James HalpinPublished: Invalid Date A FATHER-of-three has tragically died just hours after arriving in Benidorm following a "last minute" decision to go on a lads trip Joseph McManus, 42, suddenly collapsed on the strip at the Spanish holiday town on Friday The Irishman from Dingle A pal told the Echo that he had only decided to go on the trip at the last minute after other pals had dropped out Lee Beck said Joseph was a "big cuddly bear" He was always stopping people in the street and asking them how they were." Lee added: "Joseph's mum keeps saying it's not real and she is still waiting to get a WhatsApp message from him A GoFundMe has now been launched to bring Joseph back from Ireland by Beck. It reads: "Everyone loved this lad he was a legend. Let’s help his family and get him home." Just last month, the body of Jeff Duffield was found washed up on Benidorm Beach His body was discovered on Wednesday evening by National Police in Spain Cops said the body was found without any ID A Brit groom also died during his stag-do in Benidorm last month was celebrating his stag do at the Funky Flamingo bar in the Spanish resort when he collapsed Our journalists strive for accuracy but on occasion we make mistakes. For further details of our complaints policy and to make a complaint please click this link: thesun.co.uk/editorial-complaints/ Amanda Devlin Assistant Showbiz Editor (Features)Published: Invalid Date ITV sitcom Benidorm is set to return for an 11th series — eight years after it was brutally axed Channel bosses are in secret talks over a comeback for the award-winning series about Brits abroad Favourites included Tim Healy’s cross-dressing bartender Les played by Sheila Reid — who chain-smoked while driving around the resort on her mobility scooter Sherrie Hewson, who played hotel manager Joyce Temple-Savage, has been approached — letting slip in a podcast: “Benidorm is coming back.” A source said: “Benidorm was adored by millions when it was suddenly cancelled. Fans will be thrilled to hear ITV wants to bring it back “An 11th series hasn’t been commissioned yet but there’s major excitement building as early talks begin ALLY ROSS Stacey show proves BBC is woke & happy to ignore principles to be down with kids“Producers have started to reach out to the show’s stars and are hopeful a decision can be made later this year.” Benidorm, which was first aired in 2007, was scrapped in 2018 — two months before winning Best Comedy at the TV Choice Awards Creator Derren Litten slammed ITV’s axe, telling the crowd as he picked up the gong: “This is a bit awkward, the show’s just been cancelled.” He added sarcastically: “I’ve huge respect for ITV — a show that’s getting five and a half million viewers and still picking up awards, but they’ve cancelled it. That takes balls.” gossip and exclusive content not shown anywhere else” He fuelled speculation of a Benidorm spin-off when he said he was returning to writing for TV and theatre The sitcom hilariously ­portrayed British holidaymakers mixing with quirky staff at the Solana all-inclusive resort in Spain Stars included Sheridan Smith, Steve Pemberton, Hannah Waddingham and Johnny Vegas — plus cameos from Cilla Black and Joan Collins ITV were said to have axed the show after being “disappointed” only 4.3 million fans tuned in for the 10th series opener a 400,000 drop on the previous year’s launch Bosses said the series had “run its course” claiming the time was right to let it go out while still ITV’s longest-running comedy But it gained a new lease of life after being added to the ITVX streaming service — reaching a new gen­eration of fans ITV sitcom Benidorm had a wide range of stars appear during its decade-long run the world’s leading Urban Air Mobility (“UAM”) technology platform company announced a major milestone in the advancing UAM in Europe with the successful flight of its EH216-S pilotless eVTOL in the city of Benidorm This is the first urban flight of a pilotless eVTOL aircraft in Europe The flight was conducted as part of the European Union's U-ELCOME (U-Space European Common Deployment) project one of the flagship Digital Sky Demonstrators of the SESAR 3 JU the initiative brings together 51 partners from France U-ELCOME project team and guests with EH216-S in Benidorm The event showcased the seamless integration of Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) solutions within a controlled urban airspace Conducted in a specially designated U-Space environment the flight marked a groundbreaking demonstration of multi-drone coordination up to twelve additional drones operated simultaneously all managed through  Spain´s Air Navigation Service Provider using its U-Space system and services to ensure a safe and harmonized air traffic environment This milestone represents a significant step forward in U-Space development in Europe demonstrating how multiple pilotless aircraft can operate safely and efficiently in urban environments the first pilotless eVTOL aircraft demonstration in a European city under EASA (European Union Aviation Safety Agency) regulations marks a pivotal step in the future of urban aviation This demonstration validates the feasibility of integrating unmanned aircraft systems into urban environments while in full compliance with stringent European safety and regulatory frameworks and its success sets a precedent for future urban air mobility deployments across the continent.  This landmark demonstration was attended by government authorities underscoring the growing momentum behind UAM adoption in Europe Project Manager en EUROCONTROL emphasized "Benidorm air taxi and drones’ simultaneous demonstration highlighted the capability of U-space services enhancing emergency response and operational efficiency in complex urban environments other national and international authorities U-ELCOME contributes to the consolidation of standardization and regulatory requirements for U-space services accelerating their deployment and ensuring interoperability between U-space and traditional air traffic management systems." Head of International Business Development at ENAIRE and leader of the Spanish U-ELCOME cluster the simultaneous operation of drones with an air taxi has been possible in a safe manner with multiple U-space Service Providers (USSP): ENAIRE It is one of the most advanced demonstrations in Europe.” The event also marked the signing of a strategic collaboration agreement between Benidorm’s City Hall and EHang which  aims to advance Urban Air Mobility development in the region and position Benidorm as a pioneering city in next-generation aerial transportation and innovative tourism experiences The Collaboration Agreement was signed by Ms emphasized the significance of this event for the city's future stating: “Benidorm is proud to be at the forefront of innovation and sustainability The successful integration of Urban Air Mobility solutions represents a major step in our commitment to smarter We look forward to continuing our collaboration with EHang to make Benidorm a leader in next-generation mobility.” highlighted how this milestone is a key advancement commenting: “These flights mark a major leap forward in integrating unmanned aircraft systems into urban environments The successful operation of the EH216-S eVTOL in coordination with multiple drones under a U-Space system and sustainable Urban Air Mobility solutions. We are delighted to be part of the U-ELCOME project and to be working with Benidorm to advance the future of air transport.” With this successful aerial demonstration in Benidorm EHang further advances the development of AAM proving that safe and scalable urban eVTOL operations are transitioning from concept to reality This initiative aligns with the European Union’s broader efforts to establish a comprehensive regulatory and operational framework for the seamless integration of drones and eVTOLs into urban environments The Single European Sky ATM Research Joint Undertaking (SESAR JU) is a public-private partnership established by the European Union to modernize Europe’s air traffic management (ATM) system SESAR JU drives innovation by developing cutting-edge technologies and operational solutions that enhance efficiency Through collaboration with industry leaders SESAR JU plays a crucial role in shaping the future of aviation fostering the integration of Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) and U-Space solutions into European airspace EUROCONTROL is an intergovernmental organization with 41 Member States and the European Union dedicated to supporting European aviation through seamless and efficient air traffic management As a key coordinator and technical partner EUROCONTROL works closely with national authorities and performance across the European air traffic network EUROCONTROL ensures the smooth operation of Europe’s skies by optimizing air traffic flow and minimizing disruptions ENAIRE is Spain’s national air navigation service provider responsible for managing over 2.2 million flights annually through its five control centers and an extensive network of navigation aids As a state-owned company under the Ministry of Transport and Sustainable Mobility ENAIRE plays a crucial role in ensuring the safety and sustainability of air traffic in Spain and beyond located on Spain’s eastern Mediterranean coast is one of Europe’s most renowned tourist destinations the city has evolved into a hub for tourism With its commitment to sustainable development and smart city initiatives Benidorm is positioning itself as a leader in urban innovation and mobility solutions makes it an ideal location for pioneering projects in Urban Air Mobility and next-generation transportation systems Benidorm continues to attract global attention as it embraces new technologies to enhance urban living and mobility for residents and visitors alike IT was the cheeky comedy that depicted the naughty Starring big names including Tim Healy and Sherrie Hewson Benidorm earned a cult following before it was brutally axed in 2018 The Sun has been told ITV bosses have had multiple secret meetings with show writer Derren Litten to bring it back for an 11th series An insider told us it has yet to be commissioned but producers are currently reaching out to Benidorm's big names to confirm they will appear letting slip on a podcast: “Benidorm is coming back.” Insiders tell us it's down to the show getting a new lease of life since being added to ITVX streaming service which means it's reached a whole new generation of fans A lot has happened to stars of Benidorm in the long seven years since the show was dropped by TV bosses including some who swapped Solana and Neptunes Bar for the likes of Asda and Corrie including one actor whose heart