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The upcoming ninth series of acclaimed anthology show Inside No. 9 will be the last, the BBC confirms. Plus: guest stars revealed.

You have to take your hat off to Steve Pemberton and Reece Shearsmith. By the end of the next series, The League Of Gentlemen stars will have written 55 completely new, original comedy dramas, complete with shocks, surprises and twists aplenty. We’re talking the majestic Inside No 9.

From the silent shenanigans of the wonderful A Quiet Night In (which featured Charlie Chaplin’s granddaughter Oona Chaplin) to the astonishing drama of The Twelve Days Of Christine and, arguably the greatest episode, beautiful ode to double acts Bernie Clifton’s Dressing Room, if you’ve never had the pleasure, it is a series well worth delving into.

Perhaps appropriately, the upcoming ninth series will be the last.

The BBC has now revealed that the guest cast will include Dorothy Atkinson,...

Actor Robin Askwith is celebrating 50 years in show business doing what he does best. In a new stand, up tour ‘Robin Askwith Gives It One’ as he returns to Southend on 23rd May at the Grosvenor Casinos. A unique night of comedy entertainment where he takes a hilarious look back over his life with some “Extremely famous people, in extremely famous situations”.

Presented in association with The Southend Film Festival and Misty Moon this promises to be a great night of entertainment that you won’t want to miss.

How are you?

Yeah long show last night as you know you have probably seen from my tweets.

How did it go?

Fantastic! The Half Moon, Putney, a rock venue and two hours. It’s supposed to be around one hour twenty, I looked at my watch and it was one hour forty, still rambling on. I said, Look I’ve...

The finest in television were rewarded for their hard work last night (May 10) at the 2015 BAFTA TV Awards.

Sherlock, Happy Valley and Saturday Night Takeaway were among the victors, and of course Twitter had something to say about it all. Digital Spy rounds up the best reactions below:

Jessica Hynes's anti-cuts message

The W1A actress not only earned praise for winning the Female Performance in a Comedy Programme award, but also won support for her impassioned BAFTAs acceptance speech, in which she raised concerns about cuts and austerity.

a proud friend of @JefficaHoons am so pleased she Won & raised awareness of increasing cuts tonight,Brave & true. http://t.co/yyPitQeIhJ xX

— lisa hammond (@lisahammondwhop) May 11, 2015

Celebrating Jessica Hynes' @BAFTA win by watching lots of Spaced. Speech of the night. #baftatv

— Maxime Pons Webster (@MQuetzal) May 11, 2015

You know when you think you couldn't love someone any more? & then they...

Benidorm has been commissioned for an eighth series by ITV.

The award-winning comedy will film its latest series on location in Spain later in the year.

The new series will contain seven episodes, all written by series creator Derren Litten.

ITV's Comedy Commissioner Saskia Schuster welcomed the return and teased some information about the new episodes.

"We are absolutely thrilled our audiences continues to enjoy the antics of the Solana staff and its holidaymakers," she said.

"The new series of Benidorm will be introducing a brand new family to our viewers."

The seventh series of Benidorm is currently airing on ITV1, and has seen the return of series regulars Johnny Vegas and Elsie Kelly.

Last year's guest star Dame Joan Collins also reprised her role as Solana's CEO Crystal Hennessy Vas.

Benidorm next airs on Friday, February 6 at 9pm on ITV1.

ITV has released new Benidorm photos which show Joan Collins returning as Solana resort CEO Crystal Hennesy Vas.

The images show Collins sitting and drinking champagne with Sherrie Hewson's character Joyce Temple Savage, while in others she poses in front of the sea.

Crystal returns to the Solana resort to reduce the financial overheads but her presence could spell trouble for put-upon Joyce.

Meanwhile, the same episode sees the return of Janey York (Crissy Rock) - but could the two arrivals be connected?

The episode of Benidorm which sees Crystal return airs on Friday, January 30 at 9pm on ITV.

Benidorm creator Derren Litten recently revealed that he cast Collins because her sister Jackie phoned him and asked if Joan could have a role.

Benidorm next airs on Friday, January 23 at 9pm on ITV.

