BBC Death in Paradise series 14 guest stars as first episode sees return of major star and new police officer

Death in Paradise season 14 episode 1 cast from His Dark Materials to After Life stars
-Credit:BBC


Death in Paradise is back for another new series - and it's all change on the island of Saint Marie. He may have got his first outing in the Christmas special, but Don Gilet will be officially taking over at the police station as DI Mervin Wilson settles into his role.

Although we had seen him planning to leave at the end of the festive episode, a fresh murder case is set to keep him firmly on the island. The first episode will see him proving his mettle after the accidental death of a cyclist turns out to be anything but.

This series as usual sees a number of great guest stars among the returning cast. Below we look at those heading to the island for the first episode, including the return of two characters and an actor who used to be a bobsled champion and police officer.

ADVERTISEMENT

READ MORE: Death in Paradise - full cast, episodes, plot and filming locations for BBC series

READ MORE: BBC Death In Paradise viewers say same thing about 'blunt' new detective

Read more Death in Paradise - full cast, episodes, plot and filming locations for BBC series

Death in Paradise episode 1 guest stars

Tobi Bakare

Actor Tobi Bakare is back for the first episode as Sergeant JP Hooper after leaving the long-running BBC in 2021 after seven years. Death in Paradise fans saw the beloved character make his exit after Commissioner Selwyn Patterson offered him a job elsewhere at the end of season 10.

He made a brief comeback in series 13 and this time, JP is at the centre of the action when one of his new recruits becomes the centre of a crime his first day on the job at Saint Marie. But he isn't listed in the second episode, so his return will likely be bried. Speaking about his return, JP admitted worries it was too soon.

Death In Paradise season 14 will see the return of Tobi Bakare as Sergeant JP Hooper for episode one.
Death In Paradise season 14 will see the return of Tobi Bakare as Sergeant JP Hooper for episode one. -Credit:BBC

When asked if he needed convincing to return, the actor said: “You know what, it was. It was the fact that I was around the season before, I had a little episode in the season before that it almost felt a bit close, but I always say when a storyline makes sense an actor serves a story.

ADVERTISEMENT

“And as much as the proximity between the two episodes, this one and the previous one, I thought was a bit much —as an actor, sometimes you can get insecure and kind of go, ‘oh, I don't want people to think I'm just trying to eat off Death in Paradise', so I should have been done.

“But to be honest with you the show is phenomenal, Tim is phenomenal, the storyline is great and Death in Paradise is home. It's a second home for me, so it’s always going to be privilege to be asked to come back. It just had to make a bit of sense, and it made sense.“

The actor previously revealed the real reason for his decision to leave the show in 2021 after an incident he had while filming for season seven in a church. He told RadioTimes: "The preacher mentioned seven years in a message. As soon as he mentioned seven years, I don't know what happened. It just clicked.

“It was like a moment of realisation. I had three more years left. It was three more years until it would be seven years, but it just hit me so hard. At this time, my wife was in the UK, and I told her that I know when it's going to be time for me to leave the show.

"But I wanted her to go away, pray about it, and think about it. She'd done so, and called me up the next day, and said, '2020'. So the exact time of the seven years. So we were like, 'Yeah, that's the time.' That's the actual reason."

ADVERTISEMENT

Mark Holden

Mark is playing Damon Clark in the first episode. The actor, who has also had roles in Final Destination, The Infiltrator and BBC series His Dark materials, has had an interesting life.

Mark is the first son of the late Admiral Augustus Aikhomu, former Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. He currently lives in London, England with his wife Patsy and their twin boys amd has two older daughters from a previous marriage, one of which Sienna has followed in his footsteps into the industry.

Death In Paradise season 14 episode 1: Damon Clarke is played by actor Mark Holden.
Death In Paradise season 14 episode 1: Damon Clarke is played by actor Mark Holden. -Credit:BBC

Before becoming an actor, Mark worked as a police officer in the Metropolitan Police Service in the early 1980's and was a full time police officer in the Edmonton Police Service in Canada.

He has also had another unusual career after competing for Great Britain and Canada at bobsledding during the mid to late 1980's. He had been a track and field athlete before this, mainly competing in the 200m and 400m.

Death In Paradise season 14 episode one: Actor Anthony J Abraham portrays Officer Benjamin Brice.
Death In Paradise season 14 episode one: Actor Anthony J Abraham portrays Officer Benjamin Brice. -Credit:BBC

Anthony J. Abraham

Anthony is a new police officer joining the cast for one episode. He is also known for roles in The Acolyte, Jack Whitehall's Bad Education and Black Cake.

Death in Paradise season 14 episode 1 cast from His Dark Materials to After Life stars
Death in Paradise season 14 episode 1 cast from His Dark Materials to After Life stars -Credit:BBC

Michelle Greenidge

Viewers might recognise Valerie from Rocky Gervais's Netflix hit After Life. She has also played PC Williams in the comedy-drama Code 404 and Rosa Babtunde in Channel 4’s It’s A Sin.

ADVERTISEMENT

Her first role in Death in Paradise will see her playing Paulette Brice, a relation of returning police officer Benjamin Brice.

Stephen Odubola

Stephen Odubola, known for his work in Blue Story, Netflix's The Sandman and Boiling Point, is playing Karlus Brice, a relative of new officer Benjamin Brice.