British sitcom Benidorm has been enjoyed by TV audiences for over ten years. Featuring a cast of holidaymakers and staff at the Solana all-inclusive hotel, Benidorm received two National Television Awards for Most Popular Comedy Programme in 2008 and 2011 before sadly ending after its tenth series in May earlier this year. However, series creator and writer Derren Litten has adapted his much-loved TV show for stage which is currently touring the UK until April 2019. Ahead of its Christmas run at the Alexandra Theatre in Birmingham, Litten talks to us about the success of the TV show and what audiences can expect from the stage show.

What inspired you to pen the original series of Benidorm?
I never had any aspirations to write and hadn’t written before when I was approached to write some material for Catherine Tate’s Edinburgh show, who was my best mate at drama school. Following this, I went on to write and perform in Catherine’s TV show. It was after the second series that legendary comedy producer Geoffrey Perkins asked me to write my own sitcom. I definitely didn’t want to do ‘The Derren Litten Show’ but he asked me to pen a comedy narrative…I didn’t really know what that meant at the time but I started writing a sketch about two middle-aged swingers from Middlesborough. It was funny but a bit dull basing them in their living room in an obscure suburban house having their swingers AGM so I thought I’d better set it somewhere a bit more exotic. It shows you how my mind works that I didn’t set it somewhere like Barbados! I originally set it round a swimming pool - not in Benidorm - just a generic all-inclusive package holiday location. I had not been to Benidorm at this point but had heard lots about it. I also like the single word ‘Benidorm’ with the number of syllables so that’s the reason I called it as such. I wrote two episodes and then when ITV commissioned it, I thought I’d better go and see what it’s all about! 

Who was the first character/family that you created?
Donald and Jacqueline. I told Geoffrey (Perkins) about them and he asked me to imagine who else would be around the pool so I thought back to some rubbish holidays we’d had as kids and went from there. The next characters I created were the posh couple, Martin and Kate, who had come to the wrong place for their holiday. I thought they would be most horrified by this grubby pair of middle-aged swingers!
Why do you think the series remained so popular for so long?
I don’t know. If I knew the secret, I’d write another one! Well I’m trying to actually at the moment. I’ll tell you what I thought the secret was and I was completely wrong. If the show ran for more than one series, I thought I’d change the characters; stick with the one family perhaps but change all the others. However after the first series, I found out the characters were so popular that in the end, we just brought them all back! For ten years, we kept most of the same characters and not one person has ever questioned why the characters return for their holiday in the same week each year. As long as they are having fun watching, they don’t seem to mind.

What’s the reason behind bringing it to the stage?
It seemed a natural progression. A lot of shows historically have done it including Dad’s Army, Are You Being Served? and Hi-De-Hi and have had very successful summer seasons. We have been trying for five or six years to bring it to the stage. In series three, we were first asked but the producers wanted to play in arenas and I wasn’t keen on that idea. People have watched the show on TV for ten years so why sit at the back of an aircraft hangar and watch it on the TV again! 

And what’s been the most challenging aspect of bringing it to the stage?
I didn’t really think of it as a challenge initially but once I’d finished the script, a lot of people asked how on earth we were going to do it. People who have seen the show said that before it started, they never imagined how it would work but it just does. I have made a living as a writer for the last ten years - one show is luck but ten is a bit more than that. I don’t deny the success of the show but I don’t know how it all happened!

Is there a particular character with whom you empathise most?
It’s got to be Pauline, who is Johnny Vegas’ character’s sister. When I created her, I got completely obsessed! I once drove to a garage and found some chocolate brazil nuts and I remember thinking Pauline would love these. So I went home with a load, opened a bottle of vodka and started watching a true crime channel thinking of her doing the same thing! I’ve never been method in acting or writing but I did get a little obsessed with her. She says very inappropriate things, mainly fuelled by alcohol and regret! 

Just how close is the stage show to the screen?
It’s very close, having six of the main characters taking part. One of the key things that I was worried about was the design. I needn’t have though because our designer, Mark Walters, has created the most ingenious set. When you watch a touring show, you don’t expect revolves etc but we have one! One minute you’re in reception, characters come on dancing with beach balls and towels, they disperse and you’re in the hairdressers, Blow’n’Go. It’s seamless and so slick. 

And how much persuading was needed to get the stars from the show to pack their cases and head out on the road?
Very little. I drew up a list of people I wanted to be in it and I knew vaguely what the story was going to be about but was ready to adapt if they weren’t available. However, they all accepted. We didn’t just work together in Benidorm, we lived together so we’re very close. Like any other family, we love and hate each other. It’s very sad to think that at the end of the tour in Canterbury, that will be it. 

Is there any possibility of ITV bosses having a re-think and us seeing a new series of Benidorm on our TV screens anytime soon?
I don’t know. The thing is, television loves a comeback. Birds of a Feather came back after ten years or so but if I wait that long, some of this lot will be dead! I’d never say never but I doubt it. It would be lovely to say that the DVD box set is out now with ten series displayed in a lovely suitcase. For the stage show, I specifically didn’t want the production to be filmed because part of the enjoyment is that it is a theatre show, not a television show and you would lose about 50% of being in the theatre within touching distance of the cast and enjoying it in the way it was intended. I think it probably might be the end but don’t cry that it’s ended, smile because it happened.

Tell us about your cameo appearance in the show?
I play Derek Pickles, also known as gay Derek, who has been mentioned in the show throughout the years. Jacqueline always spoke about Big Donna and Gay Derek, characters you don’t see like Captain Mainwaring’s wife in Dad’s Army. I like the idea of characters who you form a picture of in your own mind. Big Donna’s ashes were brought to Benidorm for Donald and Jacqueline to scatter but we’ve never seen Gay Derek and he’s quite an important role throughout the show. 

Where’s your favourite holiday destination?
Well, obviously Benidorm! I’ve got a house about 15 minutes away and I go there a lot. I bought it about five years in to writing the series and I love it. I enjoy being close to the madness but also a short taxi ride away! However, Benidorm is like my second home so my favourite holiday destination is probably New York. I’ve always felt I could live there but if I spent as much money as I usually do there on holiday, I’d be bankrupt within a month! 

Benidorm Live runs at the Alexandra Theatre from Monday 3 - Saturday 29 December