Adam Gillen, renowned for his portrayal of the endearing Liam Conroy on ITV's Benidorm, has undergone a striking transformation since his time on the show. Eleven years after his debut, the actor now sports a full beard, a notable change from his previously clean-shaven appearance.
Recently, Adam was seen embracing the festive spirit, donning a Santa hat alongside former co-star Tony Maudsley, who played Kenneth Du Beke on the series.The pair’s reunion made fans happy and brought back memories of their on-screen bond.
In addition to his evolving appearance, Adam's personal life has blossomed. He is now engaged to Laila Zaidi, who portrayed Cyd on Benidorm. Laila shared the joyous news on social media, showcasing her engagement ring and expressing excitement about their future together.
The couple, who fell in love while filming the popular ITV series in 2018, were holidaying in Croatia when Adam popped the question. Captioning an emotional picture, announcing the engagement, Laila previously wrote: "A whole week of being a diiiirty flirttttyyy thirty FIANCÉ !!!!!!! [ring emoji] [nine heart emojis]."
Adam and Laila's celebrity pals were quick to pass on their congratulation as Game of Thrones star Nathalie Emmanuel commented: "Awwwww congratulations!!!" and actress Sophie Rundle added: "SO GORGEOUUUUUS!! Congratulations!!!" Fresh Meat star Greg McHugh wrote: “Congrats yous legends of love!!!!”
Adam's character, Liam, was a fan favorite on "Benidorm." Initially introduced as a holidaymaker visiting his father, Les Conroy, Liam became a beloved member of the Solana resort staff. His journey on the show included working at the Blow 'n' Go Salon with Kenneth, providing viewers with memorable comedic moments.
Benidorm was a British sitcom that aired on ITV from February 1, 2007, to May 2, 2018, spanning ten series. The show, created and written by Derren Litten, is set in the Solana all-inclusive hotel in Benidorm, Spain, and follows the lives of holidaymakers and staff over the course of a week each year.
The ensemble cast includes characters from various backgrounds, often leading to humorous and sometimes poignant interactions. The series was known for its sharp wit, memorable characters, and its portrayal of British holiday culture. Despite its popularity, ITV announced the show's cancellation in 2018 after the tenth series.
In 2019, a stage adaptation titled "Benidorm Live," also written by Derren, toured theatres across the UK and Ireland, allowing fans to relive the show's humor in a live setting. As of now, there have been no official announcements regarding a television reboot of the series. In 2022, creator Derren and the original cast reunited for a Benidorm convention.
Explore Benidorm shared a video of the moment on TikTok with Derren joining Steve Pemberton, Siobhan Finneran, Oliver Stokes and Sheila Reid in front of a live audience. Pemberton, as Mick told Siobhan's Janice: "Now that we've sold that b****y hotel in Las Vegas, could this be our new big adventure?"
"Have you just announced season 11 of Benidorm? Who on earth would watch it?" Derren asked as the actors jokingly shrugged their shoulders. He added: "Ladies and gentlemen, in the worlds of Madge Garvey in series seven episode two, 'Never say never. Never say never.'"
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