Tonight ITV debuted Get Your Act Together, a variety show hosted by Stephen Mulhern which sees five celebrities learn a new, unusual skill each week.

This week's show saw Brian McFadden, Danielle Lloyd, Sherrie Hewson, Gareth Thomas and Ray Quinn team up with professionals to learn everything from plate spinning to acrobatics.

Digital Spy rounds up the internet's reaction to the family show below:

This is funny because I'm sure a lot of people would tell ITV's entertainment commissioners to 'Get Your Act Together' #Gyat

— Matt (@iMattG5) January 18, 2015

Egg all over my face.

— Ray Quinn (@therealRayQuinn) January 18, 2015

'Get Your Act Together' should've been called 'Run Out Of Ideas for Sunday Night Telly' #Gyat

— Katie Weasel (@KatieWeasel) January 18, 2015

Looks like @gareththomas14 has let himself go a bit. Not. #GetYourActTogether #Gyat pic.twitter.com/DKg1CW37k1

— ITV (@ITV) January 18, 2015

I have a feeling that the reason #GetYourActTogether doesn't have judges is...

Benidorm creator Derren Litten has revealed that Joan Collins's sister Jackie phoned him to ask if the actress could be cast in the ITV sitcom.

The 77-year-old is apparently a fan of the series and watched hours with Joan during a visit to her La home.

Johnny Vegas and Elsie Kelly return in new Benidorm clip

Steve Pemberton on quitting Benidorm: "It was a very difficult decision"

Joan first appeared as hotel boss Crystal Hennessey-Vas in series six of the show and is due to return in the new series.

"Jackie asked me, 'Why don't you put my sister in your show', so I did," Litten told The Mirror.

"She has a scene with Johnny Vegas and I think it might be the funniest scene we have ever had in the show.

"I can't say too much. It's Johnny Vegas and Elsie Kelly, who plays his mum Noreen in the show.

ITV has apologised for repeating an episode of Benidorm that referenced Rolf Harris.

The edition - originally broadcast in 2012 - was aired the day after Harris was convicted for indecent assault.

A repeat was pulled from ITV+1 which was set to air the show an hour later.

ITV released a statement saying: "This was a repeat episode of Benidorm and we wish to apologise for this oversight."

The show featured Tim Healy's character singing 'Two Little Boys' on karaoke, which was introduced as "a classic Rolf Harris number".

Another scene saw character Jacqueline talking about a rock star and asking: "Didn't his wife have an affair with Rolf Harris?"

Writer Derren Litten wrote on Twitter: "Extremely unfortunate timing of a Benidorm repeat tonight. Apologies to anyone who was offended."

He added: "An apology was appropriate as ITV went from a song made famous by Rolf Harris straight...

Joan Collins will return to ITV's Benidorm as a guest star, it has been announced.

Collins is reprising her role as Crystal Hennessy-Vass, the CEO of the Solana Group. She previously made an appearance in the comedy series earlier this year, with her character making a strong impression on the hotel staff.

Other guest stars to have been confirmed for the seventh series of Benidorm include Nadia Sawalha and Only Fools and Horses actor John Challis, with further announcements expected soon.

The next series of Benidorm also sees the return of previous regular cast members Johnny Vegas (The Oracle), Elsie Kelly (Noreen) and Crissy Rock (Janey York).

The seventh series will air on ITV in 2015, with the show's creator Derren Litten writing every episode. Further broadcast details are expected to be announced in the coming months.

Benidorm is to return for a seventh series, ITV has confirmed.

Johnny Vegas, Elsie Kelly and Crissy Rock have also been announced to be making returns as The Oracle, Noreen and Janey York, respectively.

The Oracle was last seen in the third series, when he began dating Chantelle Garvey, while Noreen last appeared in series five and Janey stopped managing the Solana resort in the fourth run.

Benidorm's sixth series averaged 6.8 million viewers for ITV, scoring its highest figures since 2011.

The new series will also include returning characters Joyce Temple Savage (Sherrie Hewson), Les/Lesley (Tim Healy) and Mateo (Jake Canuso) among others.

