DEATH IN PARADISE s14 - Fri 31st Jan. 9pm bbc. TV PACE NO SPOILERS

[Blondeshavemorefun]

yah. It’s back. For 8w

We're transported back to the tropical island of Saint Marie, and this time with a new Detective Inspector in place - but will DI Mervin Wilson (Don Gilet) remain in the job for long?

Following the recently cracked case of ‘who shot the Santas?’, along with the revelation that his estranged mother has passed away, Mervin is ready to get back home and leave the island for good.

But when a case close to the hearts of those at the station presents itself, is he tempted to extend his stay?

As Mervin continues to ruffle feathers, the police team pull together to solve some of the island’s most confounding cases yet.

And making their mark across the series is a host of fantastic guest stars including: Tobi Bakare (Kingsman), reprising his role of Sergeant JP Hooper, Michelle Greenidge (Kaos), Joy Richardson (Dreamland), Stephen Odubola (Boiling Point), Anthony J. Abraham (The Acolyte), Simon Lennon (Our Girl), Bhavna Limbachia (Brassic), Adam James (The Day of The Jackal), David Avery (Gangs of London), Sofia Oxenham (A Very Royal Scandal), Patricia Allison (Sex Education), Imogen King (Love Rat), David Mumeni (Bridgerton), Madeline Appiah (In The Long Run), Siobhan Redmond (Two Doors Down), Chantelle Alle (Hijack), Rita Bernard-Shaw (The Power), Bobby Gordon (Three Little Birds), Tony Marshall (Casualty), Charlotte Spencer (The Gold), Tala Gouveia (McDonald & Dodds), Trieve Blackwood-Cambridge (Holby City), Gerard Horan (Detectorists), Judith Jacob (The Five), Lily Nichol (Renegade Nell), Lyndsey Marshal (Inside Man) and more.

Elsewhere, Commissioner Selwyn Patterson (Don Warrington) must deal with momentous news from the Chief Commissioner in Jamaica that rocks the police department to its very core.

As an unexpected foe attempts to enforce the unfathomable, Catherine (Elizabeth Bourgine), in her role as Mayor, acts as the last line of defence in a battle to save the team as we know it.

In an unexpected twist, Naomi (Shantol Jackson) finds herself at an emotional crossroads when an old flame from St Barnabas makes a surprising appearance on the island, while Darlene (Ginny Holder) becomes a mentor when a new officer joins the ranks, but is left questioning whether she’s the right person for the job.

And with the opportunity to learn more about his mother’s life, Mervin begins to discover things may not be all that they seem in Saint Marie. As everything he thought he knew unravels, will his life ever be the same again?

Death in Paradise was the UK’s most watched returning drama in 2024 across all broadcasters and streamers, with last year's series watched by over 8 million viewers. BBC Studios, who distribute the series, have now licensed Death in Paradise to over 230 territories across the globe.

Following the successful launch of spin-off series Beyond Paradise in 2023, the Death in Paradise franchise has built on its international success with new Australia-set spin-off series for the ABC - Return to Paradise, which launched last year on BBC iPlayer and BBC One.

Filmed on the French Caribbean Island of Guadeloupe, Death in Paradise continues to delight audiences with the perfect blend of exciting escapism, puzzling mysteries, and juicy plot twists set against an idyllic sun-drenched backdro

Yes, I wondered that about Darlene. Is this her second series in uniform?

As a team, they seem to be gelling well, which I think never really happened in Beyond Paradise - preferred Humphrey in St Marie, but I think does happen in the Australian version.

I hope he does want to retire rather than being pushed out. Maybe it’s to tease the viewers and he will remain. I still see him in the rising damp days. What a series that was.

I hope he does want to retire rather than being pushed out. Maybe it’s to tease the viewers and he will remain. I still see him in the rising damp days. What a series that was.

He's 72, so he may want to retire or downshift. I don't know if he's doing any theatre nowadays, we saw him in Death of a Salesman a few years ago, very good.

Missed this last night due to being on phone

haven’t read past 9. Will be back in an hour to read /reply

I thought the peanut oil might have been in toothpaste!

I suppose it might be out of character but it is a shame that Selwyn couldn't have just decided to retire without this fuss.

As a pp put, DW is 72!

Surely there's a retirement age for Commissioners?

I did as well, or in the skin cream (before it was found in her mouth)

Oh that was clever. I did think it was her due to the way she yelled get the pen and stabbed her

but didn’t know how she did it - I thought maybe peanut oil in the cream but that wouidnt get in her mouth

Will also miss the com. Hope he stays

There’s a rumour that Martin Clunes is being lined up to replace Don Warrington. Don’t think that would be the same at all.

I’ve seen that and hope it’s not true. I hope it’s a female. I don’t think they’ve had a female DI yet so I think it’s time we had a female commissioner. However how will that square with the role no longer there.

But surely the commissioner has to be a local man, not someone from the UK?

I think if they get rid of the Commissioner role Selwyn could still hang around in Catherine's bar, getting in the way and interfering in investigations. Let's face it, that's pretty much what he does now.

The inspectors always are though

I quite like the new recruit but not keen on the new inspector. He's too rude but then they all have to have some sort of "quirk" 🙄

This 😂

Somehow I don't think the organisational structure and hiring procedures pertaining to St Marie have very fixed rules. It's always seemed too small a place to have a Commissioner of its own. I've never been clear how many police there are in total - not just the St Honore station, there were maybe half a dozen at the young officers funeral?

E4

a distillery owner is poisoned during a rum testing but all drank from the same bottle

I don’t see how you can get a new anything as surely they are either doing away with the job or Selwyn would stay , it will make no sense . The logical thing is a new boss who oversees many islands and if they didn’t already have one of those in place surely Selwyn would be applying for the new top job . It may have just made more sense to say he wanted to retire which is reasonable with his age .

I know it's only pretend but there's no way somebody of Selwyn's age would still be a policeman - unless it's different in the Caribbean. Most police officers I've known have retired around 50.

I don't think there ever was much realism about a small island having its own Comissioner and imported British detectives!

The Aussie one with the sergeant able to just hire a detective currently under investigation by the U.K. force plus a forensic pathologist apparently serving a small area didn't seem very likely either.

Looking forward to tonight's episode. I've been binge watching the last few series recently as I hadn't seen that many of them but do love it.

I'm thinking Don Warrington might well be considering retirement at age 72. Perhaps he might stick around for smaller cameo roles? Hope so.

If the rumours about Martin Clunes joining as the new Commissioner are true then I think it will be OK. He'll settle into the role and put his own mark on it. Maybe as a Doc Martin style character, which he played very well.

I hope Don Warrington sticks around too.

I couldn't take to ths lead character in the Aussie one so gave up on it. Pity as I really wanted to like it.

I often watch these programmes with the ‘suspend reality’ mindset!

Same!

A Commissioner role is completely untenable for that Island, in reality.

But who cares?? We’re not watching this for reality are we. Escapism, spot the actor that you’ve seen in something before but can’t quite place, a bit of a puzzle and a denouement a la Agatha Christie being the (welcome) standard.