Death in Paradise Christmas special cast: Meet the characters

As I delve into the lives of these captivating characters from Death in Paradise, it becomes abundantly clear that each one brings a unique flavor to the show and adds depth to the storylines. From Gary Carr’s Fidel Best, who left Saint Marie to conquer St Lucia, to Shyko Amos’s Ruby Patterson, whose journey from officer to Parisian resident is still unfolding, their experiences are as rich and diverse as the tropical island they call home.

For the fourth Christmas special, Death in Paradise makes its comeback on our TV screens, introducing Detective Mervin Wilson, played by Don Gilet, as the new main detective. This change comes after Neville Parker’s farewell in the final episode of season 13.

Gilet expressed that receiving the main part in Death in Paradise is similar to holding a highly treasured and cherished gemstone.

This grand production carries a vast amount of affection, and the adoration for it just keeps expanding. I strive to always remember this, staying thankful, humbled, and steadfast in my commitment.

Despite those challenging moments when all my instincts urge me to abandon the scene and plunge into the nearest body of water, be it a pool, ocean, or a cold drink – whatever is most accessible.

As a devoted cinephile, I’m thrilled to announce that the exceptional talent, Don, will be gracing our set as we embark on yet another exhilarating chapter in this series. We can hardly wait!

This year’s holiday special presents a bit of conflict as “Mervin Wilson, a London resident, stirs up disagreements by butting heads with the lifestyle on the island.

As a movie enthusiast, I can’t help but be intrigued when I read about a detective who swiftly delves into one of his most baffling murder mysteries to date: three individuals, apparently unrelated, all donning Santa Claus costumes, and all seemingly felled by the same weapon at the exact moment, according to the official synopsis.

“While Mervin grapples with the confounding murder case, his peers find themselves at odds with their unconventional new boss’s work style. Meanwhile, Dwayne’s holiday reunion with his dad didn’t turn out as he had hoped.

Additionally, joining the newest cast member, some well-known characters make their reappearance in the holiday special, as well as several prominent guest actors.

Continue below for comprehensive information about the characters and the previous roles played by their respective actors.

Death in Paradise Christmas special cast

The main cast of Death in Paradise is as follows:

Don Gilet as Mervin Wilson
Don Warrington as Selwyn Patterson
Shantol Jackson as Naomi Thomas
Élizabeth Bourgine as Catherine Bordey
Ginny Holder as Darlene Curtis
Danny John-Jules as Dwayne Myers

Don Gilet plays Mervin Wilson

Who is Mervin Wilson, the detective inspector who finds himself on holiday in Saint Marie but is unexpectedly tasked with helping the Honoré Police solve a triple crime case (double murder and an attempted murder) when his superior back in London needs assistance due to Neville Parker’s absence? However, he’s hesitant to extend his stay on the island. In fact, he even returned early from his vacation.

Is there anything else besides EastEnders, Holby City, and 55 Degrees North that Don Gilet has appeared in? You may recall him from Shetland, Sherwood, The Stranger, and The Loch as well.

Don Warrington plays Commissioner Selwyn Patterson

What is the identity of Selwyn Patterson? Selwyn Patterson has played a significant role as Commissioner since the debut of Death in Paradise. He manages the island’s police department and has been a key figure throughout the series. In season 12, he was surprised to learn that he had an adult daughter, causing him some initial confusion. The start of season 13 saw Selwyn facing a life-threatening situation after getting shot, but he eventually made a full recovery following a challenging transition period.

Beyond his roles in Rising Damp as Philip and Doctor Who’s Rise of the Cybermen in 2006, Don Warrington has graced various stages and screens with his presence. In 2008, he even danced his way onto Strictly Come Dancing, where he partnered with Lilia Kopylova.

Shantol Jackson plays Naomi Thomas

As a fervent fan, allow me to share my thoughts about Naomi Thomas. Last season, Sergeant Thomas graced our screens as the latest addition to the team. Despite having no prior experience with murder investigations, she swiftly found her footing and became an indispensable part of the group. In a memorable holiday episode last year, after indulging in one too many cocktails, she made a move on her ex-colleague Marlon. However, the next morning, she acknowledged that her actions were impulsive and regretted the decision.

Apart from Death in Paradise, Shantol Jackson has also been featured in the film “Yardie” starring Idris Elba, as well as playing a significant role in the 2018 sports movie “Sprinter”.