stopped before they made a miraculous recovery romantic drama and surprising twists - here we take a look at what happened to the stars next Johnny Vegas amassed quite a fortune during his career thanks to Benidorm and BBC's Home From Home He is said to be worth around £8million through his acting career and endorsements It's a far cry from his character Geoff "The Oracle" Maltby on Benidorm Johnny left the series in 2010 after a reported falling out with the show creator - which they both denied - but he returned to the role in 2015 In a four-part series Johnny sets out to open his very own glamping site and travels around the UK in his camper van He's continued to appear in TV shows - and is set to voice Mr Twit in animated film adaptation of Roald Dahl's legendary kids' book and also Giro in the upcoming Wombles Movie Tim hit headlines when he fell out with his ex Denise Welch over comments she made about their sex life on Loose Women Her remarks clearly didn't go down well with her ex who she shares two sons with - 1975 frontman Matt and actor Louis Denise and Tim were married between 1988 and 2012 Denise and Tim have always insisted they've remained close friends and have even spent Christmas together with their other halves nearly died while filming the ninth series of Benidorm after being struck down by a mystery illness Show writer Derren Litten revealed he was in a coma in a Spanish hospital after an operation "didn't go well at all" they had to resuscitate him," the writer said "He was in intensive care for a month." Tim was eventually airlifted to the UK and credits his son's album which was "on a loop" for several days "After a few days I started smiling and then I came round - so my son’s music brought me back to the land of the living,” he told The Mirror appeared in TV show Still Open All Hours until 2019 and most recently was the narrator of a short film titled You Are Not Alone before becoming a huge star both in the UK and the States She starred as Septa Unella in one season of Game of Thrones before landing the role of Sofia in the Netflix smash Sex Education and playing Rebecca Welton in the US hit Ted Lasso for which she won a best actress award in 2021 who first found fame as a lead in Spamalot last year's Eurovision and Prince William’s Earthshot Prize The mum-of-one - who shares 10-year-old Kitty with ex Gianluca Cugnetto - prevoiusly opened up about a health scare which saw her daughter hospitalised with a rare auto immmune condition after falling ill She was in the hospital for a while with them not knowing what it was,” she said adding that Kitty was “doing much better now.” Hannah has also revealed she keeps her Emmy award in her daughter's bedroom to remind her that "mummy will only ever be away when it's for a really was the only Spanish character in the regular cast he frequently caused problems for the guests at the fictional Solana resort He was on the show since it started but there's much more to him than just playing a sleazy cocktail maker When filming ended he reprised the role in the stage adaptation Benidorm Live and later won a lead role in a theatre production of Aladdin In 2019 Benidorm creator Derren Litten cast him in his series Scarborough and a year later, he auditioned for Dancing on Ice but failed to make the cast Jake is offering personalised videos to fans through online website Memmo in exchange for cash He said: "I hear Mateo is doing a lot of skiving off work to send personalised video messages directly from the Costa Blanca." The actor has also had stints in pantomimes and appeared in the TV show Grace last year Actress Siobhan Finneran played the long-suffering mum of The Garvey family Siobhan appeared in six series of Benidorm as the lovable Janice before leaving in 2015 Her most acclaimed role is that of Sarah O'Brien in period drama Downton Abbey The actress appeared in the lotto-based drama The Syndicate and appeared in two series of Happy Valley as Claire Cartwright Siobhan also starred in the acclaimed The Moorside Cold Feet and popular Sean Bean crime drama Time The 58-year-old has two children with ex-husband Mark Jordan Steve Pemberton is one of the most recognisable faces on the British comedy circuit - and is best known for starring in The League of Gentlemen and Benidorm The 57-year-old appeared in six series of Benidorm as Mick Garvey and the work-shy dad frequently clashed with his sharp-tongued mother-in-law Madge - played by Sheila Reid Steve also co-wrote and appeared in the sitcom Psychoville and the comedy-drama Inside No 9 – for which he won a Bafta in 2019 He recently played Robbie Williams's miscreant father in the biopic Better Man and has made cameo appearances in Amazon series Good Omens Other shows he's appeared in include Doctor Who In February 2018 he appeared on Benidorm Ten Years On Holiday to talk about his time on the show He lives in London with partner Alison Rowles and their three children Janine Duvitski and Kenny Ireland were central characters who played fun-loving swingers Donald and Jacqueline Stewart Writers marked Donald's death in the show with Jacqueline scattering her husband's ashes over the cliffside in Benidorm Janine has stepped away from the limelight in recent years but starred in acclaimed Little Joe in 2019 She now enjoys spending time with her four kids with her actor husband Paul Bentall and her daughter Edith is making waves as the lead singer of the London pop group Fours Hannah Hobley's life has taken a rather dramatic and different turn who played Chantelle 'Telle' Garvey has barely been seen on screen and since 2017 has been more focused on pantomimes The last was in Beauty and the Beast in 2022 and it's believed she has since become a full-time parent to daughter Beatrice The little girl was born in November that year She shared a series of sweet snaps on her Instagram and said the little girl was "well and truly worth the wait" added: “@nathrichsmith and I would like to proudly introduce you all to our daughter Hannah starred in the 2007 period drama Cranford played beloved Benidorm star Kenneth DuBeke His career started when he landed a role in the film in 1998 where he played the part of Stefan Kiszko Since then he has starred in many TV shows including Doc Martin He has also starred in films including Sleepy Hollow where he played Van Ripper and Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix Corrie fans will now recognise Tony as kind undertaker George Shuttleworth is best known for playing the chain-smoking Madge Harvey Since then she’s had roles on Channel 4’s Humans and BBC’s Doctors she was an original member of the Royal National Theatre in 1963 She played Bianca in the National's 1965 film version of Othello Her other film appearances include Brazil (1985) The Winter Guest (1997) and Containment (2015) Sheila also starred in a BBC Christmas special of Call the Midwife The Cleaner and has a long-running role in TV show Big Boys Oliver Stokes played teenager Michael Garvey in the ITV comedy He is now all grown up and has a son of his own who the proud dad often shares photos of on Instagram The 26-year-old has since enjoyed roles on soaps Doctors and Casualty but his day job seems to be working at luxury caravan manufacturer Victory Leisure Homes in Yorkshire who describes himself as a "Mountain walker & outdoor enthusiast" has climbed 131 of the 214 Wainwright Peaks Benidorm’s bar singer Asa Elliott quit TV to become an ASDA delivery driver when his acting work dried up over lockdown played the singer at the Solana Hotel from 2010 to 2014 before joining the cast of Benidorm Live in 2018 to 2019 Asa became a delivery driver after the pandemic cancelled his singing jobs on cruise ships in March - just two weeks after the birth of his first child The singer delivered shopping to Hull residents with some superfans spotting who was giving them their goods he played Prince Charming in Cinderella in panto in Stockton-on-Tees and continues to perform in threatres Asa and wife Natalie welcomed their son Buddy in March 2020 and a little girl called Rockie in 2022 Former Coronation Street star Sherrie Hewson played manager Joyce Temple-Savage since series five and says men always mistake her for her character Joyce thought she was absolutely sensational and that everyone else was as common as muck was a regular on Loose Women between 2003 and 2017 and last year joined Channel 4 soap Hollyoaks Single Sherrie tried her hand at online dating - but was terrified by the results Sherrie said: “I really don't understand that kind of explicit enjoyment that people get out of knowing what shock you'd have on your face because it's an explicit picture of a penis I haven't seen one of those in 15 years.'" By Felicity Cross and Jess Lester FORGET about the rapidly increasing temperatures outside because Spring seems to be kicking off with some cracking TV From unmissable reality shows and crime flicks and documentaries The Sun's TV team give their top picks: Read Felicity and Jess's full recommendations here © NEWS ENTERPRISES, INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED | TERMS OF USE | PRIVACY | YOUR AD CHOICES | SITEMAP Joseph McManus, 42 and from Dingle, died after collapsing in Benidorm(Image: Supplied)A devoted Everton fan and beloved father has died after collapsing in Benidorm was remembered by his friend Lee Beck as a "big cuddly bear" who "loved all his kids made a spur-of-the-moment decision to join the holiday after others pulled out last minute Lee, also 42, and a lifelong friend since their nursery days, said that Joseph had only been in Benidorm for a few hours before the tragic incident. Efforts are now underway by Joseph's family to raise funds to repatriate him, with a GoFundMe set up Joseph McManus, pictured with his son and dad. The 42-year-old died after collapsing on holiday in Benidorm.