Entertainment

Tim Healy to return to Benidorm after dropping out over sudden illness

Tim Healy to return to Benidorm after dropping out over sudden illness
Tim Healy to return to Benidorm after dropping out over sudden illness Tim Healy to return to Benidorm after dropping out over sudden illness

Actor Tim Healy will return to ITV comedy Benidorm for its next series after a sudden illness saw him drop out of the show last year.

Production has now begun on a 10th season, due to air in 2018, which will see Tim take back his role as loveable cross-dressing hotel worker Les/Lesley.

The 65-year-old was taken ill while shooting series nine in Spain and spent several days in a coma.

(Ian West/PA)

Tim will be joined by returning co-star Shane Richie, reprising his role as entertainer Sammy Valentino for four episodes.

Meanwhile, Only Fools And Horses star John Challis will become a series regular as the character Monty Staines and comedy duo Hale & Pace will star as undercover detectives.

While many familiar faces will return to the show, Johnny Vegas, Paul Bazely and Danny Walters will be missing from the credits.

(Ian West/PA)

The channel’s comedy commissioner Saskia Schuster said: “Benidorm is very much part of the ITV family with viewers taking these wonderful characters to their hearts.

“Show creator, writer and exec producer Derren Litten has some great plans for the tenth series and it’s a real treat to welcome Hale & Pace and Shane Richie to the Solana resort.”