Death in Paradise legend Don Warrington talks “outcry” to Selwyn’s departure – and whether he’ll leave the show

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Don Warrington, known for playing Commissioner Selwyn Patterson in the popular BBC show Death in Paradise over 14 seasons, is frequently recognized by fans. After the last series ended with his character moving to London for personal reasons in March of last year, many viewers began to wonder if Warrington had decided to leave the show.

Warrington, age 74, explains he was limited in what he could say, responding to questions with simply, ‘Wait and see.’ This was because the mystery surrounding whether or not something had happened was a key part of the narrative.

Fans who were eager to see him again got a treat last month with brief appearances by Patterson in the Christmas specials of both Death in Paradise and Beyond Paradise. Now, with the start of the fifteenth series and Selwyn’s return to the Caribbean island of Saint Marie, any worries about his character have been put to rest.

Was the recent storyline always part of the show’s plan, or did it come about due to last-minute discussions with the actor and producers? Warrington confirms he hadn’t actually left the series at any point. He explains that the producers approached him with the storyline, which he thought would be a good way to develop the show, especially bringing back Commissioner Patterson with a fresh approach. He admits he enjoys the speculation and finds rumors entertaining.

It’s understandable he’d be pleased with the reaction to his potential exit – the show is designed to easily replace actors. After all, Ben Miller, Kris Marshall, Ardal O’Hanlon, Ralf Little, and Don Gilet have all previously played the main role of a London detective on the series.

I was really surprised by the reaction, to be honest,” says Warrington. “I expected it to go unnoticed, and we’d just keep going as usual. But it turns out there’s been a lot of public discussion about it, which is flattering. I wouldn’t be truthful if I said I wasn’t pleased, but I didn’t realize how much people had connected with the characters.

As a huge fan of the show, I still can’t believe Death in Paradise is going strong! Honestly, if someone had told me back in 2011 it would be on its fifteenth season in 2026, I wouldn’t have believed them – they’d probably be rich from winning the lottery over and over! I was actually talking to a journalist about the show and mentioning interviewing Ralf Little as DI Neville Parker, and even they were surprised it was still running. I asked Ralf if he had any idea when he signed on how long the show might last, and he said absolutely not. He figured if they got three seasons, they’d be doing really well.

It’s interesting how intellectuals often dismiss things that become widely popular. Unlike Americans, the English generally don’t value popularity, and there’s a feeling that if something appeals to more than a small group of people – say, over twenty – it must lack quality. It’s a curious attitude, though.

With traditional TV viewership dropping, some shows are struggling to attract even 20 viewers. However, the latest series of ‘Death in Paradise’ still managed to average 5.79 million viewers. According to Warrington, this loyal audience is drawn to the show’s central idea: a man finds his dream job in a beautiful location, only to be deeply unhappy there. He believes this contrast – paradise feeling like hell for the main character – is a compelling and dramatic concept.

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Some critics initially felt the show presented a problematic fantasy of a British police officer imposing justice on the Caribbean, suggesting a colonial mindset. Did this criticism concern Warrington? He admitted he considered it, saying he understood the perspective, but believed it was important to remember the show’s origins.

The show’s creator, Robert Thorogood, based the series on the true story of Mark Shields, a British police officer who was brought in to help lead the Jamaican police force. Shields’ time in Jamaica included investigating the mysterious death of Bob Woolmer, the former England cricketer and Pakistan cricket coach, during a 2007 international tournament – a case that remains unsolved. He also dealt with the strange disappearance of 500 truckloads of white sand stolen from a beach overnight.

Despite criticism that Death in Paradise isn’t realistic, writer Tony Jordan points out the show’s beginnings are based on a true story. The original idea came from a British detective who moved to Jamaica, fell in love with the island, and was then replaced by another detective sent from London because some felt he’d become too assimilated. The concept has since developed, as seen with DI Mervin Wilson, a British policeman with family ties to the island who still feels like an outsider and has to adjust to his surroundings.

The show couldn’t have continued sending white male comedians to Saint Marie indefinitely. The current casting of Warrington and Gilet as lead actors – both actors of color – represents a significant and necessary shift for the series. It was a change everyone recognized was needed to reflect the world around us, and it’s brought a new level of cultural depth to the show.

You know, I’ve always felt like some filmmakers worry too much about whether audiences will connect with characters who don’t perfectly reflect themselves. But honestly, I think people are just interested in people – if you create compelling characters, it really doesn’t matter what their background is. What excites me about this project is that we’re showing people of color as just… people. They’re going about their lives, doing their jobs, and their race isn’t the defining thing about them, which is so refreshing and, I think, long overdue.

Warrington believes television and all media generally aren’t keeping up with reality. He points out that people’s everyday lives are very different from what’s typically shown on TV, and he feels this program is doing a much better job of reflecting the real world.

Leonard Warrington’s career took off with the popular comedy Rising Damp in the 1970s, and recently enjoyed another wave of success with Death in Paradise. In Rising Damp, he played Philip Smith, a young Black man renting a room from the prejudiced landlord Rigsby. Warrington notes, “It’s incredible that people still remember me from that show. Looking back, I feel like a completely different person than that young man I used to be.”

As a lifelong cinema and TV fan, it’s striking to look back at some shows from the 70s. Things like ‘Love Thy Neighbour’ and ‘The Black and White Minstrel Show’ just haven’t aged well because of the really problematic, stereotypical characters they featured – it’s almost shocking they were even made at the time. But ‘Rising Damp’ is a bit different. While many shows from that era with Black characters are difficult to watch now, ‘Rising Damp’, with George Warrington’s character, actually holds up. Warrington’s character was consistently smarter and more charming than his prejudiced landlord, which was a refreshing change. Thankfully, with a fantastic cast alongside Leonard Rossiter, Frances de la Tour, and Richard Beckinsale, it’s still genuinely funny and enjoyable to watch today.

Warrington points out, much like with ‘Death in Paradise’, a strong start is crucial. The writer Eric Chappell based his comedy ‘Rising Damp’ (originally a stage play called ‘The Banana Box’) on a real-life experience. He’d worked with a deeply prejudiced man and imagined a scenario where that man was confronted. The resulting black character in his play consistently ‘won’ arguments and situations. Chappell’s aim was to highlight how ridiculous racism is, and Warrington believes that’s why the show remains popular.

While some Black actors now regret past roles or lines, Warrington doesn’t feel the need to revisit his work. He explains, “I’ve never performed anything I wouldn’t have done, and I’m proud to be a Black man. I always made sure to avoid falling into harmful stereotypes.”

So, will Humphrey Goodman return for a potential 2027 series of Death in Paradise? Ralf Little, who plays Humphrey, says his involvement is decided on a year-by-year basis, and that’s likely to remain the case.

Authors

Mark Lawson

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2026-01-19 20:36