Well, well, well! Here’s a tale straight from the telly to real life! Benidorm co-stars Laila Zaidi and Adam Gillen have announced their engagement, six years after meeting on the hit ITV show.
The lovebirds first cast longing glances at each other back in 2018 when they portrayed the characters Liam and Cyd. Despite Benidorm’s end, their romance has remained strong. In fact, during a sun-soaked holiday in Croatia, Adam took the plunge and asked Laila for her hand in marriage.
Laila took to Instagram to share the joyous moment, proclaiming: “A whole week of being a diiiirty flirttttyyy thirty FIANCÉ !!!!!!” And, by jove, the congratulatory messages poured in thick and fast!
“Game of Thrones” siren Nathalie Emmanuel chimed in with a heartfelt, “Awwwww congratulations!!!” while actor George Weightman quipped, “Spectacular news! Congratulations you talented people! I don’t need to hope – I know you’ll be so happy together.”
Celebrating their six-year love story back in May, Laila threw it back with a couple’s selfie, declaring: “One two three four five six years babyyyyyyyyyyyy.”
On Benidorm, Adam played Liam Conroy, a resort worker turned hairdresser, while Laila portrayed Rob Dawson’s fiancée.
And what have they been up to since Benidorm? Adam has been active at Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre, taking roles such as Mercutio in Romeo and Juliet. On the other hand, Laila’s been making waves on “Holby City” and “Ackley Bridge”.
Now, for fans still holding out hope for a Benidorm comeback, Siobhan Finneran spilled the beans to The Sun: “There’s been whispers about a TV revival… but those were just that, whispers.” Putting the final nail in the coffin, the show’s mastermind Derren Listen tweeted the sobering news: “Yes folks it’s true, Benidorm series 10 was the LAST EVER TV SERIES of @BenidormTVshow.” Talk about the end of an era!