ITV's Director of Entertainment and Comedy Elaine Bedell said: "After another successful run on screen we're thrilled that a new series is about to start shooting on location in Spain.

"We're equally pleased that some familiar faces from the Solana's past will be making a welcome return to the sunshine.

Benidorm will return for a sixth series in the New Year on ITV and a new family will be joining the series regulars.

Perry Benson, Hannah Waddingham, Bel Powley and Danny Walters will play the Dykes, a new family who arrive at the Solana resort.

The Dykes are from Watford and Clive (Benson) is firmly under the thumb of no nonsense wife Tonya (Waddingham). The two kids are "young, single and looking for fun".

The four newcomers join returning cast regulars Steve Pemberton, Siobhan Finneran, Sheila Reid, Oliver Stokes, Sherrie Hewson, Kenny Ireland, Tim Healey and Jake Canuso. Meanwhile, Nicholas Burns will return as Martin Weedon for the first time since series three.

This year's guest cameos will include the return of Matthew Kelly as Cyril Babcock, former Coronation Street actor Ken Morley as the head of a local hairdressing mafia and Philip Olivier as a "sexy new barman".

Also...

Joan Collins has signed up for ITV's Benidorm.

The Dynasty actress will portray a hotel high-roller in the comedy's upcoming sixth series.

Collins will play a character named Crystal who becomes an enemy of Joyce Temple-Savage (Sherrie Hewson).

Yesterday (May 28), Collins tweeted: "Looking forward to going to Spain to be in Benidorm.

"And I'm playing 'Crystal' - yes I am - but not the Dynasty one."

Collins previously played Alexis Carrington in the 1980s soap. Alexis's ex-husband Blake (John Forsythe) was married to her nemesis Krystle Carrington (Linda Evans).

Coronation Street's Ken Morley and former Brookside star Philip Olivier have also signed up for guest roles, with Matthew Kelly confirmed to return as Cyril Babcock in series six.

Show creator Derren Litten - who has written all seven episodes of the new series - said: "I'm so excited about series six of Benidorm, probably more excited than all previous series.

Ken Morley has joined the cast of 'Benidorm'. The 70-year-old star - who portrayed supermarket manager Reg Holdsworth from 1989 to 1995 - will star in the ITV comedy series, which will return for a sixth series, alongside former 'Brookside' actor Philip Olivier, who will also make a guest appearance. Derren Litten - who created the show and has written all seven episodes of the new series - explained: ''I'm so excited about series six of 'Benidorm', probably more excited than all previous series. Apart from 'Dynasty' series five of course - what could possibly top the Moldavian Massacre?'' Several stars will...

Ken Morley has joined the cast of 'Benidorm'. The 70-year-old star - who portrayed supermarket manager Reg Holdsworth from 1989 to 1995 - will star in the ITV comedy series, which will return for a sixth series, alongside former 'Brookside' actor Philip Olivier, who will also make a guest appearance. Derren Litten - who created the show and has written all seven episodes of the new series - explained: ''I'm so excited about series six of 'Benidorm', probably more excited than all previous series. Apart from 'Dynasty' series five of course - what could possibly top the Moldavian Massacre?'' Several stars will...

ITV has ordered a sixth and seventh series of Benidorm.

The comedy's sixth run is currently shooting on location, with stars Steve Pemberton, Siobhan Finneran, Sherrie Hewson and Tim Healy all confirmed to return.

The new series will also introduce a new family - the Dykes, composed of father Clive (Perry Benson), mother Tonya (Hannah Waddingham) and their children Bianca (Bel Powley) and Tiger (Danny Walters).

The character of Martin Weedon (Nicholas Burns) - last seen in Benidorm's third series - will also return for the new run.

Coronation Street's Ken Morley and former Brookside star Philip Olivier have signed up for guest roles, with Matthew Kelly confirmed to return as Cyril Babcock.

Show creator Derren Litten - who has written all seven episodes of the new series - said: "I'm so excited about series six of Benidorm, probably more excited than all previous series. Apart from Dynasty...

Pick up your remote and start setting reminders - or grab a pencil and a calendar if you're a bit behind the times - because there's some fan-bloomin'-tastic TV coming up in the next week.

