Only Fools and Horses star John Challis to star in Benidorm
HE'S best known for his loveable role as Boycie in Only Fools and Horses, but John Challis is heading for the sunshine.
The 71-year-old actor is to star in the next series of ITV comedy Benidorm along with Joan Collins and Nadia Sawalha.
Challis said last year that Benidorm writer Derren Litten had been keen to give him a role, saying: "I was really up for that but sadly I was not available and they couldn't work around my commitments."
However, now that the time is right for Challis, he will begin filming scenes for series seven soon.
I was really up for that but sadly I was not available and they couldn't work around my commitments
Collins has confirmed she will be returning to the show as hotel boss Crystal Hennessy-Vas, joining Johnny Vegas's Lancashire pub quiz guru Geoff Maltby (aka The Oracle), and Elsie Kelly - who plays Maltby's mum Noreen - will also be returning. She last made an appearance in series five.
More cameos and storylines are set to be announced soon, with The Catherine Tate Show co-creator Derren Litten continuing to write the winning script.
Benidorm series six averaged 6.8 million viewers across the run, with the opening episode hitting 7.9 million viewers.
Filming on new episodes is now under way, with season seven set to air in 2015.