(Image: Supplied)In an emotional tribute to the Liverpool Echo on Sunday Lee expressed: "Everyone loved Joseph He was always smiling and was a big entertainer." He was always stopping people in the street and asking them how they were Joseph's love for football knew no bounds Lee also mentioned his friends love of boxing and UFC often seen enjoying himself in Back to the Dock's hardcore room The community is left reeling from the untimely loss of Joseph with his family feeling the brunt of the tragic absence as Lee ssaid: "Joseph's mum keeps saying it's not real His friends and family are raising funds to fly his body home(Image: Supplied)‌Joseph was known for his kindness at work with DHL at Jaguar Land Rover in Halewood where he was thoroughly adored by his mates heartfelt tributes have flooded in honouring his memory One colleague penned: "Joe was everyone's mate in JLR An absolutely quality lad who had time for everyone Devastating news for his family and friends He will be missed greatly by everyone who knew him." Another pal posted: "Can't believe this someone else mentioned: "Gutted to hear this while another added: "What a man...one true gent Current efforts focus on bringing Joseph home from Benidorm with a crowdfunding page set up to support his loved ones and repatriate his body to Liverpool surging past £8,000 in donations so far Lee reflected on the kind gestures: "We just need to get him home The fundraiser has already had more donations than we thought It shows how well thought of he was." For the latest breaking news and stories from across the globe from the Daily Star, sign up for our newsletter by clicking here. We recap the latest in American bike racing from the past two weeks (January 7-21) (January 19) – US Junior women took advantage of a dry earning two top-10 finishes and the best showing by Americans for the day.  Lidia Cusack (CXD Trek Bikes) placed 4th and Alyssa Sarkisov (CXD Trek Bikes) was 9th in the junior women’s race This was Cusack’s fourth top-10 finish in five UCI World Cup races this season including a victory in Dublin on December 1 Cusack is the reigning junior women’s CX national champion and currently stands fourth in the UCI World Cup Overall rankings with two more races left in the series who placed 2nd behind Cusack in the CX National Championships has two top-10 finishes in the past three World Cup junior races Next up for the cyclocross team is the Hoogerheide World Cup on January 26 then onto the World Championships January 31 – February 2 Complete results here (January 17-19) – Chloé Dygert (CANYON/SRAM/zondacrypto) and Ruth Edwards (Human Powered Health) kicked off the women’s pro road racing season in Australia at the three-day Santos Tour Down Under.  Dygert won Stage 3 with a perfect leadout from teammate Neve Bradbury to score the sprint win Edwards was 4th on Stage 3 and 9th overall on GC The two Americans will stay in Australia and compete in a week at the Schwalbe One Day Classic.  Complete results here Bowie State University Launches New Cycling Team: A Pathway to Progress and Community Impact Recognized by the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee and the Union Cycliste Internationale USA Cycling is the official governing body for all disciplines of competitive cycling in the United States View Children's Online Privacy Protection Policy Eli Iserbyt and Lars van der Haar round out podium ahead of Wout van Aert Nys attacks Michael Vanthourenhout (Pauwels Sauzen-Cibel Clementines)(Image credit: Getty Images)Van Aert on the move(Image credit: Getty Images)Thibau Nys (Baloise Glowi Lions) scored a solo win at the ninth round of the UCI Cyclocross World Cup in Benidorm converting a final lap acceleration into his fifth victory of the 2024-25 season It was the last lap of eight which proved the most decisive of the race with the majority of the hour-long contest seeing a large group of favourites battling at the front Nys and Eli Iserbyt (Pauwels Sauzen-Cibel Clementines) moved clear midway through the lap before Nys launched Iserbyt would eventually lead the chase and salvage second place at three seconds down, while the podium was rounded out by Lars van der Haar (Baloise Glowi Lions) ahead of Wout van Aert (Visma-Lease A Bike) and World Cup leader Michael Vanthourenhout (Pauwels Sauzen-Cibel Clementines) "Everything is falling together in the right pieces the right legs a the right moment," Nys said after the race "I think Wout missed his start completely because he had to start quite far back Thee pace never really dropped completely in the front group so that made it really hard for him to come back and I think we really profited from that in the final "Everyone knows you need to go up the last climb at full gas It's an effort that suits me really good and when I'm in the right place on a course like this then It was Niels Vandeputte (Alpecin-Deceuninck) who led the way at the very start Spanish champion Felipe Orts (Ridley Racing) The Spaniard took over midway through the lap while behind him lay a string of favourites led by Pauwels Sauzen-Cibel Clementines pairing Iserbyt an Vanthourenhout Van Aert was working his way through the field from his lower starting slot There was no separation at the front heading into lap two with Iserbyt leading Orts on the front and the biggest names strung out in single file behind as the top 20 packed into 10 seconds of separation Van Aert was up to 11th by the end of the lap with the big moves still yet to come during the eight-lap race Lap three did bring some separation among the leaders with the top 12 going clear by the end of the third lap Orts and Vanthourenhout led the way ahead of Vandeputte Baloise Glowi Lions duo Van der Haar and Pim Ronhaaar Swiss champion Kevin Kuhn (Charles Liégeois Roastery) and French champion Clément Venturini (Arkéa-B&B Hotels) The Pauwels Sauzen pairing retained control on the front on lap four while at the rear Aerts and Kuhn would drop away Vandeputte and Venturini at the rear of the 10-man selection Lap five brought little change in the situation as Iserbyt and Vanthourenhout kept the pace up however as the group swelled in the early stages of lap six including Emiel Verstrynge (Crelan-Corendon) who moved up to lead the way partway through the lap 40 minutes in and nearing the end of lap six taking Iserbyt with him as the pair jumped away at the front The pair built up a lead of seven seconds to start the penultimate lap as first Vandeputte and then Van Aert took up the chase ahead of a slimmed-down chase group which also included Nys The seven-second lead evaporated once Van Aert started chasing with the Belgian bringing the group across before Iserbyt and Vanthourenhout wrested control at the front once again The eight leaders hit the final lap with Iserbyt on the front and Nieuwenhuis hanging at the rear as the likes of Venturini and Verstrynge lurked a handful of seconds further back Iserbyt and Nys pushed on at the front in a mid-lap bid for victory spurring Van Aert into action in the chase with Van der Haar and Vanthourenhout behind The lead duo pulled out a small gap heading into the final big ramp while just after that obstacle it was Nys who put in a stinging acceleration to push past Iserbyt and lead solo The Belgian kept on the pressure in the latter stages of the final lap ensuring that none of the select group behind could get back on to contest a closing sprint showing his form two weeks ahead of the World Championships while Iserbyt and Van der Haar led the chase group home Home fans could celebrate a sixth place for Orts Vanthourenhout continued in the World Cup lead heading into the final two rounds of the 2024-25 season He lies on 231 points to second-placed Toon Aerts' 198 Results powered by FirstCycling Dani has reported from the world's top races She has interviewed many of the sport's biggest stars and her favourite races are the Giro d'Italia Be one of the first to try our new activity feed Fem Van Empel continues her Benidorm run of success Thibau Nys and Fem van Empel sent warnings to their rivals two weeks before the world championships, with the duo victorious at the Benidorm World Cup on Sunday Van Empel’s victory came down to a two-up sprint with World Cup leader Lucinda Brand with Brand recovering from a slow start to do much of the driving in the second half of the race but ultimately lacked the same punch in the final 100 meters Nys’ victory Sunday was in ways reminiscent of the surging victories he clocked up on the road last year The Belgian is capable of a superb turn of speed on short to medium climbs and he utilized that ability to perfection Sunday He put in a huge surge the final time up the course’s road climb opening a gap of several seconds and then maintaining that advantage to the finish “Finally everything is slowly falling into the right place,” he said “Everyone knows you have to go the last climb full gas It is the effort that suits me really well and when I am in the right place on a course like this I can finish it off.” Van Aert also has a huge kick but was disadvantaged Sunday by having to start a long way back in the grid That’s because he has done far fewer cyclocross races than his rivals and left him with a lot of work to do to reach the front Iserbyt and his Pauwels Sauzen – Cibel Clementines teammate Michael Vanthourenhout did all they could to make that task even tougher Vanthourenhout is leading the World Cup and his teammate was willing to help him in that aim In the beginning I kept the pace high for Michael that he could be in a very good position as today was really important for his classification,” Iserbyt said With Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Deceuninck) not competing Sunday Van Aert was the biggest name on the start line He chased hard and gradually passed rider after rider but it wasn’t until the penultimate lap when he looked to be in the running for possible victory He dragged the reduced group up to Iserbyt and Lars van der Haar (Baloise Glowi Lions) after they gained several seconds Van Aert hit the front for the first time on the same road climb where Nys would ultimately make his big move but Iserbyt and Vanthourenhout put in big attacks to stop him dictating the race “I didn’t feel really fresh,” he said after the race “It took really long for me to get to the front group I had a bad start and there I felt already it wasn’t my day So in the final laps I had to gamble for one good acceleration but Thibau was stronger on the final lap “On the second last lap I had to close a gap to Iserbyt and Van der Haar already From then on I didn’t have a clear plan any more “But I started too far behind Thibau [the final time up the road climb – ed.] and I saw him going away Nys recognized the difficulty for his big rival “I think Wout missed his start completely because he had to start quite far back The pace never really dropped completely in the front group so that made it really hard for him to come back “I think we profited from that in the final.” Results powered by FirstCycling.com Fem Van Empel (Visma-Lease a Bike) continued her unbeaten run in Benidorm She landed victory for the third year in a row at the end of a fast The Visma-Lease a Bike rider outsprinted Lucinda Brand (Baloise Glowi Lions) at the end of the six laps with those two riders clearly the strongest Marie Schreiber (Team SD Worx-Protime) was third with Marianne Vos (Visma-Lease a Bike) fourth at four seconds and Blanka Vas (Team SD Worx-Protime) fifth Van Empel pushed the pace from the start and while other riders did lead at times with Brand in particular