Ketchup

Marbella, 4th October 2025 — The Marbella crowds gathered outside the Red Dog Cinema in Puerto Banus to welcome actors Kevin McNally and Sandra Dickinson, who arrived in Marbella to unveil their brand-new British sitcom Ketchup at the 2025 Marbella International Film Festival. Sadly Celebrities in Marbella were not able to attend as we were away in Romania at the time of the event, but we thank Georgina Shaw of Shaw Marketing for the invite and subsequent press release.

‘Ketchup’ is the creation of Joe Cawley, author of the bestselling More Ketchup than Salsa memoirs. Drawing on his real-life experiences, the sitcom follows a hapless British couple attempting to run a bar on the Costa del Sol, surrounded by a colourful cast of expats and locals (apologies if this sounds like your friends). Joe describes the show as “a ménage à trois of Benidorm, Cheers and It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia.”

Joe and his fiancée Joy joined the stars and production team on the red carpet to celebrate the launch in true Marbella film festival style.

Filming will take place between Marbella and the UK, with Kevin McNally directing and starring. Best known for his role as Joshamee Gibbs in the Pirates of the Caribbean films, McNally said:

“I’m really looking forward to working with such a talented group of people to create something I believe is going to be a huge success.”

Joining him on screen is American actress Sandra Dickinson, famed for her portrayal of Trillian in the 1981 television adaptation of The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy. Speaking at the event, she said:

“It’s been a weekend of firsts – my first film festival red carpet, my first visit to Marbella, and my first ‘Best Actress’ award! What a beautiful place for it all to happen. I adored filming Ketchup – it’s pure joy, full of twists, turns and the gaiety of conflict!”

Festival Director Mac Chakaveh expressed pride in premiering the project at this year’s event:

“Ketchup is an exciting new sitcom being developed here in Marbella with the support of the Marbella International Film Festival. It perfectly reflects our goal of helping to grow the film and television industry in the region.”

Filming for the first series is already underway.

Joe & Joy’s Journey

Joe and Joy’s story began back in 1991, when they left Bolton for Tenerife to pursue their dream of running a bar. With no prior business experience, no bar background and no Spanish language skills, the couple faced a steep learning curve.

Their experiences inspired Joe’s award-winning More Ketchup than Salsa series, which won Best Travel Narrative from the British Guild of Travel Writers and has been described as “fantastic, hilarious, painful – completely unputdownable.”

Now those books are being transformed into the new sitcom Ketchup, with Joe as Screenwriter and Producer, and Joy as Co-Producer. The series is a co-production between Ketchup Productions Ltd and New World Films, backed by a stellar creative team eager to bring their story to life on screen.

To follow their progress and find out more about Ketchup, visit their website or social media channels.

**Picture credit – The Marbella International Film Festival & PixRase Photography**