SMASH hit ITV comedy Benidorm is set to bring sunshine and smiles to the stage when the first ever stage version of the comedy marks its world premiere tour with Southampton dates.

Benidorm Live will play Mayflower Theatre from November 5 to 11 2018, the Daily Echo can exclusively reveal.

Writer Derren Litten has penned an all new set of Alicante escapades for the much-loved cast members, including Jake Canuso (Mateo), Janine Duvitski (Jacqueline), Adam Gillen (Liam), Sherrie Hewson (Joyce Temple-Savage), Shelley Longworth (Sam), and Tony Maudsley (Kenneth) as they swap sangria for the stage next year after a quick spruce at the Blow ‘n’ Go!

He told the Daily Echo: "

"I’m first and foremost a performer so have always been secretly frustrated I couldn't hear the audience’s laughter. This national tour of Benidorm Live will not only make a long lasting dream come true but will also mean I no longer have to stand in strangers gardens listening at their windows at 9 o’clock on cold winter evenings!

"It's very exciting and comes at quite a pivotal time for me. The BFI did some of the Carry On films in the cinema and I went to see a couple of them. It was just a revelation the reaction they got! That's how I hope people will react to Benidorm after ten years of watching it on TV getting to enjoy it in the theatre.

"The magic of theatre is incredibly liberating. The only problem is that whenever a TV show is on stage they all go on holiday. But we've been on holiday for ten years! There will be lots of fun set in and around the hotel."

ITV’s smash-hit comedy celebrates a decade of all-inclusive hilarity, having followed the ensemble cast of holiday makers and staff for nine series since it first broadcast in 2007. Season 10 is due to broadcast early 2018.

Critically acclaimed, Benidorm has received two National Television Awards a TV Quick Award and nominations at the British Comedy Awards and BAFTAs.

After leaving school in Hull in the late 1980’s Derren Litten spent a year working as a professional magician while auditioning for drama schools. He won a place on the three year acting course at the prestigious Central School of Speech and Drama where he met fellow student Catherine Tate. After ten years of working as an actor, Derren was asked by Catherine to write for her newly commissioned TV sketch show, The Catherine Tate Show; in which he also appeared in many of the sketches.

After co-writing and appearing in two series and a Christmas Special, Derren was given a script commission by legendary comedy producer Geoffrey Perkins, “just write anything you want as long as it’s funny” he said; that show turned out to be Benidorm.