Best known for playing their respective roles of Kenneth and Liam in popular ITV1 sitcom Benidorm, Tony Maudsley and Adam Gillen this month arrive in the Midlands to star in two of the region’s biggest festive productions. 

Tony dons high heels and even higher hair as Edna Turnblad in a new touring production of Hairspray The Musical at Birmingham’s New Alexandra Theatre, while Adam heads for Neverland in Ella Hickson’s adaptation of Wendy And Peter Pan at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre. 

What’s On recently met up with the boys from Benidorm to find out more...

What attracted you to Neverland, Adam?
I suppose the prospect of flying, but I don’t get to do that unfortunately. I’ve always loved Peter Pan’s story. It’s always been my favourite Disney that I remember from my childhood. I really love Jonathan’s version of it. He’s got a really brilliant imagination and a wonderful flair for the magical, which is really exciting.

It’s said that the show is closely based on the 2013 production of the same name. What’s changed?
It’s bigger - everything is just more wondrous and elaborate. It just seems more epic. I’m not saying the first one wasn’t, but it’s always good to build on a very solid platform, and that’s what Jonathan’s doing. 

Tell us about Martin, the character you play...
He’s the cabin boy on the pirate ship, but he’s out of place in every way possible. He suffers from allergies. He has terrible hayfever and doesn’t really fit into pirate life. He’s struggling to find his way through it, which is quite fun for me as an actor. I guess he’s more of a lost boy than a pirate, but he’s ended up being a working boy for Hook, Smee and the gang. He’s not having a great time with it.

Is there a little bit of a love interest there?
Later on. I don’t want to ruin it for audiences, but someone magical comes into view. It’s a nice character journey. It’s also good that I get the privilege of being on the pirate ship but not being all piratey.

Is that love interest a little flying character?
Yes, it’s Tinkerbell, which is wonderful. It’s an unlikely pairing but seems to work.

Wendy And Peter Pan sees you making your RSC debut. How does it feel to be stepping out on such a prestigious stage?
It’s a real privilege, and it’s something I’ve wanted to be involved with. Such great work and all the best people in the industry work there. On every level, it’s a brilliant, creative, powerful machine, which it’s really exciting to be a part of.

If you were presented with the opportunity to return to Stratford and perform again with the RSC in any of Shakespeare’s works, which play or character would you choose?
There are so many great, weird and wonderful creations in the repertoire that I’d love to have a go at. One day, when I’m a little bit older, I’d like to play Richard III.

You’re very well known for playing Liam in Benidorm. Has it been difficult to shake out that rather wet character and be taken seriously?
I haven’t had too much trouble, but Benidorm’s been my first experience of something being watched in a major way. I think maybe it’s a bit too early to say that, but it’s always a bit of a thing when actors play a character in a TV show that people watch. It’s bound to have people forming a view of you, but I’ve had lots of variety in my career so far. I’ve been lucky to do things like Soliders At War and Prisoners’ Wives.

Has Liam affected your personal life in any way?
Now and again, but thankfully it’s never abuse. People are very friendly, and it doesn’t happen all the time. It happens more in Benidorm when I’m doing the show. Everyone goes a bit crazy because, to them, you’re just the person on the telly and not a human being with another life. It’s quite hard to shake off, and people act like you’re in The Beatles out there, which is ridiculous. Luckily, because I appear quite soft in the show, people tend to be very gentle with me, which I do appreciate.

Your career spans TV and stage. Do you have a preference?
I like both of them because they’re both acting, pretending and creating a world, which is exciting. I like the challenge of being more expansive on the stage, really stretching your legs and spreading your wings. Then again, I like being tiny and intimate on telly. I like them both for different reasons.

Of the characters you’ve portrayed, which has required you to dig deepest into yourself?
Prisoners’ Wives was quite tough. I’m not an unpleasant person, but the character was awful to his mother and that wasn’t very nice. I found that particularly difficult because, at the time, I was splitting my time between filming in Sheffield and living in Manchester with my mum. I would have to snap out of the role when I got home to my mum. I had to remember I wasn’t in prison and she wasn’t smuggling drugs for me. Everything was alright and Corrie would be on in a minute, so let’s just relax.

Did you always aspire to be an actor?
Yeah, I think I discovered what I wanted to do when I was fourteen or fifteen. I knew it was where I felt happiest because I could control the attention coming my way, and that was quite a satisfying thing to do. Since then, I just got the bug. Some of my very good friends went off to RADA (Royal Academy of Dramatic Art) at eighteen, and I knew I wanted to do that too. Luckily I got in. Going on all of these adventures with these fictional people is a real privilege. It’s a really exciting adventure to have.

Is this the first time you’ve performed in theatre through the festive period?
I can’t think of a play I’ve done that’s run over Christmas, so this will be a new experience. I think it’ll be really fun. We’re performing on Christmas Eve, so that will be a pretty special one - very magical - and then again on Boxing Day. You’ve got to work off your Christmas dinner!

What’s top of your Christmas list?
I’ve not really thought about it. I really like a surprise. I don’t really need too much. I’d like a nice armchair - a nice, vintage armchair to go in my new flat. That would be nice. 

Your Benidorm sidekick Tony Maudsley is performing in Hairspray in Birmingham over Christmas. Will  you have a chance to get together?
I really hope so, but we’ll both be on stage at the same time, I’d imagine. 

Have you seen Tony in a dress and heels before?
Of course, many, many times. He’s never out of them - it’s ridiculous! You can’t get him out of those sequins, he’s just obsessed... 

Any plans for more Benidorm in the future?
I took a year out this year, but the plan is to head back next year because I missed it terribly. That’s what I’m hoping to do mid-March 2016.

I guess you get to enjoy the sunshine a bit whilst you’re out there filming - but when you’re not, where’s your ideal holiday destination?
I recently returned from the south east of Crete, where I rediscovered how lovely and relaxing a beach holiday could be. Maybe Florence or Tuscany. I like Italian food, so that could be an option.

So what else is in the diary?
I finish this show at the end of January, then I have February off. I’m off to Spain in March for four months, so who knows after that? It’s quite a way off, so we’ll just have to wait and see.

Does the fickle nature of the acting industry ever worry you?
Yeah, it does. It worries everyone, but I guess you just have to live in the now. I’ll deal with whatever comes along next when I get there...

Wendy & Peter Pan shows at Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon until Sunday 31 January.

Read the interview with Tony Maudsley here