Madge Harvey

Did You Know?

• Reid had never driven a mobility scooter before filming and initially struggled, saying 'I didn't know what was forward or back. I ruined everything.'
• Madge's mobility scooter became so iconic that hen parties dress up as Madge and scooter around Benidorm.

Creation and casting

Sheila Reid was cast as Madge Harvey after Annette Crosbie turned down the role because she did not want to leave her rescue greyhounds during a long filming period in Spain. Reid, who is Scottish and naturally softly spoken, adopted a sharp Northern accent to match the character’s Manchester background. In 2014, Reid and the rest of the Garvey family left Benidorm in the seventh series. She called their departure a communal decision and later returned for a single guest appearance in the eighth series.

Appearances

Madge pays for her family's holiday in Benidorm. She upsets granddaughter Chantelle by accusing her of planning her pregnancy to ruin the holiday. Madge accidentally gives Donald and Jacqueline Stewart the impression she is a swinger, but later agrees to forget Jacqueline's sex act after they buy her cigarettes. Madge's new boyfriend Mel Harvey brings the family back to Benidorm; her daughter Janice is sceptical but Madge accepts Mel's marriage proposal.

Grandchildren convince Madge that Mel kissed fellow scooter-rider Sylvia, leading to a cat fight at the pool. Mel assures Madge he wants to marry her. When Mick discovers Mel is a multi-millionaire, he and Janice approve the wedding. During the wedding, Geoff Maltby accidentally knocks Mel unconscious with a paraglider.

Madge and Janice get into a car with criminal Enrique 'The Rat' Lopez, who tries to make them traffic drugs and holds them hostage before Mel rescues them. Mel opens a mobility shop in Benidorm, which is destroyed by a fire at the opening. Madge's estranged daughter Valda stays at the Solana with her husband Vikram. Michael inadvertently supplies Madge with drugs, causing her to jump off a karaoke stage onto Valda. Mel later buys The Benidorm Palace, leading him and Madge to relocate to Spain.

Reception

Reid remarked that audiences of all ages and sexes love Benidorm and that meeting fans brings genuine smiles. Brian Slade from Television Heaven praised the interplay between Madge and son-in-law Mick Garvey. Patrick Mulkern of Radio Times commended Madge's feud with Sylvia, calling their poolside face-off in cowgirl hats and mobility scooters a comedy classic.