Interview: Steve Pemberton

4:41pm Saturday 22nd March 2008

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BLACKBURN-born Steve Pemberton takes a sip on his 'mocktail', being careful to avoid the mini umbrella sticking out of it, and settles back into his chair next to a blow-up plastic palm tree.

Chatting about the new series of his hit ITV sitcom Benidorm - hence the props - the cuddly actor is explaining why the first series went down so well.

"I think everyone can relate to it. Everyone's been on holiday, everyone knows what it's like - and the time of year it goes out definitely helps.

"I was talking to my mum about it and she said I'm really ready for another series because it's so miserable and grey at the moment'," he adds.

"It'll be nice to have a bit of blue sea and skies and it's good fun. It's not like Wish You Were Here where you feel, I love watching these holidays but I can't afford to go on them'. It's Benidorm! You can afford it."

Benidorm the show boasts a star-studded cast led by Johnny Vegas who make up a colourful group of characters staying at the towering Solana resort.

Steve, best known as one quarter of hit comedy team The League Of Gentlemen, plays father-of-two Mick Garvey, who has managed to wangle another family holiday at the all-inclusive Solana thanks to his mother-in-law's new fancy man' Mel.

At the end of the first series, Mick got caught out in a disability scam, which plunged the family into debt, but his wife Janice's mum Madge (Sheila Reid) helps them return to the Costa Blanca when she meets Mel - a rich tanning salon entrepreneur.

Mick is now a granddad, after his 17-year-old daughter Telle gave birth to baby Coolio, and before the family have even arrived at the hotel, it's clear their holiday is not going to be a smooth one.

"My character says, 'On holiday you forget all your cares and worries' and they try to but they seem to have a few problems.

"The Garveys seem to attract them," says Steve.

The cast spent two months in Spain filming the eight-part series.

"It's a unique place." said Steve.

l A new series of Benidorm starts on ITV1 on Friday at 9pm