The cast of a smash hit TV comedy have shown their support for a campaign to save Huddersfield’s A&E.
Nine actors from the ITV primetime sitcom Benidorm took a few minutes out of their schedule – a ninth series is currently in production – to display their support for #HandsOffHRI.
The favour was called in by one-time screen and West End actor – and #HandsOffHRI president – Karl Deitch through his old friend Jake Canuso.
And Canuso, who plays sex-mad barman Mateo, asked some of his cast mates to show support for the campaign.
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Those who obliged included stand-up comedian turned actor Johnny Vegas, Janine Duvitski, who plays middle-aged swinger Jacqueline Stewart and Danny Walters, who plays young troublemaker Tiger Dyke.
Karl, who founded #HandsOffHRI, starred in the short film ‘Back to Life’ which was selected for the BAFTAs and Cannes Film Festival, nine years ago.
It was there he met Swiss-born Canuso.
Karl, 36, of Golcar, said: “I direct message him every now and then.
“I just thought I would ask him to see if he’d do it – I didn’t expect him to get half the cast.
“For them to do that is tremendous; it’s a real morale booster.”
Deitch, a dad-of-three, who installs security systems for a living, was spotted by an agent at a restaurant where he was dining with his aunt and uncle.
In 2007, he played two parts in a West End production of Ann Turnbull’s ‘No Shame No Fear’ alongside Amanda Boxer and Niko Nicotera, who was in Netflix crime drama Sons of Anarchy.
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Karl has also appeared on British detective series Dalziel and Pascoe.
Under the Right Care Right Time Right Place proposals, Huddersfield Royal Infirmary will lose its A&E department while emergency care will be centralised in Halifax.
There are other proposals in the project which include the demolition of Huddersfield Royal Infirmary and the construction of a smaller hospital on the Acre Mills site at Lindley.