Only Fools' 'Boycie' actor John Challis to guest star in Benidorm

(Image credit: PA Archive/Press Association Ima)

Only Fools And Horses star John Challis is to take a role in the next series of ITV comedy series Benidorm.

The 71-year-old actor, loved by millions for his years playing Boycie, will take a guest role in the show, alongside Joan Collins who is returning for another run after making her debut earlier this year.

TV host and former EastEnders star Nadia Sawalha is also lined up to appear in the seventh series which will be screened next year and is currently in production.

John said last year that Benidorm writer Derren Litten had been keen to give him a role, saying: "I was really up for that, but sadly I was not available and they couldn't work around my commitments."

Joan, 81, was seen as hotel group boss Crystal Hennessy-Vass in the sixth series which pulled in around 6.8 million viewers.

Returning to the cast once again will be Johnny Vegas as The Oracle, Elsie Kelly as Noreen and Crissy Rock as Janey.

 

Patrick McLennan

Patrick McLennan is a London-based journalist and documentary maker who has worked as a writer, sub-editor, digital editor and TV producer in the UK and New Zealand. His CV includes spells as a news producer at the BBC and TVNZ, as well as web editor for Time Inc UK. He has produced TV news and entertainment features on personalities as diverse as Nick Cave, Tom Hardy, Clive James, Jodie Marsh and Kevin Bacon and he co-produced and directed The Ponds, which has screened in UK cinemas, BBC Four and is currently available on Netflix. 

An entertainment writer with a diverse taste in TV and film, he lists Seinfeld, The Sopranos, The Chase, The Thick of It and Detectorists among his favourite shows, but steers well clear of most sci-fi.