Death in Paradise spin-off star confirms return of former detective after heartbreaking exit
Death in Paradise's latest spin-off, Return to Paradise, will see the return of a former detective.
The BBC has released the first trailer and brand new pictures of Return to Paradise ahead of its launch on November 22.
Featuring the picturesque setting of Dolphin Cove, the new pictures and trailer reveal Anna Samson (Dead Lucky, Wake in Fright, Jack Irish) as DI Mackenzie Clarke and Lloyd Griffith (Ted Lasso, Nolly) as Detective Colin Cartwright in the midst of solving a case.
Tai Hara (Home and Away, Colin from Accounts, Austin) plays Glenn Strong alongside Celia Ireland (Wentworth, Total Control) and Aaron McGrath (Gold Diggers, Preppers) as Police volunteer Reggie Rocco and PC Felix Wilkinson.
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The series also stars Catherine McClements (Total Control, Ms Fisher’s Modern Murder Mysteries) and Andrea Demetriades (Mother and Son, The Artful Dodger).
Speaking ahead of the series, the show's new lead detective, Anna, opened up about what it was like to play Mackenzie and confirmed the return of Ardal O'Hanlon, who played detective Jack Mooney in Death in Paradise.
Jack left Saint Marie to move back to London to be with his daughter, and he was soon replaced by Neville Parker, who was played by Ralf Little.
In Return to Paradise, Jack plays Mackenzie's boss, and while Anna admitted she never actually met Ardal while filming, she was thrilled to have him feature in the spin-off.
"We can expect Ardal to make more than one appearance than just in the first episode," Anna teased before adding: "Because he plays my boss back at the Metropolitan Police.
"I am in constant contact with him, trying to figure out when I can get out of Dolphin Cove and come back to London. So he quite an important character to Mackenzie, he is her boss and someone she is friends with and respects."
She continued: "So the show, without being a carbon copy of the original, has lots of tips of the hat to the original, not just with the characters but even certain shots are paying homage to the original, like on the beach with the suitcase and not [wearing] an appropriate outfit for the weather. That is certainly a wink and a nod to the original."
Anna added: "I didn't get to meet Ardal because he shot his stuff in London and my stuff in Australia. I want to meet all of [the Death in Paradise cast]. I think it is something about playing the lead detective in a Paradise show, so I want to talk to them; I would love to meet them all."
The synopsis for the upcoming series teases: "Return to Paradise follows DI Mackenzie Clarke, an Australian ex-pat who’s made a name for herself in London’s Metropolitan Police for cracking uncrackable murder cases.
"When she is accused of tampering with evidence, Mackenzie returns to Australia, back to the last place she ever wanted to be – her hometown of Dolphin Cove. Having fled the town six years ago, infamously leaving her ex-fiancée Glenn at the altar, Mackenzie is not welcome here.
"But with no other job options and a unique talent for solving a mystery, no matter how challenging, a reluctant Mack joins the team at Dolphin Cove Police Station.
"Once a case lands on her desk, she can’t rest until she’s figured it out and the killer is in handcuffs. It’s that tenacity and work ethic that might just, over time, help Mackenzie win over her new colleagues and the people of Dolphin Cove.
Return to Paradise airs on November 22 at 8pm on BBC One.
