How BBC drama Death in Paradise became one of TV’s biggest hits thanks to its revolving cast & celeb cameos
WHEN a TV show loses its main character it usually signals its demise – but not Death In Paradise.
Ralf Little became the latest star to quit the much-loved BBC crime comedy drama, which has seen three other actors come and go in the lead role over the course of its 13 series.
The 44-year-old’s departure comes after it was revealed Death In Paradise will be getting its second spin-off series, Return To Paradise.
Set in Australia, it will centre on a new female detective, DI Mackenzie Clarke, played by Anna Samson.
The original series, where the action takes place on the fictitious Caribbean island of Saint Marie, was panned by snobby critics after the first episode aired in 2011, with The Guardian dubbing it: “The TV equivalent of a boring holiday timeshare.”
However, viewers lapped it up, and with a peak audience of 9.81million it has quietly became one of the most watched shows on telly.
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Last year it was only pipped to top spot by crime drama Happy Valley.
But how is the non-trendy show — essentially a tropical Corrie — doing it?
We reveal the secrets to its success . . .
INSPIRED BY TRUE STORY
WE love a bit of true crime and while the show might be a drama, it is inspired by a real-life events.
The show’s creator, Robert Thorogood, was a 35-year-old struggling screenwriter with no TV credits to his name when he read a news story about English cricket coach Bob Woolmer, who died under mysterious circumstances at the 2007 World Cup in the Caribbean.
Crime was suspected, so a Met Police detective was sent to investigate.
Robert, now 52, said: “I imagined an uptight and by-the-book London copper trying to solve a murder in the sweltering heat of the tropics.
“There was a series in this. I was sure of it.
“So I took the pitch for my ‘Copper In The Caribbean’ idea around all of the production companies I could blag my way into.”
I imagined an uptight, by-the-book London copper trying to solve a murder in the sweltering heat of the tropics. There was a series in this. I was sure of it
Robert Thorogood
Three months after Woolmer’s death the police stated that they believed the coach died of natural causes — and an inquest in November 2007 returned an open verdict.
Meanwhile, Robert was busy selling his programme idea — and he is still shocked it would go on to become such a hit.
Speaking ahead of series ten in 2021, he said: “I remember saying, if we could just get to series two I’ll be happy.
"It has a lot of elements that are popular — a sunny location, fish-out-of-water story, a light-hearted murder mystery.
"I knew all the elements were very commercial but I had no idea that it would become such a long-running show.”
And many of the show’s writers have come from the world of soaps, so they know how to create high drama.
REVOLVING CAST AND SPIN-OFFS
FILMED on the French Caribbean island of Guadeloupe, the show originally starred actor and comedian Ben Miller, 58, as Detective Inspector Richard Poole.
But after Ben tired of working so far from home his character was killed off in 2014 and replaced by Love Actually star Kris Marshall, 50, as DI Humphrey Goodman.
When he left in 2017 for the same reason, Father Ted star Ardal O’Hanlon, 58, took over as DI Jack Mooney for the next three series before The Royle Family’s Ralf Little joined in 2020 as DI Neville Parker.
Each actor has brought something new to the lead role, helping to keep things fresh.
There is also an ever-changing supporting cast brought in for each episode to play characters caught up in the murders.
And with 2023 spin-off Beyond Paradise, set in Devon, producers cleverly brought back fan favourites, with Kris reprising his role as Humphrey.
Now in its second series, it became British TV’s third most-watched drama last year, attracting 7.4million viewers.
No doubt with such a winning formula, Return To Paradise, set to air later this year, is likely to enjoy the same success.
CELEB CAMEOS
WITH new faces joining the cast each episode, the show has pulled in some big name stars, much to the delight of its loyal fanbase.
Cold Feet and Friends star Helen Baxendale, 53, had a guest role in 2014 playing villain Helen Reid, who murdered Ben Miller’s DI Poole with an ice pick.
Line Of Duty’s Adrian Dunbar, 65, was in a couple of episodes of series one, while his Line co-star, Martin Compston, 39, played a chef in series five episode Dishing Up Murder.
Lashana Lynch, 36, appeared in 2014 before hitting the big time in 2021 James Bond film No Time To Die.
Crazy Rich Asians’ Gemma Chan, 41, starred in the same episode as Gavin & Stacey’s Mathew Horne, 45, in series two.
And former S Club 7 singer Hannah Spearritt, 45, also featured in series two as Lily Shaw.
SAVVY SCHEDULING
IF Death In Paradise aired over the summer it might not enjoy as much success as it has.
So it is a smart move to place the series in the winter months, when it can transport sun-starved viewers to palm-fringed beaches without them having to leave their sofa — or fork out for a package holiday.
The most recent series started in February and ended late last month, just before British Summer Time kicked in.
It is the same tactic ITV used with the last few series of its smash-hit comedy Benidorm, putting it on in the dismal depths of January when there is little to do but watch telly.
PARODY OF DETECTIVE DRAMA CLICHES
THE show appears to take inspiration from legendary crime writer Agatha Christie’s Miss Marple and Hercule Poirot stories, where all the suspects are gathered together at the end of each episode for a grand reveal of the murderer and motive.
But it has almost become a parody of detective drama clichés — and the murders are often so outlandish, including locked-room killings, there are articles ranking them.
The evidence is also slowly recapped so even if you have nodded off it makes it easy to work out who the murderer is.
And even if you can’t, it’s still fun to play along.
LIGHT ON GORE
WHEN you watch Death In Paradise you always know someone is going to end up being killed — the clue is in the title, after all.
But this is a cosy murder mystery.
The killings are bloodless and there is no gore, which makes a refreshing change from the Scandi noir shows that have ruled the schedules in recent years.
Also, there is no boring politics.
It is just a light, fluffy show you can sit and watch with your parents or kids.
STALWARTS & NEWBIES
WHILE the lead character has changed a lot, some of the supporting cast have stayed in the show for several series, including veteran actor Don Warrington, who shot to fame in ITV sitcom Rising Damp in the 1970s.
Don, 72, has featured in all 13 series as Commissioner Selwyn Patterson.
Red Dwarf’s Danny John-Jules, 63, also featured early on, starring as police officer Dwayne Myers before quitting the show in 2018.
Portuguese-French actress Sara Martins, 46, had a recurring role as Detective Sergeant Camille Bordey.
She left in 2015, following a will-they-won’t-they relationship with Kris Marshall’s Humphrey.
French actress and singer Josephine Jobert was the first to fill her boots in the assistant role, playing DS Florence Cassell.
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Now that space is taken by Shantol Jackson as DS Naomi Thomas.
And while this cast are no out-and-out A-listers, it doesn’t matter — because the show is the true star.