prominent in the second half of the race The crowd is amazing here and with the little kids During the start I was focused and I think I was in first and second position the whole race Brand is known as being a powerful diesel and often has a slower start than the other riders That left her under pressure when Van Empel pushed the pace early on The World Cup leader was a long way down the line of riders and was slightly delayed on lap three when she was squeezed between two others on a bend She realized the danger of being so far back and fought her way to the front soon afterwards From there she was the big threat to Van Empel forcing the pace on several occasions and putting rivals such as Ceylin Alvarado (Alpecin-Deceuninck) into trouble Schreiber was riding strongly and unleashed a big effort halfway around the final lap Van Empel covered the move but the surge in pace saw Marianne Vos dropped However the eight time world cyclocross champion clawed her way back into contention Brand was the only rider able to stay with her and gave it everything noting it was her first time on the podium in Benidorm “Fem just could run a little faster over the barriers and then it is really hard to get over again,” she said With just two rounds remaining Brand has a strong lead in the World Cup with Van Empel on 234 and Zoe Bäckstedt (Canyon-SRAM Zondacrypto) on 194 Schreiber and Vas are on 188 and 183 respectively She smiled when asked if it was looking good for the overall title of the World Cup Vanthourenhout is also looking a clear favorite for the men’s competition a solid advantage over Toon Aerts (Deschacht-Hens-FSP) but his form seems to be on the up for the worlds Results powered by FirstCycling.com What’s it like to be an American cyclist living in France Watch to get professional road cyclist Joe Dombrowski’s view Hundreds of people of all ages tour the streets of the city on a festive and healthy day Benidorm celebrated the 40th annual "Bicycle Day," an event organised by the Department of Sports which has become a landmark event in the city's sports and leisure calendar and adults—began to gather at Foietes Park the starting point for this event that unites sport covering approximately 7.2 kilometres along the avenues Rey Jaime I after a stop in between to regroup the peloton refreshments were provided to the participants and the traditional bicycle raffle was held the most anticipated moment of the morning who participated in the race along with other colleagues from the company The activity took place in an atmosphere marked by joy and the promotion of bicycle use as a sustainable and healthy means of transportation that is especially suited to the urban layout of Benidorm Concert by the UMB Symphony Orchestra to commemorate the 700… El Campo-Plaza de España Neighborhood Association celebrates… The Departure of the Pilgrims marks the conclusion of the Tr… Links to contact the Benidorm City Council All interesting links a click away +34 96 681 54 00 Telephone Numbers Follow us on our social networks Contact form incidencias@benidorm.org Communication FEDER Funds Electronic office Appointment Bulletin Board Booking Books To obtain more information on our cookies policy click here if you wish to reject their use or configure your browser Hundreds of residents have participated in the procession that has toured the old town Benidorm celebrated the traditional Festival of the Holy Face this Thursday one of the most deeply rooted events in the local festival calendar the Church of Sant Jaume i Santa Anna hosted a mass attended by a large municipal representation led by the First Deputy Mayor Also present were the 2025 Queen and Child Queens Paula Pascual and Aitana Pérez; the President of the Commission Susana Martínez; and the President of Verge del Sofratge Penyes Association to the rhythm of the Xirimiters de la Marina which toured the old town to finally pray at the small altar dedicated to the Holy Face which is set up each year on the street that bears its name the Santa Faz Festival Committee invited participants to taste the typical anise and mistela rolls Application period open for places in Benidorm municipal nur… Mobility extends the traffic cut to the intersection with Be… The 4th Microteatro Festival arrives at l'Hort de Colón… The Culture Department is programming an inclusive play in B… To allow all cookies, click on the “Accept” button. Otherwise, if you wish to reject their use or configure your browser, click on “Change settings”. Notifications can be managed in browser preferences. Loved ones of father-of-four Nathan Osman say Spanish authorities did not investigate attempts to use his bank cards the day after he died The family of a father who died during a Benidorm holiday last year are flying to Spain as they ‘fight for answers’ about the hours before his death Father-of-four Nathan Osman, 30, died after falling 200 metres off a remote cliff on the outskirts of Benidorm, less than a day after arriving and meeting friends in September, an inquest previously heard. But his family is still searching for answers as they say Spanish authorities failed to investigate attempts to use his bank cards the day after his death Spanish authorities will meet with the family who are worried others were involved in Mr Osman’s death Mr Osman’s brother Lee Evans and sister Alannah were due to fly to Benidorm Sunday to speak to police and hand over evidence they have gathered themselves The siblings said tracing Mr Osman’s known movements suggested he had been on a video call with a friend before his phone ran out of charge The family also identified him on public CCTV on a promenade and that he did not appear to be significantly intoxicated Owners of CCTV footage from other premises have said they will not hand over recordings without a request from the Spanish authorities "We've been totally abandoned," Mr Evans told the BBC "There's been zero investigation and we are fighting for answers." Benidorm’s police have not yet responded to The Independent’s request for comment arrived in Benidorm on 27 September for a last-minute trip with his friends Less than 24 hours after arriving and spending time with his friends he said he would walk back to his hotel room to rest because he was tired His body was found later that day by an off-duty policeman at the foot of the cliff Mr Evans said that his brother would not have gone alone to the remote location which was in the opposite direction to his hotel adding that it would take an hour to walk there "We strongly believe he was taken up there whether it was by taxi or against his own will And something has happened for him to be found where he was found." Alannah said they received an “empty” police file in which the case was “closed” Mr Osman’s father Jonathan added: "They've done nothing It's just a total disregard for his life in every kind of way." The family claim their repeated enquiries into the investigation’s progress has been met with silence Not knowing about that last hour or two before his death A GoFundMe page has been launched to help return Mr Osman to Wales for a funeral. A British Foreign Office spokesperson said: “We are supporting the family of a British man who has died in Spain and are in contact with the local authorities.” Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies {"adUnitPath":"71347885/_main_independent/in_news/in_world/image/gallery_mpu_sb","autoGallery":true,"disableAds":false,"gallery":[{"data":{"title":"Nathan Osman","description":"Nathan Osman\n\nhttps://www.gofundme.com/f/nathan-osman-cherished-father-son-brother-and-friend","caption":"Nathan Osman died less than 24 hours after meeting friends on a holiday in Benidorm Nathan Osman died less than 24 hours after meeting friends on a holiday in Benidorm THE family of a man found dead on a Benidorm beach this week have paid heartbreaking tributes Jeff Duffield's body was discovered washed up on the Spanish shore on Wednesday His family shared the news of his tragic death on social media One family member posted in a Facebook group that "we have unfortunately found out that Jeff has passed away "Thank you for all your lovely comments and please allow my mam the privacy she deserves "Not the usual happy post I imagine this group is used to so I apologise." An appeal had previously been put out in the same group while the search for Jeff was underway. His wife had posted the urgent appeal to help find Jeff. She shared: "My husband Jeff Duffield has been missing in Benidorm since 12.30 23/04/2025. It comes after a man's body was found washed up on a beach in Benidorm earlier in the week A force spokesperson said that the body belonged to a white male They said at the time: "We can confirm that a body was found on a beach in Benidorm last night "The individual has not been identified as there was no ID on his person." Cops provided no further details at the time as they focused on trying to identify the body A police source has since said: "There's nothing at this stage pointing to this tragic death being suspicious or the result of a crime." The Sun understands the UK Foreign Office was not approached for assistance The tragedy comes amid a surge in crime and gang activity on the Costa Blanca Tourists are warned by police to be on the lookout for gangs in the area - who often target holidaymakers One particular street, dubbed "Muggers Alley" A dad-of-two from Belfast, John George, was killed in the region in December last year Jonny Smyth was arrested in Portugal last month over his death WATCH: Britons could be hit with new restrictions in Spain as Palma proposes crackdown on tourists A body has been found washed up on a beach in British holiday favourite Benidorm The unidentified corpse was found by Spanish National Police on Wednesday Authorities in Alicante have confirmed the discovery - but have released limited details as they work to identify the individual A spokesman for the Alicante force confirmed what little identity details were currently available "We can confirm that a body was found on a beach in Benidorm last night," he said "The individual has not been identified as there was no ID on his person," he added - but noted the body was that of a white man The spokesman added that authorities could not provide further information at this stage The gruesome discovery comes as local authorities grapple with increasing criminal activity in the region a bullet-riddled corpse was reportedly found in nearby Rojales 'The individual has not been identified as there was no ID on his person,' police said - but noted the body was that of a white man The Costa Blanca has experienced what officials describe as an "explosion of crime" in recent months The region's growing