Return To Paradise actress apologises to co-star after character's rude comments
Death In Paradise is bringing a new spin-off to our screens in the form of Return To Paradise - the franchise's latest detective drama set in Australia. Home and Away's Anna Samson stars as DI Mackenzie Clarke, while British comedian Lloyd Griffith takes on the role of Detective SC Colin Cartwright.
However, viewers can expect the detective duo to be at loggerheads - with Lloyd revealing that his co-star Anna would often apologise for her character's rude comments after filming. "She was apologising for being cruel to me or rude to me," he said. "I was like, ‘It’s fine. We’re acting.’ So it’s quite funny seeing the juxtaposition between Anna and her character Mackenzie.”
The new show follows Mackenzie as she returns to her Australian home in Dolphin Cove after serving in the UK's Metropolitan police and finds herself investigating the murder of local estate agent Stuart Granger. Anna is the first female actress to play the lead in a Death in Paradise series and admitted that she found the idea daunting at first.
READ MORE:Death in Paradise star makes surprise cameo in spin-off series Return To Paradise
READ MORE:Coronation Street star confirms horrifying new storyline that will leave viewers in tears
"You have to put that to the side,” she said. “The pressure of being the first female, or the size of the franchise, is not helpful. I don’t think being a female changes the DNA of the show. Being in Australia changes it more.
"As well as being fairly overwhelmed, there was great joy and pride,” she added. “I was as pleased as punch that I got to play the first female lead in the franchise.”
Sign up to OK!'s TV newsletter to get updates sent to your inbox for free
Death in Paradise's Ardal O'Hanlon makes a cameo as DI Jack Mooney in the show, with Anna revealing that she hopes the show's other stars will also drop by. "We pay homage to the original series. It’s very similar in spirit, but it’s not a carbon copy," she said. "I’d love to bring them all in."
She added: "Ardal shot in London and I shot in Australia. 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."
Watch Return to Paradise on Friday 22 November, 8pm, BBC One
