Ep 1. Episode 1

Benidorm season 5 episode 1, titled "Episode 1", opens with the arrival of many familiar faces to the Solana Hotel. The episode begins with the Garvey family, checking back into the Solana after their last disastrous holiday. Madge, who is now engaged to Mel, is on full display as she parades around in her engagement ring. The opening minutes of the show introduce the guests and promise to unravel several interwoven storylines.

At the Solana Hotel, Joyce Temple-Savage has become the new manager, hiring new staff and ready to make the hotel a success. However, she struggles to hold on to her team of staff, and Les/Lesley, the cross-dressing entertainer, constantly tests her patience. Geoff Maltby returns to the hotel to entertain guests, also clashing with Les at first sight. The new staff also includes Liam, the mischievous new barman, and Sam, the new hairdresser who catches the eye of Liam.

Meanwhile, Kenneth still runs Neptune's Bar, and Troy is stuck working alongside him. Their bar is struggling, and they are losing customers to the Solana hotel's newer and more modern bar. Kenneth is approached by Clive, a former nemesis who becomes the competition when he opens his bar opposite Neptune's. The rivalry between the two bars will be an underlying tension for the season.

Janice and Mick Garvey are also back, accompanied on their holiday by Janice's mother, who takes a particular liking to the Solana's new barman Liam. As soon as they arrive, Mick bumps into his nemesis Clive in a whirlwind of hilariously awkward antics.

The holidaymakers have become familiar with the entertainment team, including Tiger who is the hotel's resident performer. Joyce, who is in a desperate bid to bring in new entertainment things, hire a new act named the Dazzling Diamonds. The show promises to be incredibly entertaining but ends up being more of a disaster when one of the performers falls ill, and the other becomes drunk.

As always, everything is not what it seems, and in this season, many secrets and surprises are revealed as everyone settles down for a vacation, which is not so relaxing. The guests and staff at the Solana Hotel experience several misadventures and unexpected events that will keep the audience on the edge of their seats. The atmosphere is as chaotic as ever, and the holidaymakers are their accustomed colourful selves with hilarious results.

The first episode of Benidorm season 5 strikes the perfect balance of drama and comedy as the show delivers on its promise of a fun and entertaining holiday adventure for the entire family. The presentation of the episode features some of the best moments from the show to date, making it an excellent introduction to the series' upcoming episodes. Fans of the series will feel right at home with the familiar cast, while newcomers will relish this opportunity to witness why the show has become a global sensation.