Death in Paradise is back for a fourteenth season with more murder, mojitos and idyllic sun-drenched. Two things will be true of the BBC crime series’ latest run: someone will die, and you will be exploring flight options to the Caribbean before the credits roll.
EastEnders stalwart Don Gilet has stepped into the lead role as DI Mervin Wilson, the latest expat detective on the island.
Here’s all you need to know about the upcoming season, the filming locations, the cast, and when the episodes are on telly.
When can I watch season 14 of Death in Paradise?
Death in Paradise returns to BBC One at 9pm on Friday, January 31 and will be available to stream on BBC iPlayer.
The series consists of eight episodes, with the finale expected to air on Friday, March 21.
Audiences in the US have to wait a while longer, with the series kicking off on BritBox on Wednesday, February 19.
Check out the trailer below for a glimpse of the drama that’s set to unfold.
Where is Death in Paradise filmed?
Guadeloupe, a French archipelago situated between Dominica and Antigua in the eastern Caribbean Sea, stands in for Saint Marie, the fictional island of Death in Paradise.
Guadeloupe consists of six small islands, with Basse-Terre the most prominent one used for filming the BBC drama.
Deshaies, on the north coast of Basse-Terre is the filming location for the show’s fictional fishing village location of St Honoré, with the local restaurant, Le Madras, doubling up as Catherine’s Bar, the popular drinking spot frequented by detectives and suspects alike.
The restaurant is open to tourists and locals throughout the year, with a menu of fresh seafood and exotic cocktails. Visitors can work up a hunger before their meal by joining one of the Death in Paradise locations tours that have proven a hit with tourists.
The Honoré Police station is filmed at Church of St Peter and St Paul in Deshaies, with the set open to visitors to explore the detective’s desks and the two small cells.
The shack that is now home to newcomer DI Mervin Wilson is constructed each season on Anse de la Perle beach, with the cast staying at the Langley Resort Fort Royal hotel during filming, which has also served as an onscreen location over the show’s history.
Who is in the Death in Paradise cast?
Don Gilet takes on the role of Detective Inspector Mervin Wilson, having made his debut in the recent Christmas special. After the revelation that his estranged mother has passed away, Mervin is ready to get back to the UK and leave the island for good. But when a shock case close to the hearts of those at the station strikes, Mervin extends his stay - but for how long?
Don is best known for his role as Lucas Johnson on BBC soap EastEnders, but he has also previously starred in Death in Paradise as a guest actor in the fourth season as Andre Morgan.
Don Warrington as Commissioner Selwyn Patterson, who must deal with momentous news from the Chief Commissioner in Jamaica that rocks the police department to its very core. The actor is no stranger to crime dramas, having also racked up credits in Lewis, The Five, Law & Order: UK, and Trial & Retribution.
Shantol Jackson as DS Naomi Thomas, who will find herself at an emotional crossroads when an old flame from St Barnabas makes a surprising appearance on the island.
Élizabeth Bourgine as Catherine Bordey, owner of the local hotspot bar and also the formidable mayor of the island.
Ginny Holder (Holby City) as Officer Darlene Curtis, who becomes a mentor for a new officer in the team, but is left questioning whether she’s the right person for the job.
Guest stars for season 14 include a host of familiar faces from hit TV shows. The cast includes Michelle Greenidge (Kaos), Joy Richardson (Dreamland), Stephen Odubola (Boiling Point), Anthony J. Abraham (The Acolyte), Simon Lennon (Our Girl), and Bhavna Limbachia (Brassic).
Will there be more Death in Paradise spin-offs?
The Paradise-verse just keeps growing and there’s no signs of it slowing down.
Beyond Paradise and Return to Paradise have both been confirmed to return for another series.
Return to Paradise follows DI MacKenzie Clarke, an Australian expat who returns to her homeland after making a name for herself as one of the finest detectives in London’s Metropolitan Police.
Beyond Paradise sees Kris Marshall reprise his Death in Paradise role of DI Humphrey Goodman, who is now solving crimes on UK shores after settling down in the fictional town of Shipton Abbot on the coast of Devon.
Where was Return to Paradise filmed? Locations behind the Death in Paradise spin-off.