appeal among criminal networks has led to increased illegal activity - drug traffickers have established a significant presence in the area sparking a rise in associated criminal behaviour petty theft and street crime have all seen notable increases Benidorm has also earned an unfortunate nickname - "Narcos capital of the Costa Blanca" - due to a surge in drug crime CCTV footage from the holiday hotspot has recently emerged showing visitors being stopped and pick-pocketed by women in Benidorm The mugging is said to centre around an area outside the Magic Villa de Benidorm - which sits right next to the local tourist police station British visitors have also reported violent encounters with security staff at venues required a CT scan after allegedly being attacked by doormen His wife Tegan told The Sun: "They were like a pack of wolves with poles and pepper spray" - just because she was holding a drink from another establishment This afternoon there will be the blessing of the cross Casa de Andalucía in Benidorm celebrated the traditional Fiesta de la Cruz de Mayo today a festival that commemorates the discovery of the Holy Cross by Saint Helena and marks the beginning of the spring season bringing together residents and members in a festive atmosphere steeped in symbolism the members of the Casa de Andalucía enjoyed a day of fellowship and along with other members of the municipality and the regional representative who joined the President of the Casa de Andalucía and the rest of the members in the celebration with the blessing of the Cross by the parish priest of La Almudena Musical performances and dancing will follow this and the floral offering will take place just as night falls the most delicious moment of the day will arrive with a tasting of typical Andalusian tapas and the closing celebrations Fiesta de la Cruz de Mayo is one of the most anticipated celebrations for the large Andalusian community in Benidorm and an excellent opportunity to enjoy the culture of this region of Spain Benidorm celebrates the traditional Festa de la Creu with en… Brits are struggling to find food while holidaying in south-west Europe(Image: AFP via Getty Images)Starving Brits are struggling to find food in Benidorm amid the massive power outages across Europe Portugal and France as major blackouts have left millions without access to electricity while supermarkets and banks have closed “Not sure if you’ve seen the news… we’re in Benidorm. There’s a massive power outage,” said Brit tourist Dean Griffin in Benidorm as he panned across to a barricaded supermarket while recording a video posted to Facebook phone lines are down,” a woman’s voice can be heard in the background saying Dean Griffin documented his experience out in Benidorm, Spain(Image: Facebook/DeanJ1002)Portuguese energy company REN (Rede Eletrica Nacional) has put out a statement saying: "due to extreme temperature variations in the interior or Spain, there were anomalous oscillations in the very high voltage lines (400 KV), a phenomenon known as 'induced atmospheric vibration'". It added: "These oscillations caused synchronisation failures between the electrical systems, leading to successive disturbances across the interconnected European network." Europe is in the grip of chaos as a spate of power outages plunges parts of Spain, Portugal and France into darkness, causing widespread mayhem and trapping a British woman in a lift for over an hour. Madrid, Seville, Lisbon and the Brit-favourite hotspot Benidorm have all been hit hard, with blackouts leaving millions fumbling for their phone torches and candles. The usually buzzing bars of Benidorm are struggling to keep the fun going, unable to cool drinks, heat grub or process payments. The roads of Benidorm were full of police cars and ambulances (Image: Facebook/DeanJ1002)One holidaymaker's sunny Spanish escapade took a claustrophobic turn when she was stuck in an elevator amidst soaring temperatures, venting her frustrations on Facebook by exclaiming: "We're stuck in a lift in Benidorm!". She finally escaped the ordeal, later jubilantly posting: "YAY! We got rescued! Going for a very large drink now to calm the nerves". The blackout also crippled major airports including Madrid's Barajas International Airport and Lisbon's Humberto Delgado, stalling operations and communications, while other European airports faced similar disruptions. Transport networks in the region have ground to a halt, with many passengers stuck in metro tunnels in Madrid and Lisbon. Hospitals have also been plunged into darkness, forcing some to postpone operations. Meanwhile, Jet2 has warned Brits heading to the region to expect delays and plan their journeys carefully. In a statement, the airline said: "We have been made aware of an electrical power outage affecting Mainland Spain and Portugal. "It may take longer than normal to get to the airport due to this, so please ensure you leave plenty of time to reach the airport. Our teams are closely monitoring the impact of this, and should anything change, we will provide further updates here." queens of Benidorm fiestas and neighbors gather to pay tribute with flowers with the ringing of bells at San Jaime and Santa Ana church authorities and fiestas organisations marched in procession accompanied by the Xirimiters de la Marina participated in the ceremony along with other members of the municipal council Also present were the regional representative José Ramón González de Zárate Representatives from the Commission for Major Patron Festivities and the Association of Verge del Sofratge Penyes decorated with flowers by the Commission members of Festa de la Cruz was the stage where the child Ulises Bernabéu recited the traditional verse was received with emotion by all those present After the blessing and the reading of the verse the procession moved to Sant Jaume i Santa Anna church where the flower offering took place and the Eucharist was celebrated Festa de la Cruz is one of Benidorm's oldest and most deeply rooted traditions when the first wooden cross was built to mark the boundary of the municipality The Andalusian House in Benidorm celebrates Cross of May Fes… You currently use an outdated internet browser. You can upgrade to a modern browser or use the Google Chrome Frame to optimize your viewing experience Benidorm witnessed a groundbreaking moment in urban air mobility hosting the first simultaneous flight in Europe of an air taxi and drones in a real urban setting with three U-Space service providers ensuring a safe and efficient operation The skies over Poniente and Levante beaches became the stage for this pioneering aerial demonstration coordinated by the Universitat Politècnica de València (UPV) as part of the European U-ELCOME project an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) for passenger transport developed by EHang successfully flew alongside 12 drones performing a variety of simulated operations The entire operation was monitored and managed through advanced digital platforms within the European U-space framework ensuring flight safety and operational efficiency A European Milestone in UAM This large-scale demonstration is part of the U-ELCOME project (CEF-T-2021-SIMOBGEN-SESAR-DSDU-WORKS) which brings together 51 partners from Spain The goal of the project is to integrate and validate Europe's first U-space services which will manage drone air traffic in urban environments Several large-scale test flights are being conducted in Spain Key Stakeholders Speak on the Future of Air Mobility Israel Quintanilla Director of the Official Drone Commission at Universitat Politècnica de València (UPV) and project coordinator for the Valencian region highlighted the significance of this event: "The first urban flight of the EH216-S air taxi in Europe is a crucial step towards Urban Air Mobility (UAM) This milestone will accelerate the development of regulations and infrastructure necessary to make air taxis a reality within this decade Efficient airspace management for multi-drone flights will be key to success." Benidorm has been selected as one of the first European cities to test urban drone applications and is on track to become a leader in this sector emphasized the city’s commitment to aerial innovation: "In 2016 we became the first city in Spain to integrate drones into our police operations we have continued to consolidate our leadership in this emerging sector By hosting Europe’s first air taxi test flight Benidorm is once again pioneering the future of urban air mobility." Victoria Jing Xiang also underscored the significance of this event: "The successful operation of our EH216-S aircraft in coordination with multiple drones under a U-Space system proves the feasibility of safe and sustainable urban air mobility solutions We are proud to contribute our technology to the U-ELCOME project and to collaborate with the city of Benidorm and UPV to advance the future of aerial transportation." Shaping the Future of Urban Air Mobility According to Gonzalo Alonso Head of Commercial & International Business Development at ENAIRE and leader of the Spanish cluster of U-ELCOME: "For the first time we have safely operated multiple drones and an air taxi under a U-space digital system with several U-Space Service Providers (USSPs) The integration of passenger transport air taxis into urban airspace must meet the same safety standards as commercial aviation We are undergoing a major digital transformation that will enable unmanned air taxi operations alongside traditional aviation." Today's demonstration marks a major step toward the realization of urban air mobility in Europe air taxis could soon become a common sight in the skies above our cities The Road to Air Taxi Integration in Cities The U-ELCOME project is a key initiative for the safe integration of drones into European urban environments using U-space services The goal is to lay the groundwork for smarter What remains before we see air taxis operating in cities several challenges still need to be addressed and public acceptance: A specific regulatory framework for air taxis is currently under development in Europe such as vertiports (landing and takeoff zones for air taxis) urban planning must adapt to accommodate this new mode of transport Uspace air traffic management systems must ensure safe and coordinated drone flights and public perception and acceptance of drones and air taxis need to improve Key Participants and Collaboration This aerial demonstration led by Universitat Politècnica de València (UPV) was made possible through public-private collaboration Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB) National and local security forces,including Alicante’s National Police responsible for aerial drone footage U-ELCOME PROJECT The U-ELCOME project was launched in 2022 with funding from the European Climate Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency (CINEA) in cooperation with the SESAR 3 Joint Undertaking as one of its flagship Digital Sky Demonstrators (DSDs) Drones have the potential to greatly support Europe's shift towards a green and digital economy and environmental concerns while creating a sustainable economic environment for the growth of the European drone industry is crucial U-space services and smart traffic management solutions will be key in enabling drone operations and reaching the necessary high level of integration with Air Traffic Management (ATM) U-ELCOME is a 3-year SESAR Digital Sky Demonstrator project involving 51 partners whose overall aim is to support the market uptake of U1 and U2 services With demonstrations taking place in three European countries the project aims to develop interoperability and support EU harmonisation of U-space services Taking into consideration the various U-Space actors and stakeholders this project values collaboration and information-sharing Join us to find out more about the research project and what activities are planned and how the project hopes to make U-space a European reality.  