Transmission Breakdown

a TV audience of billions minus the population of Benidorm!

The old saw about it never rains but it pours was certainly true on Saturday night round Benidorm way.

When it's considered that the Spanish watch more telly than anybody else in Europe, then of all the tragedies that could happen none could be worse that the local TV transmitter breaking down on Saturday - except one.

Saturday was the start of the European football championships and Spain were playing in front of a TV audience of billions minus the population of Benidorm! Anxious footy fans spent a nail-biting hour staring at blank TV screens, smoking endless Ducados (so nothing unusual there - Ed.) and flooding the police station with calls of complaint!

Fortunately, normal service was resumed just before the game kicked off and Spain obliged with a 1-0 win over Russia.

17 June 2004 Stephen White.