It’s Christmas on Death in Paradise and the team are facing one of their most baffling cases yet.
Detectives in Saint Marie are baffled by a murder where the apparent weapon was locked away in England at the time of the crime. A man was found dead in a swimming pool, but the item that seemingly caused his death was hundreds of miles away.
The official description asks: “How could this have happened?” and points to a strange detail: the victim had the name of one of Santa’s reindeer tattooed on their palm.
Additionally, Mervin and the team are saddened by Selwyn’s departure, as he chose not to return to his position at the end of season 14.
Don Gilet remarked that it’s surprising to consider a central character, who has been present since the very beginning, might be leaving the show.
It’s powerful to play a character facing this: he’s finally found a father figure, only to potentially lose him again. The thought of being alone, of losing the one person who understands and cares for him, is a really compelling emotional journey for the actor.
He’s made a choice, but what will happen next is anyone’s guess. Will he regret it? Will something come along to assist him? I honestly don’t know.
So, what else can you expect from the special? And when can you watch it?
Read on for everything you need to know about this year’s Death in Paradise festive episode.
Death in Paradise Christmas special 2025 release date: When will it air?
This year’s festive episode will air on 28th December at 8:30pm on BBC One and iPlayer.
Death in Paradise Christmas special 2025 cast: Who stars?
The confirmed returning cast of the special is as follows:
- Don Gilet’s DI Mervin Wilson
- Shantol Jackson as DS Naomi Thomas
- Ginny Holder as Officer Darlene Curtis
- Shaquille Ali-Yebuah as Officer Sebastian Rose
- Élizabeth Bourgine as Catherine Bordey
And a number of new guest stars have also joined them:
- Josie Lawrence (Outside Edge)
- Kate Ashfield (Shaun of the Dead)
- Pearl Mackie (Doctor Who)
- James Baxter (Waterloo Road)
- Billy Harris (Ted Lasso)
- Oriana Charles
- Alix Serman
Death in Paradise Christmas special 2025 plot: What will happen?
The company Christmas party turns deadly when four colleagues discover a dead body in the pool of their Caribbean villa, according to the official description of the story.
Okay, so DI Mervin Wilson and his team have figured out how the murder was committed, which is a start. But things get seriously weird when the murder weapon turns up… locked in a drawer in Swindon, England! Thousands of miles from our sunny Saint Marie setting. It’s a real head-scratcher, and honestly, they’re completely stumped. Thankfully, they’re not alone for long – a face we’ve seen before is stepping in to help them unravel this increasingly bizarre case. It’s a clever twist, and I’m eager to see how this long-distance mystery plays out.
Mervin is worried while he waits for news about his brother, and it’s keeping him from enjoying the Christmas festivities on Saint Marie. Will he be able to sort out his family issues and finally get into the holiday spirit, both for himself and his colleagues on the island?
Is there a trailer for the Death in Paradise Christmas special 2025?
Not yet. As soon as it arrives, we’ll pop it right here.
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The Death in Paradise Christmas special for 2025 will be shown on BBC One and iPlayer on December 28th at 8:30 PM.
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Authors
Abby Robinson is the Drama Editor at TopMob, where she writes about TV dramas and comedies. Before joining TopMob, she was a TV writer for Digital Spy and a content writer for Mumsnet. She holds a degree and a postgraduate diploma in English Studies.
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2025-12-15 14:10