'Death in Paradise' confirmed for Christmas special

·Contributor

25 February 2022 at 11:51 am·2-min read

WARNING: Embargoed for publication until 00:00:01 on 23/12/2021 - Programme Name: Death In Paradise - S11 - TX: n/a - Episode: Death in Paradise S11 - Generics (No. n/a) - Picture Shows: DI Neville Parker (RALF LITTLE) - (C) Red Planet - Photographer: Amelia Troubridge — Ralf Little stars in 'Death in Paradise'. (Red Planet/Amelia Troubridge)

It might only be February, but the residents of Saint Marie are already looking ahead to Christmas with trepidation as a new festive murder case has been confirmed for Death in Paradise.

The BBC One murder mystery wraps up series 11 tonight, but fans needn't feel too gloomy as the drama is set to return to the Caribbean for a Christmas special this December and series 12 will also go into production soon.

Although it's been a regular fixture on our screens since 2011, Death in Paradise finally got its first ever Christmas special in 2021, 10 years into its run.

It was such a huge success that viewers can now look forward to the second festive visit to the idyllic Caribbean island later this year.

WARNING: Embargoed for publication until 00:00:01 on 01/02/2022 - Programme Name: Death In Paradise - S11 - TX: n/a - Episode: Death in Paradise S11 - Ep6 (No. 6) - Picture Shows: Darlene Curtis (GINNY HOLDER), Commissioner Selwyn Patterson (DON WARRINGTON) - (C) Red Planet - Photographer: Denis Guyenon — Ginny Holder and Don Warrington are confirmed to return to the cast. (Red Planet/Denis Guyenon)

Executive producer Tim Key said: "We were overwhelmed with the fantastic response to our first Christmas special and delighted that we’ve been asked to take the viewers back to Saint Marie this Christmas.

"We can promise something very different this year, but still with all the Death in Paradise fun, sparkle and intrigue that the viewers will expect."

Saint Marie is a fictional island, with the show actually filmed on Guadeloupe which again will be the setting for series 12 and the feature-length Christmas episode.

Returning cast have been confirmed as Ralf Little in the lead role of detective Neville Parker, Don Warrington as Selwyn Patterson, Elizabeth Bourgine as Catherine Bordey, Tahj Miles as Marlon Pryce, and series 11 newcomers Shantol Jackson as Naomi Thomas and Ginny Holder as Darlene Curtis.

Guest cast joining series 12 and the special will remain under wraps until later this year.

The lead role has been through a number of changes since the series began, with Ben Miller as first lead detective Richard Poole followed by Kris Marshall as Humphrey Goodman and then Ardal O'Hanlon as Jack Mooney before Little took over in 2020.

Death in Paradise series 11 finale airs tonight (Friday) at 9pm on BBC One.

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