Benidorm’s flirty barman, Mateo, was played by Jake Canuso for 11 years from 2007 to 2018 and is now unrecognisable from his time on the hit ITV sitcom set in Spain
For 11 years, from 2007 to 2018, he was the charming barman in ITV’s popular sitcom Benidorm. However, actor Jake Canuso, now 55, looks vastly different from his days as heartthrob Mateo Castellanos.
Jake shared the screen with stars such as Crissy Rock – who has since revealed her childhood sexual abuse trauma – as well as Johnny Vegas, Steve Pemberton and Sherrie Hewson. He holds the record for being the longest-serving character on the show, having appeared in all 74 episodes. These days, he sports a new look with longer hair and stubble, and it appears he’s been spending some time at the gym. In a harrowing incident back in 2004, Jake narrowly escaped death during the Indian Ocean tsunami on Boxing Day while holidaying in Ko Phra Thong, Thailand.
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After spotting the initial waves, he climbed a tree for safety but ended up trapped underwater when the tree snapped. This traumatic experience led to him developing aquaphobia, leaving him too frightened to swim for several years.
A decade ago, Jake participated in ITV’s diving show Splash!, hosted by Tom Daley, reports OK!. Since then, he’s expressed an interest in joining Strictly Come Dancing and also portrayed Alejandro, a pig farmer, in the film Fyre Rises.
Hollywood star and Spider-Man actor Eric Roberts co-starred in the film, which also featured a host of British talent including EastEnders‘ Steven Beale actor Aaron Sidwell and Marc Bannerman, who played Gianni di Marco in the soap.
Jake has recently branched out from acting, offering personalised videos on the popular celebrity messaging platform Cameo. He’s garnered numerous five-star reviews and promotes his services with the tagline: “Mateo from Benidorm at your services.” His videos start at £56 and can be delivered within 24 hours.
Last year, he encouraged his Instagram followers to purchase a video, saying: “It’s nearly Valentine’s Day. Last chance to get a cheeky Valentines message from Benidorm’s Barman Mateo. Check out the link and if you book today all messages will be done by tomorrow.”
Before his breakout role in Benidorm, Jake was a professional dancer for 18 years, sharing the stage with big names like Rozalla, the Spice Girls, Annie Lennox, and Elton John. He also featured in music videos for Alex Party’s hit 90s single Don’t Give Me Your Life, Carter USM’s Let’s Get Tattoos, 2 Unlimited’s Here I Go, and Kylie Minogue’s Give Me Just A Little More Time.
He’s made a name for himself in pantomimes, starring in Aladdin in Birmingham in 2014 and Jack and the Beanstalk in Bradford the following year. Other Benidorm actors have pursued various roles and jobs, including working as an ASDA delivery driver and appearing in Ted Lasso.
In April this year, it was rumoured that Benidorm could be making a huge comeback, eight years after it was axed. The sitcom is experiencing a resurgence in popularity, particularly on streaming platforms like Netflix.
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