We at Tube Talk have once again picked out the best programmes that are about to hit your box, which we've previewed below. Oh, and we'll also be putting on our finest tuxedos and diamond-encrusted ballgowns to catch the 66th British Academy Film Awards, which air Sunday (February 10) at 9pm on BBC One.

© BBC / Ruby Film & TV

Dancing on the Edge: Monday (February 4) at 9pm on BBC Two

You won't find anything more grand or glamorous on TV this week than Stephen Poliakoff's Dancing on the Edge, a five-part drama about a black jazz band in 1930s London.

Boasting an all-star cast including Matthew Goode, John Goodman, Anthony Head, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Merlin's...

Adam Deacon is set to star in 'Benidorm'. The 'Adulthood' actor has been in talks with creator Derren Litten on Twitter about starring in the ITV1 comedy series - which focuses on fictional British families who go on an annual holiday to an all-inclusive hotel complex in the Spanish resort - and believes the programme needs a ''street kid''. Adam - who is from Hackney, north east London - said: ''They need a street kid in 'Benidorm'. I spoke to the director and he said on Twitter it is going to happen so I'm hoping that actually happens. If he...

Rylan Clark has been approached to star in 'Celebrity Big Brother'. The axed 'X Factor' contestant has been inundated with TV offers since being booted off the ITV1 talent show on Sunday (25.11.12), and producers of the Channel 5 series are said to be lining him up for a place in the new series in January. According to The Sun newspaper, the Essex-born star has also been offered a role in the forthcoming live episode of ITV2 reality show 'The Only Way is Essex', and 'Benidorm' creator Derren Litten has also said he wants the 23-year-old star to appear in...

Rylan Clark could appear in the next series of Celebrity Big Brother, it has been reported. The recently-eliminated X Factor hopeful has been approached by producers with a view to appearing on the show when it returns in January, according to The Sun.

The paper also reports that Benidorm creator Derren Litten is a fan of the 24-year-old, and is interested in casting him in a future series. Clark hinted earlier this week that he may appear on The Only Way Is Essex before the year is out. "There is a live episode and (more)...

Rylan Clark has been approached to star in 'Celebrity Big Brother'. The axed 'X Factor' contestant has been inundated with TV offers since being booted off the ITV1 talent show on Sunday (25.11.12), and producers of the Channel 5 series are said to be lining him up for a place in the new series in January. According to The Sun newspaper, the Essex-born star has also been offered a role in the forthcoming live episode of ITV2 reality show 'The Only Way is Essex', and 'Benidorm' creator Derren Litten has also said he wants the 23-year-old star to appear in...

EastEnders star Danniella Westbrook has outlined her desire to star in hit ITV comedy Benidorm. The 38-year-old has only worked sporadically since leaving her famous role of Sam Mitchell in the Albert Square soap. Regarding her future plans, she told the Daily Star Sunday: "I'm having meetings with people but I don't know what's coming up, you just need to have faith. "If I could have any job in the world it would be Benidorm - an old trollop from Essex." Praising the sitcom's lead writer, she added: "I love Derren Litten's writing, it's (more)...

Ex-EastEnders star Cheryl Fergison has signed up for a new sitcom on Sky Living. The Heather Trott actress, who was written out of the Albert Square soap in March, will star in a comedy penned by Benidorm's Derren Litten. Fergison told her followers on Twitter: "Fab derrin litten yes he of benidorm is writing a new series and i am lucky enough to be playing a character in it ..gonna be fab (sic). "It is a new series called The Spa. derrin has already tweeted about it and i play a character in it ..rehursals tomorrow and costume fits. "He is a genious and i love him and his work it makes me laugh (more)...

Benidorm closed its doors for 2012 with 5.9m viewers last night (Friday), overnight data reveals. Derren Litten's series five conclusion, which featured Doctor Who legend Kate O'Mara, attracted 5.57m (24.4%) for ITV1 at 9pm and 349k (1.9%) on timeshift. The Steve Pemberton sitcom's last episode is up on the 2011 finale, but overall this series is 440k down on last year. A Lionel Ritchie special at 10pm, replacing News at Ten, fetched 2.52m (13.8%) and 151k (1.4%) on timeshift. BBC One had an extremely disappointing night, logging only 2.44m (10.2%) for Len Goodman's Titanic documentary at 8.30pm, and 2.7m (11.8%) for Land of the Lost Wolves at 10pm. Over on BBC Two, Hugh Bonneville's Twenty Twelve held all of last week's audience, amusing 972k (4.9%) at 10pm. Mastermind (more)...