Lydia DoyeLaurence DollimorePublished: Invalid Date A BRIT groom-to-be died in front of his family and friends after a suspected heart attack in Benidorm told how the Brit from Halifax - who has not been named - suddenly fell backwards off a bar stool and hit his head on the ground Luciano said: "I was doing CPR with the help of another customer he was responsive for around 60 seconds and then there was nothing "We tried for around 15 minutes before the ambulance arrived then they took over and worked on him for another 45 "They gave him a shot of adrenaline and connected him to a machine Luciano added: "The guy and his fiancé were due to get married in May "The father said he had already had a heart attack in England five years ago when he was 24." Holidaymaker Tracey Pilling was walking by the bar when the incident unfolded on March 22. "We moved on as we felt it was inappropriate to stand and watch but we were told his friends were all standing outside." Tracey recalled searching the internet the next day to see if there were any reported updates She appealed for any updates on a Benidorm forum One witness responded to the post: "It was such a horrible and tragic thing to witness "I can’t stop thinking about him and his wife-to-be and I’m sure his friends and family said he had a young boy Spain's National Police said: "We can confirm that a man suffered some type of medical problem and died at the scene "He was treated by those present at the premises and then by the paramedics who responded to the call "The medical causes of the death are unknown." The Brit's shocking death came just days before Welsh engineer Jason Taylor vanished from Alicante airport The man was found and reunited with his family after three days But there are still a number of unanswered questions about the case Spanish reports claimed he was found by an influencer but his family insisted "they are lying" and asked people to "ignore the rumours that will be going around." The case was widely shared on social media, including TikTok pages dedicated to "true crime" When asked what happened and whether Jason was okay his wife Maria Taylor simply said: "It’s all good The National Police did not confirm either version of events when asked how Jason was found but said he was located in "good health" The force said: "Jason was found near Alicante Airport. His family took him in. He was in good health The popular British sitcom is rumoured to be making a comeback Radio Times understands ITV has not officially commissioned a return yet but star Sherrie Hewson recently addressed the possibility on the Best's Suddenly Single podcast stating: \"There is this thing that it's coming back though That would be wonderful because we all miss it desperately.\" Hewson played the Solana Hotel's often lovelorn manager just two months before it won Best Comedy at the TV Choice Awards Creator Derren Litten said in his acceptance speech: \"This is a bit awkward – the show's just been cancelled I have huge respect for ITV – a show that's getting 5.5 million and still picking up awards It's unclear at this stage whether Litten would take the reins anew should season 11 be green-lit The same goes for the comedy's iconic cast which included some household British names including Johnny Vegas as Geoff Maltby 9's Steve Pemberton as Mick Garvey and Downton Abbey's Siobhan Finneran as his wife Janice all of whom are seasoned holidaymakers at the Solana who played iconic chain-smoker and mobility scooter user Madge Harvey and Jake Canuso as the Solana's barman Mateo Castellanos Benidorm legend confirms "possibility" series is returning amid fan excitementThe popular British sitcom is rumoured to be making a comeback but star Sherrie Hewson recently addressed the possibility on the Best's Suddenly Single podcast stating: "There is this thing that it's coming back though That would be wonderful because we all miss it desperately." Hewson played the Solana Hotel's often lovelorn manager Creator Derren Litten said in his acceptance speech: "This is a bit awkward – the show's just been cancelled I have huge respect for ITV – a show that's getting 5.5 million and still picking up awards It's unclear at this stage whether Litten would take the reins anew should season 11 be green-lit The same goes for the comedy's iconic cast 9's Steve Pemberton as Mick Garvey and Downton Abbey's Siobhan Finneran as his wife Janice and Jake Canuso as the Solana's barman Mateo Castellanos Sign up to be the first to know about breaking stories and new series By entering your details you are agreeing to our terms and conditions and privacy policy This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply you are agreeing to site title privacy policy This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. Subscribe to RT!Subscribe to Radio Times magazine and get £10 issues for £10! Could your home unlock your dreams?Releasing equity from your home could help give you the retirement you've been dreaming of? Holiday brochuresNeed inspiration of where to go next? Escorted tour, river cruise, yacht cruise, short break. Request a free brochure and start your journey. Now taking bookings for 2025, 2026 and 2027! WATCH HERE: Trailer for BBC series Reunion Benidorm could soon be making a comeback eight years after its axe with Joyce Temple-Savage actress Sherrie Hewson revealing what she knows about the ongoing rumours The 74-year-old starred in the former ITV comedy from 2012 until its cancellation in 2018 with the show having been on air for 11 years in total there has been speculation the Brits abroad sitcom could be making a return although nothing official has been confirmed yet Hewson recently admitted: "There is this thing that it's coming back though Former Benidorm star Sherrie Hewson has opened up on the show's potential comeback Speaking on the Best Suddenly Single podcast she no doubt made fans' day as she continued: "It is now a possibility The decision to axe the series was made in 2018 just two months before Benidorm won Best Comedy at the TV Choice Awards show creator Darren Litten commented during his acceptance speech: "This is a bit awkward – the show's just been cancelled "I have huge respect for ITV – a show that's getting 5.5 million and still picking up awards Sherrie Hewson said a Benidorm comeback is 'a possibility' The Sun recently reported that ITV are discussing a potential comeback for the comedy with an insider telling the publication: "Benidorm was adored by millions when it was suddenly cancelled "Fans will be thrilled to hear ITV wants to bring it back "An 11th series hasn't been commissioned yet but there's major excitement building as early talks begin." They concluded: "Producers have started to reach out to the show's stars and are hopeful a decision can be made later this year." Litten also teased a possible return as he announced he was returning to writing "both for television and theatre" recent indications that certain TV channels are interested in my decision and I hope you will be watching the fruits of my labour in time to come." he was asked by a fan on X about the rumours to which he cryptically responded: "Who knows...." Fans are already reacting to the unconfirmed news on social media with on former viewer writing on X: "Fantastic news We’re gonna get new meme clips from the show." Sherrie Hewson starred as Joyce in Benidorm "We need as many of the originals from the beginning back as possible," a second penned they need to bring back the Garvey family." Amazing news," another shared eagerly One more added: "Feel like I'm dreaming "Will be very interesting to see who will come back?" another former fan wrote Fem van Empel has won the World Cup in Benidorm for the third consecutive year The 22-year-old world champion outsprinted Lucinda Brand after an exciting final Marianne Vos crowned a strong performance with fourth place a large group stayed together for a long time Van Empel and Vos were represented at the front on behalf of Team Visma | Lease a Bike and made a strong impression Van Empel stayed in Brand's wheel and crossed her on the bars "I knew it had to happen on the last bar passage I went over it full throttle and actually had the sprint done before I got on the asphalt" The reigning world champion took her third victory in a row in Benidorm and her tenth of the season "The way I won today is special and shows my fighting spirit I was at the front two positions and was in control the whole time Vos also expressed satisfaction with her fourth-place finish From the start I had to accelerate to join the leading group after which I needed some time to catch my breath I got through and was able to ride along nicely I did everything I could to get a place on the podium but unfortunately I had to let Marie go just ahead Behind the strong debutant Viktória Chladoňová Hopefully I can recover over the next few days and get in better shape towards the World Championships." Subscribe yourself for the Team Visma | Lease a Bike newsletter and receive previews for races Caron McKinlay A BENIDORM star has fuelled rumours that the show is returning after eight years off our screens as he flies out to Spain Former Benidorm actor Asa Elliott was a popular fixture on the show appearing as a cabaret singer between 2010 and 2014 Asa has revealed in his latest TikTok post that he gets asked continually if the show is coming back "Trying to find out what's going on I have had so many messages