7 surprising bits of Death in Paradise trivia that will shock even the truest fans
Let's deep dive into the BBC series.
Death in Paradise‘s future looks as bright and as sun-drenched as the island of Saint Marie itself with the BBC promising “another captivating chapter,” with the news that season 16 filming had kicked off.
Not only is the nation’s favourite murder mystery show set to return for a new season been set to return next year, the broadcaster has outline the shows future up until season 17 promising, also another two Christmas specials.
Still the wait between seasons is excruciatingly long so if you’ve understandably found yourself in a need of a Death in Paradise fix, welcome. Here are some fun facts that will have you looking at your favourite show through brand new eyes.
Ben Miller thought he was joining a gritty crime series instead of cosy murder mystery
During an exclusive interview with Digital Spy Death in Paradise detective Ben Miller revealed that he thought he had joined a gritty crime drama when he first took on the role.
“I remember absolutely loving the story in the script…but I didn’t realise that it was meant to be funny. I thought it was just serious. The Wire was very popular at the time and I thought, ‘Oh, this is going to be like the sort of argy-bargy of real life in the Caribbean. This is going to be really gritty and, and interesting.'”
It wasn’t until he had begun filming the first episode, when a mannequin in a wedding dress and a wig was chucked off the balcony, that he realised that was not the case. Read our oral history for the full explanation.
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Ralf Little isn’t the only Death in Paradise actor who has played more than one role on the cozy crime drama
Death in Paradise seems to have a habit of running actors through the TV wash cycle and ringing them out as brand new characters. To be fair, some reuse is to be expected given its impressive tenure.
By now it’s pretty much common knowledge that Ralf Little’s first appearance in Death in Paradise was not as Detective Neville Parker but, rather, a smaller, one episode stint as Will Teague, a suspect in a murder investigation. However he isn’t the only actor to have played multiple roles on the BBC series.
Before the current lead detective actor, Don Gilet, was DI Mervin Wilson he was season four, episode one’s murderer Andre Morgan. There was also Joseph Mydell who was both a hotel manager and suspect in season one, episode two of Death in Paradise and the 2022 Christmas special respectively.
Why Sara Martins performance looked a little different at the end of season 1
In the back half of season one, Detective Sergeant Camille Bordey’s (Martins) range of movement was limited after Martins sustained a broken leg while filming.
The character, who was omitted from episode five, returned for episode six and spent the remainder of the series mostly chair bound. The shots in which Camille could be seen walking were always wide and a body double was used.
Catherine’s Bar is real
Robert Thorogood has revealed that Guadeloupe does have its very own Catherine’s Bar.
The series’ creator told Radio Times that it exists before admitting: “It’s run by a slightly grumpy woman who I think resents having so many tourists come and drink there”. Thorogood, partly attributing her frustration to tourists’ tendency to “turn up for a very cheap cup of coffee”. He also shared that it is “an amazing spot”.
The surprising reason why Harry the Lizard is CGI
The lizard is out of the bag. In fact, it has been for a while. Harry, the beloved mascot of Death in Paradise, is all ones and zeros. In other words he is CGI but do you know the reason why they didn’t use the real deal? It may surprise you.
It turns out that lizards are a protected species in Guadeloupe, so much so that it is illegal to move or coerce to move any lizard. It was actually the show’s producer Tony Jordan who had the brilliant idea to make Harry CGI and the rest is history.
Don Warrington’s Commissioner Selwyn does not have the highest episode count
When it comes to the lead detective Death in Paradise has a rotating door and each member of the team, though brilliantly memorable in their own rights, has been just as interchangeable too.
Don Warrington has been the steady ship from season to season as one of the show’s longest running cast members having been there from the start, but there is one other whose tenure is just as long.
Not only has Élizabeth Bourgine has been playing the role of Catherine Bordey since episode one, she has the highest episode count having been in 104 episodes to Warrington’s 102.
French dubbing is done by some of the actors themselves
Death in Paradise has become somewhat of a global phenomenon that airs in 240 territories around the world including Australia, South Africa, the US and France.
As such some dubbing is required. While on the series the show’s French actors, and native French speakers, Martins, Joséphine Jobert (DS Florence Cassell) and Élizabeth Bourgine performed their scenes in both English and then again in French during the post-production stage.
