Former Death in Paradise lead recalls stint on beloved show: “I always knew whodunnit!”

The story starts with an Englishman, an Irishman, and an American traveling to see the Pope. It initially feels like the setup to a joke, particularly because a comedian is telling it. But it quickly becomes something stranger when you learn the Englishman is actually Stephen Merchant and the American is Whoopi Goldberg.

This is a true story, told by comedian, actor, and writer Ardal O’Hanlon, about when he and a group of other comedians were invited to meet Pope Francis at the Vatican in 2024.

O’Hanlon described the event as completely strange. A wide range of comedians were invited, including big names from the US like Goldberg, many Italian comics, and himself along with Tommy Tiernan and Patrick Kielty from Ireland. Surprisingly, there was only one English comedian, Stephen Merchant, whom O’Hanlon spotted across the room but didn’t get to talk to. The Pope then gave a speech praising comedy – and was actually quite funny, earning laughs from the audience, though O’Hanlon couldn’t understand it as it was in Italian. Afterwards, they shook the Pope’s hand, and O’Hanlon gave him his parents’ rosary beads to bless, making him a hero with his family.

He wondered if the Pope had seen the show that made him famous. While Father Ted – and his character, the lovable but dim Father Dougal – was mostly a kind portrayal of Irish priests, it did poke fun at them. He heard that Cardinal Basil Hume was a fan, so he likes to imagine the Pope specifically chose his favorite comedians for the Vatican visit. He jokingly wonders what life is really like there – maybe bingo in the morning and TV shows in the afternoon?

The Pope might actually enjoy O’Hanlon’s new book. Unlike his previous two novels which were quite dark, this one, titled A Plot to Die For, is a lighthearted murder mystery with a lot of heart, clever twists, and funny moments. Though he doesn’t particularly like being called a ‘cosy’ writer, O’Hanlon admits ‘fluffy’ or ‘gentle’ would be acceptable descriptions. The story follows Finn, a well-known gardener who goes back to his childhood home in Ireland to look after his mother – a situation that mirrors O’Hanlon’s own life.

This novel began with my mother’s serious accident and her long recovery. I spent a lot of time with her during that period, and it helped me connect with her on a deeper level. I wanted to write a book she’d love, and also to explore the special bond between mothers and sons, which led to the idea of Finn and his mother working together as investigators.

As a movie fan, something that really struck me was the film’s exploration of fame. There’s this great moment where the character Finn talks about how he hates being called a celebrity – he jokingly says he’s been ‘libelled a celebrity’! I totally get where he’s coming from; it feels really relatable to see someone pushed into that spotlight and not wanting that label.

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O’Hanlon finds a lot of humor in these topics. There’s a funny bit about Finn’s competitive gardening rival, nicknamed ‘Alan Titmouse’ – O’Hanlon even shared the line on Alan Titchmarsh’s show, and thinks Titchmarsh was surprised! You can also tell the author is amused when Finn puts on an episode of ‘Death in Paradise,’ as O’Hanlon himself starred in that Caribbean crime show from 2017 to 2020.

Originally, the idea for the book came from imagining himself as an actor on ‘Death in Paradise’ who also solved a real murder behind the scenes. He admits it’s a bit of a stretch, but felt confident he’d be a good detective, even claiming he often guessed the killer on the show without finishing the script. He also believes people naturally confide in him – and his co-star – perhaps because he has a trustworthy face or is easily recognizable from television, leading strangers to share their personal secrets.

It seems like the 60-year-old actor is almost certain to get the part if the rumored TV series happens. He’s already done the audiobook version, but jokingly admits he made a mistake when writing the character – he made him about 15 years younger. He says that by the time the show is made, he’ll likely be old enough to play the character’s father instead.

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Ed GrenbyAssociate Editor, TopMob

2026-05-04 19:46

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