The Spanish Costa Blanca resort of Benidorm has been attracting UK ex-patriot entertainers for many long year. Mark Ritchie takes a look at the resort, with the help of our Benidorm correspondent Lisa McGuinness, who compiled the what’s on list that can be seen further down the page.—————————————————————————————————-
Great UK comedy stars, now sadly no longer with us, such as Roy Jay, Johnny Hackett, Terry King, Mike Curtis and a host of others saw out the twilight of their comedy careers in the Spanish sunshine.
Nowadays the comedy baton has been passed on in sunny Spain to 21st century comedy favourites such as The British Bulldog of comedy Albi Senior, the enduringly popular Scottish comedian Ricki Stevens and the Yorkshire born comedian and Benidorm bar owner Gary George.
The creatures from telly-land have even made a success of a situation comedy, with the same name as the resort, which has done no end of good for comedienne Crissy Rock, who plays a leading role in the show and ended up featured into celebrity car crash that is I’m A Celebrity- Get me out of here! Despite the high profile the resort has attained, the place has seen a real recent swing-shift in terms of its visitor profile, with many blaming all-inclusive holidays, which encourage folk to avoid going out and simply stay in their hotels armed with their free drink tickets and wrist-bands.
The stag and hen parties, many from the UK, also seem to have become a major deterrent to many now disenchanted former Benidorm fans. Despite this apparent negativity, there is still much to enjoy on the cabaret front. Below is just a sample of what’s on at some of the better known venues.
The Town club- Nightly at 10pm Ricki Stevens, plus Dave Keegan as Elvis
The Zodiac- Gary George nightly at 11.15pm
Morgan’s Tavern
The Talk of the Coast- One Vision-Tribute to ‘We Will Rock You’. Nightly at 10pm except Wednesday.
Jokers- The Blues Brothers experience nightly at midnight
Palladium- Gareth Fulton’s comedy hypnosis show- nightly at 11pm
Rockerfellas- ‘The British Bulldog of Comedy’ Albi Senior nightly at 11pm
Café Benidorm- The Take That tribute in Benidorm- nightly at midnight
The Showboat- Sister Act- nightly at midnight
Sinatras- Benidorm Meatloaf- nightly at midnight.
The above is just a sample and there is much more entertainment and cabaret to enjoy in the British area around the Levante Beach. Hasta Luego readers!