John Hannah confirmed for all-new "witty and charming" detective series Death in Benidorm
Hannah will star in the new six-part series for 5.
After new murder mystery series Death in Benidorm was announced earlier this year, 5 has now confirmed the central cast, which will be led by none other than John Hannah.
Hannah, known for his roles in Four Weddings and a Funeral, Black Mirror and The Last of Us, will play Dennis in the six-part series, a detective who swaps the chaos of the UK for a quieter life running a bar in Benidorm, as he runs from his past.
However, when tourists start turning up dead, he’s reluctantly drawn back into detective work, and is egged on by his barmaid Rosa, a crime drama superfan who becomes an unlikely partner in the investigations.
The synopsis for the series says: "With Dennis’s real-world experience and Rosa’s encyclopaedic TV knowledge, each episode sees the duo tackling a new murder in paradise, whilst trying to remain on the right side of the local Spanish cops."
Additional cast members who have been announced for the series include Carolina Bécquer in the crucial role of Rosa, as well as Ariadna Cabrol as Maria and Damian Schedler Cruz as Jesús.
The series has been created by Ian Jarvis, known for his work on The Completely Made-Up Adventures of Dick Turpin and Beyond Paradise, while Simon Delaney (Death in Paradise) has come on board as director.
Other writers working on the series include Yasmine Akram (Flack), Claire Downes (The Outlaws) and Tom Parry (Your Christmas or Mine).
Greg Barnett, commissioning editor for 5, said in a statement: "I am thrilled to have John Hannah on board. He’s absolutely perfect for the role of Dennis – a character with sharp intellect, dry wit, and life experience – and from what I’ve seen already, viewers will fall in love with him."
Death in Benidorm was first announced in July, along with the commission of other new shows such as Cooper and Fry and Imposter, and the renewal of series such as The Teacher and The Madame Blanc Mysteries and The Hardacres.
Death in Benidorm will air on 5.
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Authors
James Hibbs is a Drama Writer for Radio Times, covering programmes across both streaming platforms and linear channels. He previously worked in PR, first for a B2B agency and subsequently for international TV production company Fremantle. He possesses a BA in English and Theatre Studies and an NCTJ Level 5 Diploma in Journalism.
