Benidorm star brands axe 'extraordinary' as she gives three-word response on ITV return

Sherrie Hewson has spoken out after fans were calling for Benidorm to return as a film, six years after the last series aired.

By Christopher Sharp, News Reporter

Sherrie Hewson

Actress Sherrie Hewson has spoken about the impact of Benidorm and whether she would return (Image: Getty)

Benidorm actress Sherrie Hewson, 74 has given her verdict on the axing of the popular show Benidorm which has developed a significant following despite its cancellation after 10 series in 2018.

Speaking to Johnny Seifert on the Secure the Insecure podcast, Sherrie, 74, who played hotel manager Joyce Temple-Savage in the sitcom, said it didn’t occur to the cast that the show would get as big as it did.

She explained: “It didn’t occur to us out there that it was going to be as big as it was…until later on, until we got to series eight or nine, when it got so big and then it stopped, which was extraordinary, because it stopped at one of the biggest times of its ratings ever.

“I think it was on eight or nine million at the time, and it stopped, and I found that extraordinary, and I think ITV do now because it should have carried on.

“We never really thought it was going to be as big as it was, ever, and now it’s even bigger, and it's fantastic for us because it’s a show we all love so much.”

The ITV logo in 2021

Sherrie Hewson offered a cryptic 3 word response to whether she would return to her role (Image: Getty)

Sherrie spoke further about how she views her time on Benidorm, revealing: “I look back on it now and think how clever it was, clever writing, clever casting. It was brilliant and beautiful filming, cost a fortune then.”

Whilst the show was a hit during its time on air, Sherrie said that because of Brexit it would be slightly more difficult to film Benidorm today. The reason for this is because of the new immigration rules for Britons living in Europe.

She said: “Because of Brexit now we probably would struggle because we were out there for five months a year, you can’t be out five months now, you can only do 90 days.

“So that’s cut down filming quite a lot. I think it would be very different now, I still think there’s a market for it, so you never know.”

On whether she would return to a reunion version of the show, Sherrie was full of enthusiasm and suggested that it could come back as a film, but only if writer Derren Litten decided to write it.

She enthused: “The only thing Derren could do is a film. I’ve always said to him a film would be fantastic, but it’s up to him.”

“A film would be perfect, because everybody is crying out for Benidorm, everywhere you go, people say ‘When? When? When?’..but I do keep saying ‘Wouldn’t a film be a good idea?’ Everybody thinks of me as Joyce and it was a fabulous time, a wonderful time.”

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