Eldorado is set to return to screens three decades after it was axed by the BBC (Image: Getty)
When the cancelled Terry Wogan’s prime time thrice-weekly chat show, it was announced it was to be replaced by a glitzy new soap opera set in called Eldorado.
Hugely hyped by the channel they are rumoured to have spent in the region of £10 million to launch it, including building a special set near Marbella. Despite all the publicity and effort, it lasted for just 156 episodes before the curtain fell 32 years ago.
It was slammed by critics and failed to capture viewers’ imaginations, with finale figures of just 2.8 million, despite its prime time slot.
However, contemporary audiences may be kinder to the much-maligned show as While it was made available on streaming service BritBox in 2022, it is now returning to TV schedules on digital station UKTV, who will rerun the show from the beginning on its U&Drama channel.
As a new generation of viewers get set to discover the delights of the show, takes a look at what happened to the cast after the cameras stopped rolling.
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Jesse Birdall played Eldorado’s resident bad boy Marcus Tandy (Image: Getty)
Jesse Birdsall – Marcus Tandy
Eldorado’s bad boy and lothario, Marcus was given the honour of delivering the soap’s final line. Preparing to sail off into the sunset, he told his girlfriend, Pilar: “You can’t trust anyone these days, can you?”
He went on to star in the adventure drama Bugs. He later took on the role of Roger Webb in Footballers’ Wives who was the manager of fictional team Earls’ Park. His character was married to Gillian Taylforth’s on screen alias Jackie Pascoe. More recently, he appeared as villain Fraser Black in Hollyoaks until the character was killed off.
In his personal life, he married Only Fools and Horses star Gwyneth Strong on July 15, 2000, and they have two children together, Oscar and Lottie.
Polly Perkins – Trish Valentine
Cabaret singer Trish was one of the show’s more colourful characters and had an eye for younger men. She was left upset after returning to the set in 2013 and witnessing its ghost town state. “It’s been let go to rack and ruin – I think it’s a terrible shame, what a waste. It’s not like it’s just scenery – these are real homes,” , she told a reporter. Now 78, her most high-profile role since Eldorado was in as Dot’s half-sister Rose with appearances in 2011 and 2012.
Derek Martin – Alex Morris
Derek lost the beard he sported in Eldorado to join , as Charlie Slater in 2000. The Slater patriarch was axed in 2010. However, he made several returns to Albert Square in 2011, 2013 and 2016, with his final episode seeing Charlie killed off after having a heart attack.
The now 88-year-old also dipped his toe into reality TV, appearing on ‘s Celebrity Coach Trip alongside Nick Cotton actor John Altman in 2012.
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Derek Martin went on to enjoy a long stint on EastEnders after Eldorado (Image: Getty)
Sandra Sandri – Pilar Montero
Sandra was only 20 when she shot to fame playing Marcus Tandy’s love interest on Eldorado. It was only her second role having appeared in film Boom Boom in 1990. Her last notable appearance according to IMDB was in 2004 film Searching for Love.
Roger Walker – Bunny Charlson
Roger was at the centre of a scandalous storyline when he arrived in Spain with 17-year-old bride Fizz. Since the show ended he has gone onto appear in Casualty, Peak Practice, The Bill and .
Campbell Morrison – Drew Lockhead
Scottish actor Campbell, had appeared in the likes of Taggart and The Bill before Eldorado and following the show’s demise he returned to ITV police drama as well as appearing in Sky’s cult football drama Dream Team. He sadly died in 2008 at the age of 55 following a long illness.