Death in Paradise's new detective has appeared in BBC series before - but as a villain
Death in Paradise star Don Gilet has previously appeared on the BBC show before taking on the leading role in the new series.
The former EastEnders actor made his debut in the show during the Christmas special but now he is back as the full-time leading detective, DI Mervin Wilson.
But fans may not know that before Don bagged his new role, he had already started in the show alongside lead star Kris Marshall.
Speaking about his previous show cameo, he revealed: “I watched it before I appeared in series four with Kris Marshall. I was watching to see the style of the show and I was drawn in by how they managed to balance the seriousness and gravity of a crime show – because there are murders! – with the quirkiness from the character’s perspective, giving a light touch to it and a comedic edge.
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“There are comedies and there are detective shows; they’d managed to combine those two things, and I thought, ‘This is really doing it.'"
He added: “It was a long time ago now, but I certainly remember enjoying it! I remember thinking I’m here just playing the villain.
“I’ll never have to play that character who speaks for seven pages nonstop. Cut to now, and I’m now playing the character who speaks for seven pages nonstop.”
The BBC series is due to return to our TV screens tomorrow night and a newly-released teaser promises that while there "may be a new detective in town" it is "business as usual" on the Caribbean island.
The first episode will premiere on Friday, January 31 and viewers will also be introduced to new DI Mervin Wilson. Ahead of his first day in the role, Don admitted he was both "excited and terrified" to be returning full-time.
The actor said: "I'm sure it won't be a surprise to say that it was both exciting and terrifying in equal measure. I liken it to one of those scary rides at a theme park. I'm going on it, and I know it's going to be scary, but I'm going to do it.
"You’re daring yourself. Then you sit in the seat going, ‘What have I just let myself in for?!’ But it was exciting because I knew I was embarking on this new journey."
Death in Paradise will return on Friday, January 31 on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.
