Anna Samson 'heartbroken' as filming wraps on new Death In Paradise spin-off

Former Home and Away star, Anna Samson, has shared how her "heart is broken" - after filming wrapped on the BBC's new Death In Paradise spin-off series, Return To Paradise.

The British-born Australian actress, 34, will lead the cast of the new show, which is set in Australia, as DI Mackenzie Clark - making her the first female lead in the franchise, after the shock departure of Ralf Little's character, DI Neville Parker, when the thirteenth series of original show, Death In Paradise, came to an end.

And Anna, who played Mia Anderson in Home and Away from 2021 until 2022, has clearly cherished her time filming for the new series, as she shared a sentimental post on Instagram in tribute to her co-stars.

Posting a photo of herself alongside fellow Home and Away star Tai Hara, Aaron Luke McGrath, and English comedian and actor Lloyd Griffith, Anna wrote: "I got to spend the last three months with these three lads. I love them more than I can say.

"We wrapped our show this week and my heart is broken that they will no longer be contractually obliged to spend time with me."

Anna was introduced as the protagonist DI Clarke, an Australian expat who had previously worked on some of the Met Police's most challenging cases in London, reports the Mirror. Following allegations of evidence tampering, she departs the UK to return to her native Australia, where she begins unravelling a series of compelling mysteries.

Viewers are in for a treat as DI Clarke makes her dramatic return to Australia, six years after she abandoned her fiance Glenn, portrayed by Home and Away's Tai Hara, at the altar. Now, Cop Liu is taking on a new challenge at Dolphin Cove Police Station, a stark contrast to her previous role with the Met Police.

The upcoming six-part series is set to be just as thrilling as its predecessor. Co-creator and executive producer, Peter Mattessi, expressed his enthusiasm, saying: "I'm beyond excited to welcome Producer Di Haddon and our two fabulous directors, Mat King and Tenika Smith, who are coming together with our amazing cast to bring the world of Return to Paradise to life."

He went on: "We are having so much fun creating this brand-new mystery series that brings an Australian twist to one of the globe's most successful television franchises. We think audiences in Australia, UK and around the world are going to fall in love with our wonderful characters, our delicious whodunits, and our gorgeous coastal Australian locations."

The success of Death in Paradise has paved the way for its spin-offs, with Beyond Paradise proving to be a hit. The 2023 launch saw the return of Kris Marshall as the comedic genius DI Humphrey Goodman, solving mysteries in Shipton Abbott, Devon.

And fans are just as excited for the new instalment, with one commenting on Anna's Instagram post: "So looking forward to seeing you all on screen, bringing Death to life down under."

While another wrote: "Glad you've had a great time, we're really looking forward to the next instalment of the DiP franchise and with a woman at the helm, cool."