[Scarlett.]

After a BAFTA nomination for the first series and ratings success for the second, ITV is delighted to announce that our favourite holidaymakers will be returning in 2009 with a one hour special and eight new episodes.

The award-winning creator Derren Litten once again pleased the critics with his Brits abroad observations:

“Benidorm is back with a tasty mix of spot-on characterisation, humour, and terrible karaoke with some of Britain’s best actors.”

“Tacky and terrific – a real guilty pleasure.”

“Derren’s winningly bawdy sitcom succeeds because it manages to get us laughing with, rather than at its gallery of grotesques.”

With the second series featuring a new baby, a proposal, first love, fighting, cheating, a wedding, pregnancy and memory loss, a one hour special picks up where things were left with several characters in prison, hospital or disappearing out to sea on a parasail. A third series of eight episodes will follow, which finds the cast members reunited one year later.

ITV’s director of television, Peter Fincham says: “Benidorm has a fantastic mix of warmth, charm, and fun. I am delighted to have this popular series returning to the channel next year.”

Paul Jackson, ITV’s director of Entertainment and Comedy, says: “Gaining a BAFTA nomination for ‘best sitcom’ was a fantastic moment and with such impressive ratings ITV is very pleased to commission more. Benidorm has performed brilliantly on the channel and on-line. The series clearly has a great fan base.”

Producer Geoffrey Perkins, from Tiger Aspect, adds: “Paul Jackson and ITV took a big risk with Benidorm and we are delighted that is has turned out to be a success. We have had a tremendous response from viewers about the characters and world we have created. Derren Litten and I are very excited at getting the chance to build on that with a one-off special and a third series.”

Benidorm is written and created by Derren Litten, produced by Geoffrey Perkins (Harry Enfield, Spitting Image, Father Ted, Catherine Tate Show), and directed by BAFTA award winning Sandy Johnson (Jonathan Creek, Kingdom, Love Soup). Sophie Clarke-Jervoise is executive producer.

Benidorm is a Tiger Aspect production for ITV1.