Benidorm will be back on ITV next year with nine brand new episodes.

The award-winning comedy returned for a ninth season last week, winning its time slot with 4.9m viewers.

Season 10 begins filming this month and will air on ITV in 2018, with legendary comedy duo Hale & Pace joining the cast as undercover detectives investigating Tim Healy’s character Les/Lesley, who is returning to Benidorm as a regular.

EastEnders star Shane Richie is also back for four new episodes, reprising his role as lively entertainer Sammy Valentino, while Only Fools and Horses actor John Challis becomes a series regular with his character Monty Staines.

Sadly, Troy (Paul Bazely), The Oracle (Johnny Vegas) and Tiger (Danny Walters) won’t be back in Season 10 though.

Benidorm creator Derren Litten commented: “When I wrote the first script of Benidorm I had no idea it would change my life so dramatically over the next 10 years.  As I put the finishing touches to the 74th episode I am so grateful to our fans and to ITV for giving Benidorm the best possible home we could hope for.  Here’s to the next 10 years!”

Saskia Schuster, ITV’s Comedy Commissioner added: “Benidorm is very much part of the ITV family with viewers taking these wonderful characters to their hearts.  Show creator, writer and exec producer Derren Litten has some great plans for the tenth series and it’s a real treat to welcome Hale & Pace and Shane Richie to the Solana resort.”

Benidorm first aired on ITV in February 2007.

Buy the complete Season 1-6 box set on Amazon here.

Watch the Season 9 trailer…

Are you looking forward to Season 10? Let us know below…