Dᴇᴀᴛʜ in Paradise Christmas Special start date, cast list, plot and how to watch
When is the Dᴇᴀᴛʜ in Paradise Christmas Special, who is in the cast, who guest stars and what is the festive episode all about? Here's everything you need to know as the BBC returns to Saint Marie
The Dᴇᴀᴛʜ in Paradise Christmas Special will air next weekend and will see the BBC return to Saint Marie where an office Christmas party of a lifetime is taking place. However, the festivities take a dark turn when four co-workers wake up with the hangover from hell to find a stranger shot d.e.a.d in the pool of their villa.
The Christmas 2025 episode comes following the exit of Commissioner Selwyn Patterson at the end of series 14 and will see the force trying to operate without him. “It’s certainly a great loss, that feeling that the person who you can always go to isn’t going to be there anymore,” Don Gilet, who plays DI Mervin Wilson said, adding: “It’s left an emotional hole in the team and it’s going to be interesting for audiences to see how they survive without him.”
While it’s unknown whether Selwyn will make an appearance in the Christmas Special, those returning to their roles alongside DI Mervin Wilson include Shantol Jackson as Detective Sergeant Naomi Thomas, Shaquille Ali-Yebuah as Officer Sebastian Rose, Élizabeth Bourgine as Catherine Bordey and Ginny Holder as Darlene Curtis.
Dᴇᴀᴛʜ in Paradise Christmas Special cast(Image: BBC)
On what viewers can expect from the festive episode, Don said: “There’s plenty of humour, but even more heart. It pushes and pulls emotionally and comedically in equal measure. Mervin faces far more antagonism, and things are a lot more challenging for him, especially now he knows there’s a half-brother out there to find. However, you can still get cosy, sip your Baileys and enjoy another great Dᴇᴀᴛʜ in Paradise Christmas special!” But when is the Dᴇᴀᴛʜ in Paradise Christmas Special? Here’s everything you need to know.
Dᴇᴀᴛʜ in Paradise Christmas Special start date
The Dᴇᴀᴛʜ in Paradise Christmas Special will air on BBC One and BBC iPlayer on Sunday, December 28. Viewers can tune into the festive shows at 8:30pm for the instalment which will run for 1 hour and 30 minutes.
It comes one week after the drama’s sister show Beyond Paradise aired on Sunday, December 21, with viewers able to catch up on iPlayer.
Dᴇᴀᴛʜ in Paradise Christmas Special cast list
Dᴇᴀᴛʜ In Paradise 2025 Christmas special(Image: BBC)
Don Gilet plays DI Mervin Wilson, Don is best known for playing Lucas Johnson on EastEnders and Jesse Law on Holby City. Also reprising their roles are Shantol Jackson as Detective Sergeant Naomi Thomas, Shaquille Ali-Yebuah as Officer Sebastian Rose, Élizabeth Bourgine as Catherine Bordey and Ginny Holder as Darlene Curtis.
Guest stars for the Christmas Special include Josie Lawrence, known for Outside Edge and EastEnders, Sanditon’s Kate Ashfield, Doctor Who star Pearl Mackie, Emmerdale’s James Baxter, Billy Harris, known for Ted Lasso, Ren’s Oriana Charles, and Alix Serman.
Dᴇᴀᴛʜ in Paradise Christmas Special plot
Dᴇᴀᴛʜ in Paradise bosses announced the Christmas guest cast(Image: BBC)
A synopsis for the episode reads: “The Dᴇᴀᴛʜ in Paradise 2025 Christmas Special sees the office Christmas party of a lifetime take a dark turn when four co-workers wake up with the hangover from hell to find a stranger shot d.e.a.d in the pool of their villa.
“DI Mervin Wilson (Don Gilet) and the team – DS Naomi Thomas (Shantol Jackson) and Officer Sebastian Rose (Shaquille Ali-Yebuah) – identify the murder weapon, but they’re left baffled when they find that it was locked in a drawer when the shooting took place… thousands of miles away from the crime scene, in Swindon! How is that possible? And why did the victim have the name of one of Santa’s reindeer inked on his palm?
“The suspects all claim to have never met the victim. But can they be trusted? As the team are led deeper into a web of secrets and criminality, it becomes clear that they’ll need all the help they can get to solve this baffling case. Perhaps an old colleague spending Christmas in the UK can be tempted to lend a hand…
“Meanwhile, Saint Marie’s festivities are gearing up. The annual nativity is afoot, and Mervin has a part to play. But the DI has other things on his mind. Months back, he reached out to his newly discovered brother but still hasn’t received a response. Can Mervin resolve his family situation and get into the festive spirit – for the sake of his team and the island?”