Élizabeth Bourgine plays Catherine Bordey

What is Catherine Bordey known as? Catherine Bordey is the mayor of our island, runs a beachfront bar, and provides sound advice. Additionally, she has been eager in setting Neville up for dates in the past.

Has Élizabeth Bourgine also starred in any other productions aside from those mentioned? Here are some of the roles she’s taken on in France: Private Lessons, Un Cœur en Hiver (A Heart in Winter), and Mon Meilleur Ami (My Best Friend).

Ginny Holder plays Darlene Curtis

Who is Darlene Curtis? She made her debut in season 7, appearing as Dwayne Myers’ romantic interest. Initially working as the administrative assistant at the police station, she has since become an integral member of the team.

According to Holder, she transforms from a trainee into an exceptional Officer, which is significant in her journey. She still retains her spirited nature, something essential for her to keep, he added.

As a die-hard film enthusiast, I’ve got to wonder: beyond her memorable performance on Holby City, what other productions has the talented Ginny Holder graced with her presence? Well, she’s also shone in Doctors, DCI Banks, The Capture, and Ragdoll.

Danny John-Jules plays Dwayne Myers

What can you tell me about Dwayne Myers? Dwayne served for a long time as a police officer at Honoré Police Station and appeared in 57 episodes of the show. He was quite familiar with the island of Saint Marie. Before, he had left to be with his ill father in London. However, he returned briefly during the 2021 Christmas special, only to leave again. Now, it appears he’s been back for some time, but we’re not sure how long he’ll stay this time.

Has Danny John-Jules appeared in anything else besides Red Dwarf? His other roles include parts in the CBBC kids’ spy show MI High and the CBeebies series, The Story Makers.

Death in Paradise Christmas special guest stars

Ram John Holder (Desmond’s, Rocket’s Island, Coronation Street) plays Nelson Myers – Dwayne’s father.
Marcus Brigstocke (Have I Got News for You, QI, Would I Lie To You?) plays Stuart Fullwell – he’s on a Christmas break with his wife-to-be. Stuart is found dead on the beach wearing a Santa costume.
Angela Griffin (The Wives, Coronation Street, Waterloo Road, Holby City, White Lines) plays Tabitha Reed – Stuart’s fiancée. She is seemingly crushed by his death.
Steven Hartley (The Bill, EastEnders, Doctors) plays Tony Hurst – a songwriter who’s working on his memoir. Tony is found dead in his villa, also wearing a Santa costume.
Jim Howick (Ghosts, Sex Education, Horrible Histories) plays Jamie Barton – he works for a council. Jamie is staying at the same hotel as Stuart.
Charles Stagg plays Ollie Barton – Jamie’s young son. He finds Stuart’s body on the beach.
Elizabeth Carling (Casualty, Hotel Portofino, Goodnight Sweetheart) plays Karla Hammond – she owns a luxury design business and is staying at the same hotel.
Michael Salami (Hollyoaks, Supacell) plays Tyrus Demille – he owns his own market stall. On the night Stuart and Tony are killed, he’s also shot at while walking home dressed as Santa.
Dex Lee (Doctors) plays Kenny Simmons – he works at the hotel where Stuart and co are staying.
Joy Richardson (Silent Witness) plays Brianna Clemetson – she accuses Mervin of being the murderer.

Death in Paradise former cast members

Ben Miller played Richard Poole

Inquisitively speaking, who goes by the name Richard Poole? He was the primary detective character introduced in Death in Paradise, a man highly skilled in his field, unfortunately met with an untimely demise in the premiere of season 3.

Besides being a part of the comedy duo Armstrong and Miller with Alexander Armstrong, Ben Miller has also made significant appearances in shows such as Professor T, Bridgerton, Suspect, and Paddington.

Kris Marshall played Humphrey Goodman

In the third season, Humphrey Goodman took over Poole’s position on the island of Saint Marie. Goodman became the chief inspector and spent quite some time there. He appreciated the laidback lifestyle of Saint Marie and was well-known for swiftly resolving mysteries. Afterwards, he moved on to a fresh beginning with his girlfriend Martha, and they have since embarked on their own series, titled Beyond Paradise.

Is there anything else that Kris Marshall is recognized for besides My Family, Love, Actually, and Sanditon?

