Detectorists

In Saint Marie, there’s a new sheriff in town, or rather, Detective Inspector. Mervin Wilson (Don Gilet, 55 Degrees North) made his first appearance in the 2024 Death in Paradise Christmas special, and his time on the island didn’t get off to the best start. Still reeling from the death of his estranged mum, Mervin is about ready to pack up his bags. That is, until a case lands on his desk that hits close to home for everyone in the station.

From The Likely Lads to Men Behaving Badly, British comedy has long mined male friendship for its comic potential. In 2014, BBC Four’s Detectorists delivered a new and unexpected take on the relationship between a couple of blokes. It upended what used to be a pretty macho world to give audiences something completely different.

For many actors, physique is destiny. If Brad Pitt and Danny DeVito had each other’s bodies, they would probably have each other’s careers.

Tall, thin, gaunt and with deep-set eyes, Mackenzie Crook was probably bound to be asked regularly to play men on the spectrum from ill-at-ease through weird to extremist.

The best-known of these malcontents are creepy army reservist Gareth Keenan in The Office and Ragetti in the Pirates of the Caribbean movie franchise.

Written, directed and starring Mackenzie Crook (Andy), Detectorists will return this year with six new episodes.

Also starring Toby Jones (Lance) and Rachael Stirling as Becky, Andy’s wife, the new series continues on from the Christmas Special that saw Lance battling the ‘curse of the gold’ after finding an Anglo-Saxon treasure.