with Mateo Castellanos, Mateo attempts to reignite their passion to no avail. She shuts down Liam Conroy’s advances and later decides against pursuing any further relationships.
• Pauline Maltby (Selina Griffiths, series 4, 8–10) is the sister of Geoff Maltby and daughter of Noreen Maltby. She is portrayed as socially awkward, intense and emotionally volatile, often displaying obsessive behaviour. A recovering alcoholic, Pauline’s interactions with others are frequently uncomfortable, particularly due to her difficulty understanding social boundaries. Her presence creates tension within her family, especially with Noreen and Geoff. Pauline first stays at the Solana with her mother in the midst of her divorce from a Saudi Arabian, where she struggles with the divorce proceedings and risk of her husband taking her life savings. This culminates in her relapse into alcoholism, causing friction with Noreen, though is relieved when her husband does not show up in court, leaving her financially stable. Pauline eventually quits her job and decides to pursue a career in writing, where she writes erotic fiction whilst intoxicated. To her surprise, she is offered a book deal and finally pursues her dreams of becoming an author.

Introduced in series 5

• Joyce Temple-Savage (Sherrie Hewson, series 5–10)
• Trudy (Michelle Butterly, series 5)

Introduced in series 6

• Clive Dyke (Perry Benson, series 6–7)
• Tonya Dyke (Hannah Waddingham, series 6)
• Tiger Dyke (Danny Walters, series 6–9)
• Bianca Dyke (Bel Powley, series 6)

Introduced in series 7

• Glynn Flint (Alan David, series 7)
• Terri Dawson (Charlotte Eaton, series 7)

Introduced in series 8

• Eddie Dawson (Bobby Knutt, series 8–10)
• Billy Dawson (Steve Edge, series 8–10)
• Sheron Dawson (Julie Graham, series 8–10)
• Rob Dawson (Josh Bolt, series 8–10)
• Jodie Dawson (Honor Kneafsey, series 8–9)
• Amber Platt (Jessica Ellerby, series 8)
• Joey Ellis (Nathan Bryon, series 8–10)

Introduced in series 9

• Loretta Chase (Kate Fitzgerald, series 9–10)
• Neville (Simon Greenall, series 9)

Introduced in series 10

• Monty Staines (John Challis, series 10; recurring, series 7–9)
• Callum (Julian Moore-Cook, series 10)
• Cyd (Laila Zaidi, series 10)