Real tears for Beindorm's Mel

The stars of Benidorm have told how the tears they shed for Mel Garvey in last night's Christmas special were real. Actor Geoffrey Hutchings, who played Mel, died of an infection in July and Derren Litten, who writes the ITV1 show, penned a touching ending as a tribute.

Derren Litten's Costa comedy is, as you'd hope, growing old gracelessly. At its heart is still the crabby marriage of Mick (Steve Pemberton) and Janice (Siobhan Finneran) as they take their umpteenth break in the Spanish sun, although these days Janice's mean-spirited mum is married to local mobility-scooter king, Mel, and hanging out at his lavish villa in a Jacuzzi. Mel was played by Geoffrey Hutchings, who died earlier this year, but this one-off finds a touching way to deal with his passing. As farcical storylines collide, a sad tale bubbles away off-screen.

Does it annoy you that Benidorm gets bad reviews?

Writer Derren Litten answers the question: "Does it annoy you that Benidorm mostly gets bad reviews from critics?"

Champagne and crudity is the order of the day in this sitcom special, as the Garvey family live it up during a festive break at a hilltop villa. Most of the other regulars are still slumming it down at the Solana, with Donald (Kenny Ireland) and Jacqueline (Janine Duvitsky) introducing the members of the Middlesbrough Swingers Association to the carnal joys of the Costa Blanca, while Su Pollard guest stars as herself, the headline act at a rival hotel's less than glittering Christmas Extravaganza.

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Louie Spence has reportedly landed a role in ITV's Benidorm.