Just as fans were eagerly anticipating the long-awaited Benidorm reunion, behind-the-scenes drama has thrown everything into chaos. In a revelation that’s rocked the cast and crew, it’s emerged that the show’s creator has secretly divorced one of its stars—casting serious doubt over whether the beloved comedy will make its big comeback. With tensions simmering and loyalties tested, viewers are left wondering: can the team put personal heartbreak aside for the sake of the show, or is this the end of Benidorm as we know it? The drama off-screen may be even juicier than anything we’ve seen on TV!

THE return of iconic ITV comedy Benidorm has hit the rocks following a huge falling out between creator Derren Litten and the show’s biggest star Jake Canuso who plays randy barman Matteo.

The pair had quietly been a real life couple, and had been happily married for years, choosing to keep their relationship out of the spotlight.

Jake Canuso and Derren Litten at an after-party.

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Jake and Derren went through a tough divorce last yearCredit: Getty

Derren Litten and Jake Canuso at the Benidorm cast and crew reunion.

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The former couple’s split is said to have put a spanner in the works of a potential Benidorm rebootCredit: David Revenga
Living together in Benidorm, Derren even opened a bar called “Matteo’s” in the holiday hotspot which saw Jake often turn up for special guest appearances.

But the couple called time on their relationship at the end of 2022 – leading to one of the messiest divorces in TV history.

They were finally granted a divorce in August 2024.

Derren took to Twitter and said: “I don’t really talk about my personal life here but the reason I’ve been a bit scarce on the socials is for the last 18 months I’ve been going through a pretty miserable divorce.

“So I’m obviously poor now.  And you thought we couldn’t have more in common then we already do?!”

A source said: “Matteo is Benidorm, he’s the character that everyone wants to see.

“He’s been part of the Solana since the beginning so for him not to feature in any future reboot, well it just would not be the same without him.

“Jake created one of the show’s most loved characters in Matteo but with everything that’s happened between him and Derren, it’s not looking good.”

Benidorm has had a huge resurgence after Netflix bought the episodes from ITV.

Another source said: “Conversations have been had.

Benidorm Trailer ITV

“The only way Jake will return is if ITV make him a huge offer, one that he could not possibly turn down.

“But obviously Derren is making negotiations difficult. He is the writer and creator and believes that he should make all the decisions.

“The fans would want to see Matteo, which ITV get. It’s all become one big headache.”

A spokesperson for Jake insisted they were unaware of any planned return for Benidorm.