Death in Paradise's Christmas plot - with triple murder and string of guest stars
Death in Paradise returns in a matter of weeks for the Christmas special and the BBC drama has now revealed which guest stars will be making an appearance. The 2024 festive episode of the murder mystery drama will star Ghosts’ actor Jim Howick, Waterloo Road’s Angela Griffin, Marcus Brigstocke from The Unbelievable Truth.
Also joining them in the episode will be Steven Harltey from Happy Valley, Elizabeth Carling from Hotel Portofino, Michael Salami from Supacell and Doctors star, Dex Lee. And luckily for us, the first-look photos and details of the episode have also been released, so here’s what we can expect…
Detective Inspector Mervin Wilson (played by EastEnders star Don Gilet) will make his debut in the Christmas episode as the newest member of the Saint Marie police to join the team - and has his work cut out for him with his first case.
READ MORE: Liam Payne's posthumous single release date postponed as collaborator says 'it's not the time yet'
READ MORE: Gareth Gates banned from driving after fourth offence in less than three years
Mervin ruffles some feathers as he clashes with the island’s way of life. But he quickly sinks his teeth into one of the team's most puzzling murder cases yet: three men, all unconnected apart from the fact that they’re dressed as Santa Claus, and seemingly all shot with the exact same gun at the exact same time. As Mervin wrangles this impossible murder, his colleagues struggle with their new boss’s unusual working methods. And Dwayne’s Christmas with his father doesn’t exactly go to plan.
Returning to the series is Don Warrington as Commissioner Selwyn Patterson, Shantol Jackson as DS Naomi Thomas, Ginny Holder as Officer Darlene Curtis, Danny John-Jules as Officer Dwayne Myers and Élizabeth Bourgine as Catherine Bordey in the BBC Caribbean crime drama's festive special. The episode will also see Dwayne joined by his father, Nelson, played by Ram John Holder.
Fans are looking forward to the Death in Paradise spin-off Return to Paradise which stars the very first female lead, played by Anna Samson, and airs this Friday evening (22 November). Viewers are even more excited to see a familiar face as previous leading DI Jack Mooney (Ardal O’Hanlon) will return for a cameo. Anna revealed: "We pay homage to the original series," says Anna. "It’s very similar in spirit, but it’s not a carbon copy."
And the door is still open for other stars of the franchise, such as Ben Miller, Ralf Little or Kris Marshall. "I’d love to bring them all in," Anna chuckles. In the new series, it's revealed that Anna has previously worked with Ardal’s character Jack in London. However, in reality, the actors have never met. "Ardal shot in London and I shot in Australia," reveals Anna.
"I’d love to meet him, he plays my boss at the Metropolitan Police in London, and Mackenzie left under a cloud of suspicion. Ardal’s character is overseeing the trouble in London and trying to keep Mackenzie informed, but can only tell her so much because it’s all very secret. If Mackenzie has friends, he is her friend."
