Death in Paradise

Blue Lights renewed for two more instalments ahead of series two broadcast

Three police officers stand in front of a grey background. Superimposed below them is a cityscape, with blue flares of light

The show follows three new recruits to the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI). For Grace, Annie and Tommy, every day is different, and none are easy. The first series followed them on their probation period as they got to grips with the job, including dealing with the criminal McIntyre gang.

Beyond Paradise begins filming second series of "weird and wonderful cases"

The first series of the hit Death in Paradise spin-off followed Detective Inspector Humphrey Goodman (Kris Marshall) as he left the Caribbean for the Devonshire Coast, swapping 'Saint Marie' for 'Shipton Abbott'.

The fictional hometown of his wife-to-be, Martha Lloyd (Sally Bretton), is set in and around the picturesque Devonshire Coast, and Marshall is happy to return: "'Shipton Abbott' is such a wonderful location to call home for a while.

Death in Paradise rebooted in new BBC spin-off series

The BBC has announced a release date for new detective comedy drama Beyond Paradise, reviving Death in Paradise character and fan favourite DI Humphrey Goodman (Kris Marshall).

The new series explores DI Humphrey's life back in the UK with another familiar face from the original show, Martha Lloyd (Sally Bretton). Martha and Humphrey are now engaged to be married following the emotional climax between the two in Death in Paradise series six. 

BBC announces cast of Beyond Paradise

Credit: BBC

Beyond Paradise will follow the lives of Humphrey (Kris Marshall) and Martha (Sally Bretton) as they begin a new life together in charming, rural southwest England. 

Eager to escape the hustle and bustle of the city, Humphrey takes on the job of Detective Inspector in Martha’s childhood hometown. 

However, the couple soon discover that country life isn’t so quiet, with the town’s surprisingly high crime rate leading to Humphrey tackling a new and challenging case each week. 

BBC expands Death in Paradise universe with new spin-off series

The endearingly awkward DI Humphrey was a fan-favourite, and he led the island’s force in solving some of their most puzzling cases.

But when he met island tourist Martha Lloyd (Sally Bretton), he fell hopelessly in love and decided to follow her back to the UK.

Beyond Paradise will reunite Marshall and Bretton as Humphrey and Martha and re-join them living a new life together in rural Britain.

Seeking quiet idyll, Humphrey takes a job as Detective Inspector in Martha’s hometown, but they soon find that country life is anything but peaceful.

Production begins on series 12 and Christmas special of Death In Paradise

Credit: BBC

The BBC One crime drama set on the fictional island of Saint Marie will deal with the fallout of the shock twist dropped on Commissioner Selwyn Patterson (Don Warrington) at the end of series 11.

In the feature length Christmas special, the gang will need to work together to handle a complex case.

Series 12 may see the addition of a mystery daughter for Commissioner Patterson, as well as the usual capers and whodunnits.

Death In Paradise set to return for two more series

Credit: BBC

The tenth series will start this month, which was filmed during the pandemic with just a three-month delay in production. 

Set on the French Caribbean island of Guadeloupe, the next two series will welcome back cast regulars and introduce new faces to Saint Marie.

The crime drama will continue to feature perplexing and mysterious murders and puzzles, with plenty of surprises in store for viewers. 

Executive producer Tim Key, promised that the next two series will keep viewers “on their toes.”

Our Friend in Guadaloupe: Tim Key

(credit: Red Planet Pictures)

This is the fourth version of this piece that I’ve written. I scrapped the previous three as “the news” made them immediately out of date. I’m going to plough on with this one, although I fear that, by the time it is published, it will be entirely irrele­vant thanks to world events, but hey ho. Like everyone, I’m resigned to the fact that there’s no way of predicting anything this year…