from Benidorm cast members asking me what's going on "You've seen what's out there online and I can't really say much more than that just now. "But, I've just flown out to Spain to a lovely place. I don't know if you recognise it?" Asa then panned his camera around and showed a sunny beach which he described as gorgeous at this time of year. "So any breaking news will be on this TikTok account and you'll be the first to know about any news about the Benidorm reboot show." The latest update comes after The Sun exclusively revealed that the ITV sitcom is set to return for an 11th series — eight years after it was brutally axed We revealed that channel bosses are in secret talks over a comeback for the award-winning series about Brits abroad A source at the time said: “Benidorm was adored by millions when it was suddenly cancelled Fans will be thrilled to hear ITV wants to bring it back “Producers have started to reach out to the show’s stars and are hopeful a decision can be made later this year.” Benidorm, which was first aired in 2007, was scrapped in 2018 — two months before winning Best Comedy at the TV Choice Awards telling the crowd as he picked up the gong: “This is a bit awkward Six months ago, Derren — who has been working as a DJ in Spain in recent years — launched a Facebook group promising superfans “exclusive Benidorm pictures He then fuelled speculation of a Benidorm spin-off when he said he was returning to writing for TV and theatre The much loved sitcom hilariously ­portrayed British holidaymakers mixing with quirky staff at the Solana all-inclusive resort in Spain A BODY has been found washed up on a beach in Benidorm The unidentified corpse was discovered by the National Police on Wednesday evening A spokesman from the force in Alicante said that the body belonged to a white male He said: "We can confirm that a body was found on a beach in Benidorm last night The force said it could not provide more details adding that its main focus is to identify the individual stemming from the region’s growing appeal among criminal networks The presence of drug traffickers has led to an uptick in associated criminal behaviour A Belfast dad-of-two, John George, was killed on an isolated Costa Blanca road December last year Another Irishman, Jonny Smyth, was arrested in Portugal last month over his death. Brits have been warned by cops to look out for muggers and gangs who prowl around Benidorm and target tourists One street, dubbed "Muggers Alley" is a particular favourite amongst the criminals Shocking CCTV footage emerged of a tourists being stopped on the road and pick-pocketed by some women One of them is seen walking out into the alleyway and right in front of a man with her arms out in a bid to stop him in his tracks Three women then grab him by his shirt as he tries to walk away The mugging hotspot is reportedly outside the Magic Villa de Benidorm - and right next to the local tourist police station There has also been a huge surge in drug crime in the town earning it the title "Narcos capital of the Costa Blanca" A growing number of Brits have reported horror injuries after being set upon by "wolf-like" gangs of out-of-control bouncers was left badly bruised and needing a CT scan on his head after a doormen allegedly battered him to the ground while pepper-spraying his terrified wife after wrongly accusing her of holding a drink from another bar told The Sun earlier this month: “They were like a pack of wolves with poles and pepper spray." A British dad died in the resort town last month when he collapsed while celebrating his own stag do Oliver Holroyd, 29, was partying with his family and friends at the Funky Flamingo bar in the Spanish town last month He fell off his stool and hit his head on the ground after suffering a suspected stroke on March 22 described giving CPR to Oliver who was responsive for 60 seconds The dad-of-one from Halifax was due to marry to his fiancée A JustGiving page was set up in his memory to raise money for the Stroke Association His distraught fiancée Paige said: "My Oliver a British dad-of-four died on his first-ever lads holiday after falling while searching for his hotel Nathan Osman, 30 became separated from his pals after a night out and couldn’t find his way back His family suspect foul play in his death and complained of feeling "abandoned" by Spanish police Charlotte Benson formed the group after she was "attacked" and was soon inundated with more than 200 messages from Brits who had similar experiences Gino has told the Daily Star about the tedious challenges boozed-up tourists present and how his "professional" team deals with them are regularly beaten up on Benidorm's strip(Image: Supplied)He said: "My bouncers are not thugs They talk and resolve problems by calmly explaining." he admitted his staff are sometimes forced to "slap" customers who are out to "pick a fight" He said: "Sometimes it's unavoidable No matter how hard we try to calm the situation sometimes people who are affected by alcohol and other substances are just looking to pick a fight He added: "There's also always security that don't do their job properly and mistakes happen as can happen in any profession – let's be honest I have the best security by far in all Benidorm" One woman was left with a massive welt on her back after trying to stop bouncers beating a young man(Image: Supplied)Gino explained people think his bouncers are the "bad guys" when they see them taking a customer out because of Benidorm's reputation He said: "Thanks of the bad reputation that Benidorm has in this respect everytime people see bouncers taking someone out they think that bouncers are beating people for no reason "Mine are not like that and I am sure most security don't fight just because they are bored." The 36-year-old nightclub manager went on to explain the horrific incidents his staff have to deal with two big guys started a fight on the dance floor One of them grabbed a glass beer bottle and broke it Charlotte Benson formed the group after she was 'attacked for no reason'(Image: Charlotte Benson / SWNS)"Thanks to my security's quick reaction and he tried to do the same to the security but no one thanked my security for saving the other guy's life And there are many more incidents like this a waitress had a glass cup thrown at her head because she wouldn't serve a drink to a guy because he was too drunk and asked him to go home and rest "Thousands of people come here every day We are the best and most visited nightclub in Benidorm." Insomnia is Benidorm's 'busiest and best nightclub'(Image: Google Maps)‌Security staff at other venues in the resort are alleged to carry weapons like pepper spray and knuckle dusters Gino said he confiscated pepper spray off one of his staff but never saw anyone with a knuckle duster He said: "Last year one of mine had pepper spray and when someone with broken bottle goes to you to stab it would be good to have pepper spray because it is the only thing that can save you The hospitality manager told how Benidorm bouncers need "patience" to make the resort safer all Benidorm workers must understand that they work with drunk and drugged-up people who won't understand them right now "They must arm themselves with patience they should go work in a pharmacy because these drunk and drugged-up people are feeding us all and we must learn to deal with them." For the latest breaking news and stories from across the globe from the Daily Star, sign up for our newsletters. THE maker of hit British comedy series Benidorm confirmed that he is having talks with ITV about a new series of the show He directly addressed Sherrie Hewson the manager of the fictional hotel on the show about rumours that she had been spreading about the show’s return Derren said: “Sherrie does this rumour every couple of years and Sherrie says that the show is coming back she is hopeful because she loves the show as much as I do.” The TV writer then goes on to basically confirm the rumour himself by saying: “If I say ITV have not commissioned a new Benidorm series it is because ITV have not commissioned a new Benidorm series Does it mean they might commission a new series in the near future The writer then taunts those on the live by adding: “Have I been talking to ITV in the last few months and I hope that gives you some idea of where we are.” Actress and former Loose Women star Sherrie has previously been asked about the show’s return admitting: “There is this thing that it’s coming back though Last week The Sun revealed that channel bosses are in secret talks over a comeback for the award-winning series about Brits abroad, with hopes of reuniting the all-star cast. but there’s major excitement building as early talks begin.” The raunchy comedy aired on ITV for ten series from 2007 reaching an average audience of over 8 million viewers The show was cancelled in 2018 as ratings steadily declined Last year Derren seemed to shut down any notions of the show being rebooted in an interview with the Daily Star: “If we could all do like a one-off special But his recent comments on Facebook seem to show that at least a special is being talked about with ITV Viewers of the Facebook live revelled at Derren’s teasing comments One user commented: “Really hope it comes back” whilst another penned: “Please say yes it’s coming back.” TRIBUTES have flooded in for a Brit dad who collapsed and died on his stag do in Benidorm Oliver Holroyd, 29, was celebrating with his family and friends at the Funky Flamingo bar in the Spanish resort last month when he died The dad-of-one from Halifax was due to get married to his fiancée Paige Whiteley in May fiancée and friends have shared touching tributes on social media Oliver's mum Karen wrote: "We miss you so so much Oliver Holroyd our beautiful boy can’t wait until we are all back together." "Nothing will be the same again but I promise you I will try my best for our little boy "I hope you can see us everyday and I hope I'm making you proud I'm so sorry this happened to you my darling Oliver's cause of death has not been confirmed but a JustGiving page has been set up in his memory to raise money for the Stroke Association Pal Ben Capper said: "I’m running the Leeds marathon in his honour." Oliver collapsed suddenly while enjoying drinks at a bar on March 22 told how the Brit fell backwards off a bar stool and hit his head on the ground "His friends were in shock for the first minute or so and then it hit them what was happening Holidaymaker Tracey Pilling was walking by the bar when the incident unfolded She said: "There were loads of people outside, we were just passing by, but there were several police cars and two ambulances… it was very sad Tracey said she searched the internet