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

That’s why I think the UK version didn’t quite work for me, although I thought that Kris M was great in DiP.

‘Death in Paradise’ and ‘Return to Paradise’ was a bit of escapism, sunshine, beautiful scenery and a cozy mystery drama during the drab winter months, and if it didn’t quite ring true, it didn’t matter.

However, although Cornwall is beautiful, it was a bit to close to home, and became a bit to soap-opera-y, plus they threw in the daft young copper which didn’t quite work for me. The beauty of Dip was that it was true escapism, whilst the British version was a sitcom.

What the woman in waistcoats ?

Yes that's her.
Stomped around with her hands in her pickets scowling all ths time.

And in love with her ex fiancé who she dumped

Yep.

And isn't he still in love with her despite agreeing to marry someone else?

I wonder if we were supposed to root for them?

I much preferred his fiancee!

I really enjoyed Return to Paradise. I wasn't sure I was going to, but it had all the elements of the original that I love. Beyond Paradise is my least favourite of the three, but I still like it. I think it may be partly filmed in Cornwall but it's supposed to be set in Devon.

I don’t mind suspending realism , but if the Selwyn story is because Don wants to retire then just retire him because the dragging it out is just irritating and will make it stupid if they do replace him . I read somewhere that Duane comes back as his replacement which is a bit of a leap when he never got past constable 😀 We’ve not tried the Australian one as it didn’t appeal at all and I like Kris M and the sargeant in the West Country one but I cannot bear Martha , although she was slightly better in the Christmas special . If they start another storyline of her and the ex fiancé in the next series I will stop watching , it’s just so boring .

Harry’s back, and seems to have got bigger..

I'm not impressed with the stylist for the female characters - Naomi suffers worst in the colour blocking like it's 2007 and then the outfits that have her dressed for a beach party rather than working a crime scene - first there was the salmon pink, off the shoulder party top last week and then this week the fushia pink very low cut number.

... and Darlene - could they not find her a pair of uniform trousers for riding the motorbike and tramping around jungle crime scenes? - the uniform skirt is really unflattering ....

I find the way they speak to the inspector quite disrespectful towards a senior officer. I get they aren’t meant to like him but I don’t know just a bit off to me.

He's not been terribly respectful to his colleagues. I'm actually really enjoying the dynamics of this team.

Here here

Yes and so nasty about sat dish

No one is ever on the beach

Re Darlene's skirt.
When we were in Barbados all the waitresses wore skirts like these and I noticed a clothes shop had racks of them - all navy or black and very tight.
Must be the thing out there but agreed, not very practical when chasing crooks or getting on the motorbike or in the sidecar!

I said I’d never seen anyone on that beach until the day they all arrived to complain about the dish. Catherine has her fingers in a lot of pies, I find her irritating.

Are some of the interiors filmed in the UK? Some scenes don’t look authentic and I’m sure I spotted my M&S artificial grass in a metal pot in the office of the wellness place.

I also find Catherine irritating. She's such a nosey parker offering unwanted advice to everyone

agree that the beach is always deserted in every season. Not warming to the new fella or the rookie

Me neither. Really don't like the inspector I find the new guy faintly amusing but think that will wear off .
Hopefully he doesn't become as annoying as that dreadful Ruby a few years ago.

I must be very easily pleased! I don't mind Seb and I liked Ruby.

I hope Seb calms down a bit under Darlene's influence. And she's already improving the Inspector's manners.

I absolutely love Darlene pointedly waiting for the Inspector to say please before she does as he asks! Fabulous. I had a head of department who was a little like Mervyn in some ways, although he had no redeeming features, unlike Mervyn. I'd have liked to take Darlene's line with him, but was too much of a coward.

Was Ruby the commissioners niece? And she improved over time.

Yes she was Selwyn's niece.
I think she left because she didn't like the criticism the character was getting.