Sally Bretton on Beyond Paradise, Not Going Out and the one thing about Death in Paradise that made her scream

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The popular detective show Beyond Paradise returns for a fourth season, picking up the charming romance between Martha Lloyd and Detective Inspector Humphrey Goodman. Their story first unfolded on Death in Paradise back in 2016.

Sally Bretton and Kris Marshall’s characters finally got married in the 2025 Christmas special, and are starting their life as a married couple. But things don’t go smoothly for them – the new season begins with the couple waking up to find their houseboat has come loose and is slowly filling with water.

Bretton felt conflicted about the Goodmans possibly moving off the boat and into a house. While she enjoyed life on the water, filming inside the boat was challenging. She liked shooting scenes on deck, but the interior felt cramped. So, the change felt both positive and sad.

Filming was also dependent on the tides. The scenic view from Anne’s mother’s cottage, which often looks so peaceful, would sometimes be just mud when the tide was out. We had to work around both the tides and the weather to get the shots we needed.

The increasing popularity of “Beyond Paradise” is creating a new problem for those making the show. Fans are flocking to the Cornish locations around Looe – which are used to represent the town of Shipton Abbott – and trying to catch a glimpse of the actors while they’re filming.

Sally believes the recent reveal that the show is filmed in Looe, specifically at Shipton Abbott, has boosted tourism. She’s noticed more visitors, increased awareness of the show, and more people watching when actors like Kelby and Humphrey are filming on the beach.

The show has a friendly and relaxed vibe, which attracts a lot of families. People often stop by just to take a quick photo after seeing it on TV, and their interest is casual and low-key – it’s never really overwhelming or too crowded.

Sally believes the heartwarming connection between her character and Humphrey is a major reason the show resonates with so many viewers, across all ages. She explains, “They truly enjoy each other’s company and are happy when they’re together.” She points out that this kind of genuine connection is rare for leading characters, as shows often rely on conflict and drama to keep things interesting.

Martha and Humphrey are both very kind and considerate of each other, while still enjoying themselves immensely. It’s a relief to see them with partners who are as great as they hoped for, and it’s truly heartwarming to witness.

Throughout the first three seasons of the show, the Goodmans, now married, faced challenges like Martha’s former fiancé, Archie (Jamie Bamber), remaining a factor in their lives, and their struggles to have a child, which ultimately led them to consider fostering.

Sally isn’t sharing whether the fostering storyline will continue next season (“I’m not allowed to say,” she jokes), but she’s happy with how the show has portrayed the characters’ struggles with fertility so far.

She notes that TV often shows fertility stories with positive outcomes. But what happens when treatment isn’t successful, and people have to make difficult choices? She was particularly drawn to exploring questions like whether having two children feels like enough, and how that feels emotionally. She felt this less-common story – one that doesn’t end with a ‘happy ending’ – was compelling and important.

The new season will have its share of challenges – think unexpected home repairs and comical mishaps after Humphrey and Martha find a fixer-upper. But rest assured, the core of the show remains the loving and solid relationship between Humphrey and Martha.

It’s even more remarkable considering Martha was initially created just to provide a reason for Humphrey’s departure from Death in Paradise – a plot point needed when the show’s original star, Kris Marshall, decided to leave the series.

Sally explains that she appeared in two episodes of season five, and suspects she was being considered for a role in a character’s exit storyline. She believes she was initially hired to explore that possibility, and after those two episodes, she was asked to return for the next season to conclude Humphrey’s story.

Honestly, I was so thrilled to hear how much the actress loved filming in Guadeloupe! She said she just couldn’t understand people who come back complaining about the weather – she thought it was unbelievably beautiful and she couldn’t believe she was actually working in such a stunning place. It sounds like a dream come true for her, and I totally get why!

Okay, so they’ve got these massive centipedes – seriously, they’ll make you jump! But honestly, I think just having a few millipedes around to observe would be cool enough, wouldn’t it?

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Death in Paradise has been a long-running hit, with 15 seasons so far. This makes one wonder if Sally, the star of its spin-off Beyond Paradise, hopes that new show will also enjoy such a long run.

I really enjoy this job, and I’d be thrilled if it continued. I love the show – my kids watch it because they genuinely enjoy it, not because I’m on it! They find it really heartwarming to watch, and that’s wonderful. Absolutely, I’m on board with continuing this work!”

Even if her new show, Beyond Paradise, lasts for over ten years, it won’t be Sally’s longest-running project. She’s been playing Lucy, Lee Mack’s wife, in the BBC sitcom Not Going Out since 2007, starting with the show’s second season. With a fifteenth season coming this June, Sally says she sees similarities between herself and both of her well-known characters.

I relate more to Martha than Lucy, honestly. If I were in Lucy’s situation, living with Lee’s character and dealing with all their misadventures, I’d probably be frustrated sometimes. But Lucy seems a little quick to avoid responsibility and always pushes it onto him. She’s okay with arguing with him, but avoids conflict with everyone else, so she relies on him to handle things for her.

I believe Martha handles a lot of life’s challenges, even if she gets overwhelmed occasionally. Overall, I’d say I’m more like her.

Sally is now a well-known actress thanks to her recent roles, but she’s been performing for a long time. Her career began at age seven with a part in the mini-series Napoleon and Josephine: A Love Story, where she acted alongside Jacqueline Bisset as the young daughter of Josephine. She’s built up an impressive list of film, television, and stage appearances since then.

Sally developed her comedic skills performing on television shows alongside Harry Enfield and Armstrong & Miller, and in the sitcom Green Wing. She also received praise for her acting in stage productions like Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf, In Extremis, and King Lear, after first studying at the Central School of Speech and Drama.

Sally still loves the theatre, but she’s particularly proud of playing Donna in The Office. She played a new worker at the Slough branch of Wernham Hogg, alongside Ricky Gervais, Mackenzie Crook, and Martin Freeman.

Sally fondly remembers her time on The Office, saying it was amazing to be part of such a special show. She especially enjoyed working with the talented cast – many of whom were relatively unknown at the time – and the relaxed, collaborative atmosphere on set in Slough. They created something truly remarkable together.

I’m not claiming any blame for what happened, but being involved and witnessing it was a truly unique experience.

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Beyond Paradise season 4 begins on BBC One and iPlayer on Friday 27 March at 8pm.

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Jo Berry
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2026-03-27 11:37