Duke and Duchess of Cambridge fans of 'Benidorm' series

Actors and actresses from the ITV show, which satirises the 'bargain-basement' end of British package holidaymakers, have been touring theatres in the UK and Ireland to promote the series and also Benidorm as a town.

Prince William and Princess Catherine, known prior to their wedding as Kate Middleton, even received a letter from Benidorm's mayor Augstín Navarro inviting them to spend their honeymoon in the town.

Despite being one of the odds at the bookies before the Royal couple's post-wedding destination was known, Benidorm was probably not a serious choice for the Duke and Duchess, who will turn 36 this year – in the end, they holidayed on a secluded island in the Seychelles.

But they love the show and were delighted to hear Benidorm town named a tapas dish after them to mark their nuptials.

They met up with the Benidorm cast at the Royal Variety Show and told them how they are glued to the series and enjoy its humour.

Benidorm has just released a new series and its prime-time slot means it attracts around four million viewers per episode.

Nominated for a BAFTA and winner of two national TV awards, the series is actually more popular with British expats in Spain than UK residents themselves, especially those who live near enough to the famous holiday town to visit it now and again.

Despite the deliberate stereotypes and caricatures – an able-bodied woman who hires mobility scooters for the shortest of walks, a working-class family of holidaymakers with the husband working whilst on benefits, a middle-aged couple of swingers, drunken teens on party boats, drag queens, and a muscle-bound hunk of a Spanish bartender weary of excess attention from British housewives on holiday – the series has proven to be an excellent advertising and promotional exercise for Benidorm as a vacation hotspot.

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