INTERVIEW | Tim Healy On Playing Lesley In Benidorm


Les/Lesley first came across the Solana Resort and its holidaymakers when he/she went on a blind date with The Oracle. Soon afterwards a job beckoned working behind the Solana hotel pool bar and Les/Lesley was soon joined by his son Liam (played by Adam Gillen).

Q: How did you land part of Les/Lesley?

A: I was presenting an award at the TV Quick Awards in 2007. I saw Derren at the bar. I went up to him and said, โ€œWell done. I love the show.โ€ Derren replied, โ€œWould you like to be in it? What sort of part would you like to play?โ€ By this time Iโ€™d had a few beers so I said, โ€œA transvestite.โ€ Thatโ€™s how this part came about.

Q: What happens to your character in this series?

A: One thing hasnโ€™t changed: I still get to wear outrageous clothes! There is also a great storyline where my ex-wife comes back (played by guest star Denise Black). She is quite a hard piece of work, and she wants our son to go back to England with her. But Liam wants to stay with his Dad. Itโ€™s quite a moving storyline. That father- son relationship works very well.

Q: Do audiences relate to Les/Lesley?

A: Yes. No matter what Les/Lesley looks like, heโ€™s got a heart of gold. Of course, he gets it all wrong โ€“ the look, the walk, the laugh. Even when he puts on womenโ€™s clothes, he still looks like a man. Iโ€™ve put a lot of Dick Emery into his walk โ€“ he canโ€™t walk in high heels. I nicked a lot of that. Everything is wrong, except his heart.

Q: How would you describe your character?

A: He loves life and doesnโ€™t care what anyone thinks of how he looks. At one point his ex says to him, โ€œWhat sort of father are you? You might want to take a look in the mirror.โ€ Of course, he looks in the mirror and smiles because he thinks he looks great! Thatโ€™s what Benidorm is like.

Q: How do you find it wearing Lesleyโ€™s costumes?

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A: Very uncomfortable! Iโ€™m really jealous of the other characters lying around the pool all day in shorts. They can dive into the pool at lunchtime. But the producers wonโ€™t let me because that would then require a 45-minute make-up job.

Q: Why has this sitcom done so well?

A: Itโ€™s a very, very good look at what Benidorm is really like. Itโ€™s almost like a documentary. People come over here and are very surprised when they find that it is very similar to what theyโ€™ve seen on TV.

Q: Is the atmosphere good on set?

A: Yes, itโ€™s excellent. The atmosphere is very similar to Auf Wiedersehen, Pet. There is no starry behaviour, and weโ€™re all really good friends.

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Q: Finally, do you enjoy being in this show?

A: Absolutely. I love working on Benidorm. Itโ€™s a very happy bunch. Itโ€™s very rare that you get jobs like this where youโ€™re all together all the time. In England, you film and then go home. Here we all go out in the evening after work and have a party. Weโ€™re having a fancy dress party this week with a film-star theme. Iโ€™m going as Crocodile Dundee. Itโ€™ll be another classic Benidorm night!

Benidorm starts in iTV1 on 2nd January 2015

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