the following day to see if there were any updates and posted on a Benidorm forum Spain's National Police said at the time: "We can confirm that a man suffered some type of medical problem and died at the scene Standing room only in pubs and bars long before the action begins thousands of British tourists now enjoy the festival in the Spanish hotspot A bell rings for half past happy hour on Cheltenham festival eve in a city that has discarded time Conventional clocks are required to determine the midday cut off between a cheap full English breakfast – available in a range of sizes extra large – and an ever so slightly pricier one to distinguish between upcoming performances from Michael Jackson Just as they will again tomorrow; at least But the abundance of British tourists who seek escape from the mundanities of home in Benidorm are not beholden to the usual restrictions of time neon strip of Calle Gerona are as boisterously full on a Monday lunchtime as the early hours of a Friday morning patrons habitually walloping punching machines and murdering Amy Winehouse songs from one dawn to the next at karaoke joints that proudly proclaim themselves open all day View image in fullscreenPunters stand to watch the action on big screens with all the seats taken early Photograph: Graeme Robertson/The GuardianA poster on a roadside wall advertises the Sticky Vicky “sexy magic show” in honour of the late Benidorm performer Victoria Gadea who was known for bewildering decades of audiences by producing an alarming array of items from an unusual orifice who now performs the same infamous act that earned her mother’s name Word is that Maria has departed Costa Blanca in recent months prompting punters to head instead to one of a number of imitator “sticky” shows strewn along the strip stumbles past the outdated poster and is helped by a friend to navigate around the ubiquitous Benidorm hazard of a discarded mobility scooter crashing into a stationary rubbish bin and sending his “Cheltenham 2025” cap to the floor View image in fullscreenHoliday-goers take in the first day’s racing under blue skies Photograph: Graeme Robertson/The GuardianBenidorm’s British tourism boom – specifically to its New Town – dates back to the mass growth of high-rise buildings some half a century ago that gave the city its specious “New York of the Mediterranean” nickname close to a million Britons are estimated to visit annually with four days in early March taking on ever greater importance Cheltenham festival week passed by largely unnoticed until a groundswell movement began; at first While Cheltenham’s new chief executive, Guy Lavender, grapples with falling attendances – in the build up to jump racing’s showpiece event he confirmed “we are expecting fewer racegoers to be joining us in person this week” – those in charge of the multitude of Benidorm’s bars View image in fullscreenPosters advertise Benidorm’s various entertainment Photograph: Graeme Robertson/The GuardianAt 9.30am on a hazy Tuesday morning the Winning Post bar is already full to capacity waitresses rushing around with fried breakfasts and pints; a cornucopia of beer a group of over-lubricated men attempt to compensate for last night’s absent slumber by downing shots and promptly indulging in the not-so-friendly fire of brutally delivered head punches as their prolonged revelry briefly turns sour customers taking the more gentle approach to relieving their sobriety study day one’s Cheltenham cards in newspapers before heading to the corner of the room for a bet The Winning Post is the only bar in town that runs its own cash book every day of the year screening all available horse races and taking the starting prices from its dozen televisions Less than an hour after opening its doors for the day the stacks of betting slips have already run dry and are in need of replenishment as the horses make their way to post for each race a queue snakes down the pavement full of punters desperate to part with their cash View image in fullscreenTwo punters ride inflatable horses to mark the occasion Photograph: Graeme Robertson/The Guardian“My dad started this business 35 years ago,” explains the bar’s owner Colleen Holm “He worked in different bars out here as a bookie for 10 years and then set this place up I used to work in Ladbrokes and have been here 18 years now but it’s probably over the last six or eight years that it’s really taken off around Benidorm.” the Marina Resort draws the biggest crowds a herd of more than 500 will succumb to sunburn in homage to its unrivalled combination of huge poolside screen and tangible collective aura that produces mass gasps when Constitution Hill and then State Man take tumbles in a dramatic Champion Hurdle dashing the majority of wagers in the process It was standing room only long before the action began Having diligently conducted a preliminary investigation the previous day Timothy King and his group of old work colleagues determined that 8.30am – almost six hours before the customary cheer that greets the start of the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle – was the optimum time to secure the Marina Resort’s best table: perpendicular to the centre of the screen View image in fullscreenOne holiday-goer goes even further and dresses up as a jockey and a horse Photograph: Graeme Robertson/The Guardian“Going to the festival is just too expensive now and too busy,” King explains as to why he has travelled 850 miles from his Cotswolds home but you can barely see a horse in person any more and certainly can’t see the finish This is our first time in Benidorm and I’d recommend it to anyone It is a familiar refrain repeated all along the strip’s packed bars every television in this British enclave is devoted to the finest thoroughbreds nice weather and cheap beer – what more could you want?” asks seasoned Benidorm veteran David Lormor “We’ve been coming here for about 10 years now Once upon a time you could go into a pub 40 minutes before the start of the first race and get a seat no problem hours before it all starts you are struggling to find a table.” View image in fullscreenPunters in fancy dress start off their day’s racing with a few drinks in a Benidorm bar Photograph: Graeme Robertson/The GuardianAmid Lavender’s recent warning of falling festival attendances was a vow to provide “better value for customers” before shelling out £7.80 for a pint of Guinness once inside the Gloucestershire track pints are on offer for as little as €2 and five-bottle beer buckets for €6.50 argue those who have created a new Costa del Cheltenham “We all live by Musselburgh so we are horse racing people,” says Stephen Peters, who has travelled to Spain with a party of seven you watch the action on a big screen anyway Gone are the days of going with the binoculars and watching the horses go round So this is pretty much like being at the racetrack We’d gamble on anything and you can still do that here – if we saw a couple of cockroaches on the floor we’d probably have a bet on it.” View image in fullscreenA man dressed in a white horse costume looks for the nearest viewing point Photograph: Graeme Robertson/The GuardianLike so many others they barely move all day beyond trips to pick up fresh beer buckets when the racing concludes in the setting sun “We have a rule that you cannot go to bed on the same day you got up,” says Peters but we’ll give it another go tomorrow at a different venue The group departs past knick-knack shops selling crude T-shirts and lewd lollies smiling as they stagger their way to their next destination That cheap beer isn’t going to drink itself Nick Ferrari At Breakfast is Leading Britain's Conversation A British man has died on his stag do after falling off a bar stool backwards whilst away on his stag do A 29-year-old man, who has not been named, from Halifax, West Yorkshire was at the Funky Flamingo bar on March 22 when the incident occurred The father-of-one fell off his bar stool backwards A barman and another customer reportedly tried to perform CPR for 15 minutes before an ambulance arrived on the scene Paramedics attempted to resuscitate the man for 45 minutes "The guy and his fiancé were due to get married in May, he was so young," bar manager Gaston Luciano told MailOnline. 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Read More: Newcastle boss Eddie Howe diagnosed with pneumonia and will remain in hospital The man was pronounced dead - he was due to get married next month Mr Luciano said: "They gave him a shot of adrenaline and connected him to a machine The bar manager continued: "His friends were in shock for the first minute or so A witness told MailOnline: "It was such a horrible and tragic thing to witness "I can't stop thinking about him and his wife-to-be and I'm sure his friends and family said he had a young boy the National Police said: "We can confirm that a man suffered some type of medical problem and died at the scene He was treated by those present at the premises and then by the paramedics who responded to the call The medical causes of the death are unknown A friend of the deceased said he had a heart attack previously when he was 24 A Foreign Office spokesperson said: "We are supporting the family of a British man who has died in Spain." See more Latest News See more World News See more More Topics Jason Taylor was last seen walking away from the Alicante-Elche airport after his boarding pass was rejected I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice A Welsh man who mysteriously vanished just before he was set to fly home from a stag do in Benidorm has been safely reunited with his family Jason Taylor was due to board a flight from Alicante-Elche airport on Saturday morning after a trip to the popular Spanish resort with friends became separated from the group after his boarding pass was rejected at the gate and he went to find help from airport staff His disappearance sparked a massive social media campaign with his concerned family flying out to the party destination favoured by Britons to join the search But later on Tuesday his aunt Robbie Fitzgerald posted on Facebook: “Jason has been found and is currently with family Thank you all so much for helping get the word out there.” Mr Taylor was last seen on CCTV spending around five minutes in the queue before walking away and leaving the airport “This was the last we saw or heard from him It is very unlike Jason and the family is worried sick Jason was not ill or drunk or incapable,” Mr Edmunds wrote in an appeal on social media His wife had said she had “no idea” why her husband left the airport and she thought he would have got lost after going for a walk to “clear his head” “Thank you to everyone who shared the appeal.”