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| Hugh Sachs and Tony Maudsley filming Benidorm Series 4 |
So we’ve been filming now for about four weeks. We shot the Christmas Special in the first two weeks and now we are kind of doing one episode per fortnight. I say ‘kind of’ because not all scenes can be completed sequentially and when they get moved about inevitably some get pushed into different weeks due to accessibility of locations, weather, guest stars availability etc. Our 1st assistant director David Gillchrist does an incredible job fitting every scene into the schedule; I’ve no idea how he manages it. It’s a bit like someone trying to complete a jigsaw puzzle while somebody keeps taking the pieces away. Unfortunately I don’t exactly help as for the last 3 years I’ve always rolled up in Spain with the last episode missing; although I must say I’m glad I waited ’til I did to write the last instalment this year. I only completely finished episode 6 last week but I must say, with a total lack of modesty, that it’s the best episode I’ve ever written. Well, it’s certainly the funniest, let’s put it that way.
I’ve got to say the new characters in the show are working out brilliantly, mainly due to the amazing actors we have booked. Tony Maudsley, Kathryn Drysdale, Adam Gillen, Selina Griffiths and Shelley Longworth; google them, you’ll probably know then from one show or another. It was a difficult decision to change some of the regular cast, a decision met with some disapproval from a few fans of the show. But I absolutely know it was the right decision; for this tv show to keep feeling fresh. If we do a 5th series the same will happen again and it will all be for the best.
On a slightly different note I have some more unpleasant news. A week ago last Friday my house in Spain was broken into and everything stolen. Laptop, iPad, cameras, iPod, all electrical goods, even my suitcases. At times this year has appeared to be one challenge after another, it sometimes has felt difficult to want to plough on with it all, especially when a few nights ago there was an other attempted break in, this time I was in the house. To be absolutely honest I felt I was at breaking point and took a cab to Alicante airport, bought a ticket to London Gatwick and waited for the plane. Luckily the flight was delayed by a couple of hours and in that time I decided to stay. I’m so glad I did. They say what doesn’t break you makes you stronger, after the year I’ve had so far I reckon I’m bordering on the invincible…
