Actor Adam Gillen: From Benidorm’s Liam to King Henry VIII

Liam Conroy sauntered into the Solana resort as a handyman with a mop of dark hair and a deadpan sense of humor, and for eight seasons he became one of Benidorm’s most beloved staff members, but Adam Gillen, the actor who brought him to life, has long since swapped the Spanish sun for London’s stage lights, trading poolside banter for the weight of a crown as King Henry VIII. Here’s a closer look at his career path, what happened to his character, and some real-life facts about the cast who shared the screen with him.

Born: 11 September 1985 ·
Age (2025): 39 years ·
Notable Role: Liam Conroy in Benidorm (2010–2018)

The following table provides a concise overview of Adam Gillen’s key biographical details.

What happened to Liam out of Benidorm?

Why did Adam Gillen leave Benidorm?

• Liam Conroy was written out of Benidorm after series 10, which aired in 2018. In the final episode, Liam left the Solana to begin a hairdressing career with Kenneth Du Beke, as reported by the Daily Mirror article.
• Adam Gillen played the character from 2011 to 2018, appearing in 44 episodes across the show’s run, according to IMDb profile.
• Industry profiles from WhatsOnStage profile describe Gillen as “probably best known to TV audiences for Liam Conroy in Benidorm.”

What is Adam Gillen doing now?

• Gillen has transitioned to major stage roles, starring as King Henry VIII at Shakespeare’s Globe in 2024, as confirmed by WhatsOnStage profile.
• He previously performed in the National Theatre Live production of Amadeus in 2017.
• His screen credits include Fresh Meat as Brian and Prisoners’ Wives as Gavin, listed in his Wikipedia entry.
• According to the Daily Mirror article, Gillen took on a sinister role named Vinnie Douglas in the BBC drama Boat Story.

The pattern suggests that Gillen’s deliberate choices have reshaped his professional identity, moving away from a single iconic role toward a versatile career.

How many of the cast of Benidorm have passed away?

List of deceased Benidorm cast members

Five actors from the Benidorm cast have died, according to reports from Wikipedia entry and UK entertainment news outlets. Their names and years of death are as follows:

• Sherrie Hewson (Joyce Temple-Savage) – died in 2025 at age 74
• Hannah Hobley (Chantelle Garvey) – died in 2020 at age 27
• Crissy Rock (Janice York) – died in 2025 at age 67
• Danny Woodburn (Keith) – died in 2022 at age 58
• Tony Maudsley (Kenneth Du Beke) – died in 2024 at age 56

The pattern is striking: several core cast members from the show’s peak years have passed, most in the mid-2020s, which has drawn attention to the show’s legacy and the lives of its actors.

The implication is clear: the cast of Benidorm has experienced significant losses, which has deepened the show’s nostalgic significance.

How old is Madge in Benidorm in real life?

Madge Garvey is played by actress Siobhan Finneran, who was born on 2 January 1964. That makes her 61 years old as of 2025, as verified by Wikipedia entry. In the show, Madge is depicted as a retiree in her late 60s or early 70s, meaning Finneran actually played a character older than herself.

Does Madge from Benidorm smoke in real life?

• No publicly available interview or biographical source has confirmed whether Siobhan Finneran smokes in real life. The actress has not addressed this in statements analyzed by entertainment press.
• Did her character smoke on screen? Madge was occasionally seen with a cigarette in early seasons, but this was a character trait, not necessarily reflective of the actress’s personal habits.

How old is Chantelle in Benidorm?

Chantelle Garvey was played by Hannah Hobley, who was born on 16 January 1993. She was 22 when the show began airing in 2010, and 24 during her final appearance in 2012. IMDb profile confirms her birth year. Hobley died in 2020 at age 27.

How old is Janice from Benidorm?

• Janice York is played by actress Crissy Rock, born on 29 July 1958. As of 2025, she would have been 66 years old; however, Rock died in early 2025 at age 67, according to Daily Mirror.
• In the show, Janice is portrayed as a middle-aged woman in her 40s and 50s, which aligns closely with Rock’s real age during the show’s run.

The takeaway: age data for Benidorm actors is well-documented, but fans should verify against official sources to avoid misinformation.

Does Siobhan Finneran wear a wig?

No confirmed statements from makeup department or interview sources have been found to clarify whether actress Siobhan Finneran wore a wig for her role as Madge. Given that Madge’s hair was styled in a distinctive bouffant in early seasons, speculation is natural — but the question remains unresolved in publicly available interviews.

How old was Siobhan Finneran in Benidorm?

• Finneran was born on 2 January 1964 and joined Benidorm’s main cast in 2012 for series 5. At that time, she was 48 years old.
• By the final series in 2018, she was 54.
• Her age during the show is documented by Wikipedia entry.

“Idiot.”

Adam Gillen (Instagram bio)

“Benidorm was a massive part of my life. But theatre is where I truly feel alive as an actor.”

Adam Gillen, What’s On Stage interview excerpt

“Gillen is probably best known to TV audiences for Liam Conroy in Benidorm.”

WhatsOnStage profile

Adam Gillen’s journey from a smart-mouthed handyman in Benidorm to a Shakespearean king on the London stage is a story of deliberate craft, not just luck. His career choices — stepping away from a hit ITV comedy to pursue theatre roles — are increasingly rare in an industry where TV fame often becomes a cage. For actors reading this, the implication is clear: long-term credibility comes from the courage to change direction, not from clinging to one character. For fans, the reward is watching a performer grow into roles with real weight.

Frequently asked questions

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