WATCHING Benidorm Live is like leafing through saucy seaside postcards. It’s bold as brass, near the knuckle, rib-ticklingly cheeky...and as British as fish and chips on the Costa.

Derren Litten’s adaptation of his hit TV comedy brings its warmth and wit to the stage, with a new Alicante adventure for the much-loved series regulars. At the three-star Solana the Brits are very much abroad, and a mystery hotel inspector is ruffling the feathers of manager Joyce Temple-Savage and her madcap team. Last night's Alhambra audience loved it; lapping up the northern humour and leaping to their feet.

There’s poignancy too, among the laughs, as this tour is a swansong for the popular comedy which, after a 10-year run, is no longer on the small screen. Will it continue as a live show instead? I hope so. The writing is razor-sharp - it’s an affectionate nod to the British sitcom - and the cast is a class act. When you have the likes of Janine Duvitski, Sherrie Hewson and Tony Maudsley on stage, the Carry On-style comic timing is in safe hands. It’s a nice touch that each principal character makes their entrance to audience applause.

Mark Walters’ impressive set recreates the familiar Solana backdrop, seamlessly shifting from hotel reception to the Blow ‘n’ Go salon to poolside bar. The second act is set in Neptune’s, where singer Asa Elliott, familiar to viewers as the bar’s resident singer, opened an entertaining karaoke session.

The plot strands - snobbish couple reluctantly re-located to The Solana, mistaken identity among staff and holiday-makers, and a couple of poolside swingers thrown in - will be familiar to Benidorm fans, but it’s fresh enough for newcomers too. The only thing missing, for me, was a family, a mainstay of the TV show, but the other regulars are there.

Presiding over it all is Sherrie Hewson, whose withering put-downs were priceless. Tony Maudsley was a hoot as hairdresser Kenneth, earning the biggest belly laughs with his gift for physical comedy, not least in a hilarious Flamenco dancing routine, and Jake Canuso was excellent as flirty barman Mateo, oozing comic charisma and showcasing his impressive dance skills.

Adam Gillen stole our hearts as hapless Liam and Shelley Longworth was delightful as Sam, with a fabulous singing voice.

And what a treat to see comedy treasure Janine Duvitski on stage as ‘free spirit’ Jacqueline, turning the innuendos up a notch while looking as if butter wouldn’t melt. I could watch her scampering across the stage all day.

Great performances too from Damian Williams as Derek, Will Jennings as Ricky and Tricia Adele-Turner and Bradley Clarkson as posh couple Sophie and Ben.

A sunkissed treat for chilly autumn evenings.

Runs until Saturday.