ITV's Benidorm returned with strong numbers last night, according to the latest overnight data. The Derren Litten sitcom's fifth series launch grabbed 6.24m (26.7%) for ITV1, adding 406k (2.3%) on +1. However, despite blitzing the 9pm hour, ratings were down by over a million on last year's record-breaking opener. BBC One's old episode of New Tricks was closest to the holiday comedy, drawing 3.96m (16.9%), while The Mentalist took 1.31m (5.6%) for Channel 5. A Melvyn Bragg documentary on BBC Two, Class and Culture, interested 1.32m (5.7%), and 990k (4.2%) watched George Lamb's The Bank Job on Channel 4 (+1: 185k/1%). At 10pm, Castle logged 1.02m (5.6%) for Channel 5, but was beaten in the hour overall by BBC Two, which had 2.03m (10.4%) for a Qi repeat. (more)...

Benidorm creator Derren Litten has revealed that he is developing a new television show. Litten announced on his Twitter page that work on his new project had started but refused to reveal too many details. "Yesterday I had a brand new TV show commissioned!" he said. "Can't say what it's about, can't say which channel, can't say anything yet... Just celebrating with a pint of Ribena! What a crazy (more)...

ITV has confirmed that Benidorm will return for a fifth series. The popular comedy ended its fourth run - which premiered in February to an audience of over 8m - last week with 5.8m viewers. Creator Derren Litten, who previously told fans that he had come to the "end of my Benidorm journey", will also return to write more episodes of the show. "We're pleased to announce that your favourite holidaymakers will return for a fifth series of Benidorm that will start filming later this year," (more)...

Joan Collins has been tipped for a celebrity guest appearance in the next series of Benidorm. According to The Sun, Collins' sister Jackie used Twitter to reveal the former Dynasty star's interest in the award-winning sitcom. She wrote: "Benidorm is totally fab. My sis Joan Collins would love to do a guest shot on it. I got her addicted!!! (sic)" After a peak audience of 7.3m viewers this year, ITV is likely to recommission Benidorm for a fifth series - but no formal announcement has been made yet. Meanwhile, writer Derren Litten - who had previously confirmed his departure from the show - wrote on the social (more)...

Benidorm closed for 2011 with a respectable 5.8m viewers, according to the latest overnight data. Writer Derren Litten's final episode amused 5.62m (24.2%) in the 9pm hour and 224k on ITV1 +1, a loss of approximately 500k week-on-week, and down a hefty 1.8m on its fourth series premiere. Meanwhile, the return of Have I Got News For You to BBC One interested 4.49m (19.2%), following which a Qi repeat took 3.39m (14.6%) at 9.30pm. Friday Night Dinner's first series climaxed with 1.18m (6%) for Channel 4 at 10pm, adding 133k on timeshift. Prior to that, A Place In The Sun and Embarrassing Bodies grabbed 1.06m (4.8%) and 1.83m (7.9%) at 8pm and 9pm, respectively adding 151k and 314k on +1. With numbers down across the board due to hot weather, Baboons (more)...

Benidorm triumphed again on Friday night, despite losing 700k on last week's premiere audience, according to the latest overnight data. Derren Litten's award-winning sitcom averaged 6.64m (28.2%) at 9pm (+1: 290k), eclipsing the repeat of BBC One's New Tricks, which had 3.41m (14.7%). Meanwhile, 2.62m (11.3%) watched Embarrassing Bodies on Channel 4 (+1: 583k), The Mentalist notched up 1.73m (7.4%) for Channel 5, and BBC Two's Hidden Treasures Of African Art was seen by 909k (3.9%). Friday Night Dinner held a respectable 1.47m (7.4%) for Channel 4 at 10pm (+1: 231k), ahead of Fast And Loose's 787k (4%) for BBC Two, and Law (more)...

