Death in Paradise will return for a 14th season this year – and the BBC’s hit detective show is set to elbow a rival series out of its regular TV schedule slot.
The wildly popular drama sees a string of detectives tackle crime on the tropical island of Saint Marie, keeping viewers gripped with mysterious cases and dramatic plot twists.
It starred Ben Miller as Richard Poole, the first ever DI in the picturesque location, and subsequently Ralf Little as longest-serving detective – Neville Parker.
Most episodes took a similar approach, starting with a portrayal of the events leading to the murder, before the suspects are established. The case eventually clicks for the DI and the suspects are gathered at the end, with the culprit announced.
The series has proved a hit ever since it first aired in 2011, maintaining an impressive viewership of between 7 and 8 million during that time.
Now the BBC has announced it is back once again for a 14th season, with the first episode of the new run airing on January 31 and featuring Don Gilet, 57, as new DI Mervin Wilson.
Death in Paradise will return this year but the BBC’s hit detective show is set to elbow a rival series out of its regular TV schedule slot
Its 9pm time slot will cause waves on other channels, with Channel 5 forced to move their flagship mystery series The Good Ship Murder to 8pm
Death in Paradise is back once again for a 14th season, with the first episode of the new run airing on January 31 and featuring Don Gilet, 57, as new DI Mervin Wilson (pictured)
It starred Ben Miller as Richard Poole, the first ever DI in the picturesque location, back in 2011
But Death In Paradise’s 9pm time slot will cause waves on other channels, with Channel 5 forced to move their flagship mystery series The Good Ship Murder to 8pm to avoid a clash.
The drama follows former Coronation Street stars Shayne Ward, 40, and Catherine Tyldesley, 41, as they try to crack cases aboard a luxury cruise ship.
Viewers were left frustrated by the time slot clash with BBC’s The Traitors and will be grateful to learn the Channel 5 series will not clash with Death In Paradise either.
Former EastEnders actor Don takes the lead when solving the many murders of Saint Marie, after first making an appearance on the 2024 Christmas special.
On that occasion, the new DI impressed by cracking the mystery of ‘who sH๏τ the Santas?’ but not all fans were keen on his arrival.
One X user went as far as to say he should be killed off: ‘It’s only one episode but not gonna lie, Don’t like new inspector Melvin, Hope he goes maybe murdered that’ll be cool.’
Another added: ‘Worst detective inspector ever I certainly won’t be watching anymore.’
But some disagreed, with one viewer saying: ‘Don Gilet is fabulous in Death in Paradise – at last an actor in the role. A proper breath of fresh air.’
In the Christmas special, the new DI impressed by cracking the mystery of ‘who sH๏τ the Santas?’ but fans were divided on his arrival
Another posted: ‘I like the new inspector Mervin Wilson, I can see a romance hatching between him and DS Naomi Thomas.’
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Every season of Death In Paradise boasts its share of guest stars and this time around it is no different with the series featuring Tobi Bakare reprising his role of Sergeant JP Hooper, Simon Lennon, Bhavna Limbachia, Adam James, David Avery, Sofia Oxenham, Patricia Allison and many more.
New detective Mervin will aim to leave the island at the start of the series but will be pulled back in by a gripping case.
Elsewhere, Commissioner Selwyn Patterson (Don Warrington) must deal with momentous news from the Chief Commissioner in Jamaica that rocks the police department to its very core.
Death in Paradise, filmed on the French Caribbean Island of Guadeloupe, was the UK’s most watched returning drama in 2024 across all broadcasters and streamers and aired in more than 230 territories across the globe.
All series of Death In Paradise are available to stream on BBC iPlayer now.