Ardal O’Hanlon played Jack Mooney

Who is Jack Mooney? He served as the third lead detective on the show, replacing Goodman and was a kind and low-key inspector. He had plans to travel the world with Anna, his love interest, but returned to London to spend more time with his daughter instead. Lately, he has made an appearance in the Australian spin-off of Death in Paradise titled “Return to Paradise.

Is there anything else besides Father Ted, My Hero, Extraordinary, The Woman in the Wall, and Derry Girls that Ardal O’Hanlon has been involved with? He’s also known for a thriving stand-up career.

Ralf Little played Neville Parker

Who is Neville Parker? Neville Parker followed on from Jack Mooney as the show’s lead detective.

In the eleventh season, there was a definite spark between me and traveler Sophie, yet our romantic tale took a tragic turn when it came out that she intended to bring me down in retribution for an arrest I made long ago, which led to the death of her sister. After that harrowing experience, I felt ready to depart, but somehow I stuck around until the end of season 13. Eventually, I set sail towards the sunset with Florence Cassell.

Apart from appearing in Death in Paradise since 2020, Ralf Little has also made notable appearances in the sitcoms, The Royle Family and Two Pints of Lager and a Packet of Crisps.

Joséphine Jobert plays Florence Cassell

What is Florence Cassell known as? Florence was a detective sergeant with the Saint Marie police force who worked alongside Neville, and they had an on-again off-again romantic situation. However, she made it clear that she viewed him only as a friend. Later, due to her exposing a high-profile criminal, she found herself in danger, leading her to leave Saint Marie. She reappeared in season 13 after leaving witness protection and seemed to have feelings for Neville again. After more will-they / won’t-they moments, they decided to embark on a journey together.

Has Josephine Jobert also starred in any other productions aside from Death in Paradise? She’s also known for being part of French television series such as Cut, Summer Crush, and Saint-Ex, our boarding school years.

Tahj Miles played Marlon Pryce

What is Marlon Pryce known as? Originally portrayed as a petty crook who tricked tourists on Death in Paradise, Marlon later joined the local police force. In season 13, his sister was awarded a scholarship to a school in Jamaica, but their mother couldn’t go with her. So, Marlon stepped up and decided to accompany her instead.

Has Tahj Miles been involved in any other projects? Recently, he starred in Mr Loverman. Prior to that, he was a main cast member on Class Dismissed and had a role in Steve McQueen’s Mangrove, which is part of the Small Axe series shown on BBC One.

Sara Martins played Camille Bordey

What is Camille Bordey known as? She served as a Detective Sergeant for both Richard Poole and Humphrey Goodman. Additionally, she is the daughter of Catherine. After being assigned an undercover mission in Paris, she left the island.

Has Sara Martins starred in any other shows aside from Father Brown, Grand Hotel, The Coroner, Those About to Die, and others?

Tobi Bakare played JP Hooper

JP Hooper is a dedicated and industrious police officer who shares a strong friendship with Dwayne Myers. He once pursued a career in law enforcement and temporarily returned in season 13.

Under what other productions has Tobi Bakare appeared? Besides his roles as Jamal in the initial two Kingsman movies, he has also starred regularly in The Tunnel and The Smoke.

Gary Carr played Fidel Best

Known as a diligent young investigator with a knack for organization and a strong desire to excel, Fidel previously served as an officer. Later, he earned the rank of Sergeant before relocating to St Lucia to continue his career.

Apart from his role in Death in Paradise which he left in 2014, Gary Carr has also starred in several other series such as The Deuce, Genius, and Trigonometry. Additionally, he made guest appearances in Downton Abbey (four episodes) and featured in films like Bolden and 21 Bridges.

Aude Legastelois-Bidé played Madeleine Dumas

As a cinema enthusiast, I’d say, “I’m referring to the Detective Sergeant who spent much of her life in the city lights of Paris before relocating to sunny Saint Marie. After receiving a well-deserved promotion, she decided to return to Paris once more.

Has Aude Legastelois-Bidé made any other appearances, perhaps in shows like Nox or The Hookup Plan?

Shyko Amos played Ruby Patterson

What you’re asking is essentially: “Who does the position previously held by Dwayne Myers on the Honoré Police Station team now belong to?” In simpler terms, the person in question is Ruby Patterson. She recently took over this position and is new to the police force. Notably, she is Commissioner Selwyn Patterson’s niece. Following a visit to Paris, she chose to stay there permanently.

What other shows or roles has Shyko Amos been part of, apart from Death in Paradise?

2024-12-22 21:34