The indispensable Primoti vans are parked up outside "The Pink House" together with generator vans for all the lighting equipment which is being used - it certainly wouldn´t be helpful if there was a power failure half way through a scene... which in Spain is totally feasible. 

 

I met with Pere, the Spanish Production manager who was on hand to ensure that the first day got off smoothly and without any hitches. With the weather so sunny I asked him why they weren´t doing outside filming and making the most of it but being "Semana Santa" - Easter week, the resort is too busy to disrupt holiday makers and be cordoning off streets he said.... something I hadn´t though of really.  

 

I spoke with Colin, the Prop Master who is responsible for building any sets that are required. Heather Gibson, the set designer draws a sketch for Colin, then he has to recreate it together with Neil and Alan, his 2 man team. Colin has been working on the Benidorm set since series 4 and was telling me that when they are filming at Morgans Tavern, which becomes Neptunes in the series he and his team have to be there at 5am to move the furniture and put up props then the crew have to be out by 7pm, giving him 1 hour to remove everything and replace the original items before it opens for normal business! I bet he loves those days.... 

 

In the last series Colin had to build an "operating theatre" in the downstairs basement - often if they can´t find an appropriate location then they ask Heather to design it and Colin will then build it. He has already been at work and built a new set which will be used shortly.... you can see the double doors with glass panels, but what will it be - any guesses?

 

Colin has worked for both the BBC and Sky as Prop Master and been involved numerous programmes including All Creatures Great & Small, Emma, Restless, Turn back Time and Derren´s recently aired new series on Sky Living, The Spa - which was filmed in Hertfordshire. 

 

Just as we were chatting the extras came down for their mid morning break - about 40 were on hand today and among them some faces I recognised such as Gill and her Rumba Girls, all dressed in matching pink tops and Stuart wearing his straw sunhat from The Geordie Bar. They had been in since 7am and were having a great time... we´ll have to look out for them all when it gets aired! 

 

The crew will be in Benidorm until the end of June and Im sure if you are here you are bound to spot them either at the Sol Pelicanos or possibly around the resort in some unexpected locations! Don´t forget to come back for regular updates...