Benidorm’s most hair-raising moments - from blackface outrage to crude jokes

ITV’s sun-soaked sitcom Benidorm has long been known for pushing boundaries - but not always positively. While the show built a loyal fanbase with its outrageous characters, risqué jokes and hilarious antics at the fictional Solana resort, it also racked up its fair share of eyebrow-raising moments.

From outdated stereotypes to one scene that sparked genuine outrage, Benidorm has never been afraid to go bold - even if that sometimes meant crossing the line. And as talk of a potential reboot gathers steam, industry insiders are urging producers to tread more carefully this time around.

Here’s a look back at some of Benidorm’s most controversial moments, and what needs to change for the series to survive in 2025.

One of the show’s most infamous scenes came in 2014, when a character appeared in full blackface during a fancy dress scene. The white entertainer was wearing blackface to sing at Neptune's Bar.

As the camera panned around the bar, most of the white audience were singing and clapping along - but character Gavin Ramsbottom (played by Hugh Sachs) looked shocked and disgusted. The episode drew immediate backlash, with viewers calling the scene offensive and unacceptable - even for a show built on satire.

The next scene sees Gavin storming out of the bar in shock as his partner Troy (Paul Bazely) follows him apologising profusely. At the time, ITV issued a response defending the context, but in hindsight, it remains one of Benidorm’s most widely condemned moments.

The broadcaster and Netflix even removed the scene from episode one, season two, amid the backlash. But after fans campaigned to bring it back, insisting it was "a highly subversive and satirical critique of systemic racism," the scene was reinstated.

Benidorm was built on caricatures - from the loud, lager-fuelled Brits abroad to the barmen and swingers. While much of it was played for laughs, some characters leaned heavily into outdated and problematic stereotypes.

In 2007, what passed as “cheeky” or “harmless” now often feels tone-deaf. Luana Ribeira, bestselling author and founder of Dauntless PR, says that’s something a reboot simply has to address.

“Some of the jokes that landed in 2007 probably wouldn’t get the same reaction now,” she says. “What was seen as cheeky or harmless back then might come across as lazy or offensive in 2025, especially if it leans too heavily on stereotypes.”

Sheila Reid’s acid-tongued matriarch Madge Harvey became a fan favourite for her motorised scooter and unfiltered phrases - but even some of her lines would raise red flags today. Her relentless mocking of other characters’ weight, appearances, and lifestyles would likely come under fire in a more sensitive cultural climate.

Luana believes there’s still space for sharp humour - but it needs to evolve. “Producers would be wise to keep what audiences love about Benidorm is the chaos, the clashing personalities, the holiday madness - but to update the humour so it doesn’t rely on punching down.”

From Mateo’s relentless flirting to swingers Donald and Jacqueline's over-the-top antics, Benidorm rarely shied away from adult humour. But while innuendo was part of the fun, some jokes strayed into cringeworthy territory - particularly those directed at women or LGBTQ+ characters, who were often reduced to punchlines.

With comedy having shifted significantly since the show aired, some of these moments may appear off-key to younger audiences.

But Luana says there is plenty of hope for Benidorm making a return, as long as producers get it right. “There certainly seems to be an appetite for a Benidorm reboot,” she says.

“The fact it won Best Comedy at the TV Choice Awards after it was axed shows just how much love there was for the show - and that those behind it had more to give. Whether a reboot will survive beyond one season will depend very much on the quality of the writing and whether they can attract back popular cast members.”