Shelley Longworth has revealed that her boyfriend asked her to keep hold of her Benidorm costumes. Longworth, who is one of the new cast members in the Derren Litten comedy, described her outfits on the show as "pretty hideous", but admitted that her partner was a fan. "My character Same does have some pretty risque costumes!" she told Digital Spy. "Plenty of see-through tops and lacy bras and (more)...

The cast of Benidorm have praised their series four guests stars Bananarama. Tony Maudsley, Adam Gillen and Shelley Longworth, who have all joined the Derren Litten comedy for the latest run, said that they had "great fun" with the '80s girlband, who cameo in the second half of the series.

"Bananarama were great fun! I loved them. They were fantastic," Gillen told Digital Spy. "They were brilliant girls - really glamorous and really, really funny. I didn't know what to expect, but they weren't prissy or self-conscious at all." Longworth commented: (more)...

Benidorm creator Derren Litten has announced that the next series of the show will be his last. The programme, which was recently named 'Most Popular Comedy' at the National Television Awards, begins its fourth run this Friday. However, Litten has confirmed that the six-episode series will be his final one. "I'm really looking forward to series four although it is with mixed emotions because, for me, it is the end of my Benidorm journey," he wrote in a blog. "I can't begin to tell you what this show means to me, it has changed my life in so many ways. Not least the amazing friends I have made along the way. "I won't be writing any more episodes of Benidorm, for me the story of the Garveys and all (more)...

Benidorm creator Derren Litten has admitted that he cried while writing late actor Geoffrey Hutchings's departure from the show. Litten rewrote the Christmas special and six new episodes of the series after Hutchings, who played Mel in the ITV1 comedy, passed away earlier this year. Speaking about how the actor's passing had impacted on the show, he said: "First of all I didn't know how I was going to write the departure of Mel with the respect and tact it required. I spoke with Andi, Geoff's wife, and she said I had her blessing to do whatever I thought was right. "In the end, writing that part of the storyline wasn't difficult but it was incredibly emotional. I sat at my desk in the office in my house and cried as I wrote it; I'm pretty sure it will have the same effect on the viewer." Producer Ben Cavey...

Cilla Black is to play a stripper in 'Benidorm'. The 66-year-old presenter is to play a guest role in the ITV sitcom, which is set in the titular Spanish holiday resort, and show bosses have promised her appearance will be outrageous. Show creator and writer Derren Litten revealed: ''Cilla has basically agreed to play the oldest swinger in town and will really ham it up with a basque and suspenders, the works.'' In addition to Cilla, Derren has also signed up glamour model Katie Price to make an appearance - but admitted she won't have to do much acting. He explained to the Daily Mirror ..

Katie Price and Cilla Black are to make guest appearances in Benidorm, it has been announced. The ITV1 show's creator and writer Derren Litten confirmed the news while speaking at Attitude magazine's Sweet 16 party, describing the pair's involvement as "really exciting". Litten told The Mirror: "Both women are great signings for the show and I can't wait to work with them. Cilla has basically agreed to play the oldest swinger in town and will really ham it up in a basque and suspenders, all the works. "The (more)...

Benidorm star Hugh Sachs has said that the comedy series is successful because viewers recognise themselves in the characters. Speaking on ITV1's This Morning, Sachs's co-star Paul Bazely also credited the show's writer Derren Litten for its popularity. "I think people just recognise themselves - we don't behave very well on holiday as a nation and I don't think there's that many sitcoms about the vast majority of people," Sachs said. "Lots of people go on holiday and have rows in public." Bazely added: "I think that [what] Derren Litten captures very well is that you go on holiday (more)...

ITV1 comedy series Benidorm is switching to six hour-long episodes when it returns this summer, creator Derren Litten has revealed. The actor and writer posted via Twitter: "Don't know if I told you guys, series three all episodes are one-hour long!" The show, which starred the late Wendy Richard, initially ran with six half-hour episodes in 2007. The following year, it was upped to an eight-episode run. Litten also said that (more)...