Death in Paradise’s future confirmed by BBC

It’s great news for Death in Paradise fans as the hit BBC detective show has been recommissioned for a further two seasons and two Christmas specials. 

Filming for series 16 is set to commence on the French Caribbean island of Guadeloupe this week. It follows the release of season 15 in January this year. 

The hit crime series, which stars Don Gilet, has become a staple of BBC Drama and has consistently drawn millions of viewers for the past 15 years. A number of famous faces have led the show since it premiered in 2011, including Ben Miller, Kris Marshall, Ardal O’Hanlon and Ralf Little.

It’s no surprise that the hit detective show has been renewed for two more outings. An entertaining blend of intriguing mysteries, lovable characters, humour and stunning Caribbean scenery, Death in Paradise offers pure escapism for viewers and is well-loved around the world.

© BBC / Red Planet Pictures / Lou Denim

Keep reading to find out more…

What to expect from the new seasons

Fans can expect another “captivating chapter” of life on the sun-soaked island of Saint Marie. 

Don Gilet will reprise his role as DI Mervin Wilson, alongside Don Warrington as Commissioner Selwyn Patterson, Shantol Jackson as DS Naomi Thomas, Shaquille Ali-Yebuah as Officer Sebastian Rose, Catherine Garton as Sergeant Mattie Fletcher and Élizabeth Bourgine as Catherine Bordey. 

Guest stars and more details about the new seasons will be announced in due course.

© BBC / Red Planet Pictures / Lou Denim

Tim Key, Executive Producer at production company Red Planet Pictures revealed that “something very special” is lined up for season 16, with a “big surprise setting it up” in the Christmas special. 

Death in Paradise spin-offs

The show’s huge success has resulted in two spin-off shows, Beyond Paradise and Return to Paradise.

Beyond Paradise stars Kris Marshall as Detective Inspector Humphrey Goodman, who led seasons four, five and six of the flagship series. In the Devon-set spin-off, Humphrey investigates puzzling crimes in the idyllic town of Shipton Abbott, having left Saint Marie and the Honoré Police Station behind.

© BBC / Red Planet Pictures / Mark Harrison

In a previous interview with HELLO!, Kris described the show as “more bucolic” than the original drama. “Our crimes are more suited to the surroundings,” he said. “They are a bit more quirky and a bit more Celtic and pagan and folklore-ish. 

“It’s a bit more bucolic, as you would expect in the UK – not necessarily people being stabbed in a wonderful, five-star Caribbean hotel,” the actor added.

© Red Planet / BBC Studios / John Platt

Meanwhile, Return to Paradise is the Australia-set spin-off which centres around DS Mackenzie Clarke (Anna Samson) as she solves crimes and confronts her past after returning home to the sun-soaked fictional town of Dolphin Cove.

All episodes of Death in Paradise, Beyond Paradise and Return to Paradise are available on BBC iPlayer.