Death in Paradise favourite reveals if he’d ever return to BBC series
Death In Paradise star Ben Miller has shared his thoughts on a possible comeback to the hit BBC series
Ben Miller has revealed he’d be more than happy to return to Death in Paradise, if only he were a little younger. The actor, who played Detective Inspector Richard Poole until his shock exit in 2014, joked that the only thing standing in the way of a prequel is his age. “If I wasn’t so ruddy old, I could play him in a prequel!” he said, before adding that he still has a huge amount of affection for both the detective and the long-running BBC drama.
Miller admitted he misses playing Richard Poole, describing the character as one of his favourites. He also revealed that Death in Paradise creator Robert Thorogood has continued writing stories featuring the detective, giving him the chance to reconnect with the role in a different way. Richard Poole was famously killed off in the opening episode of series three called Death of a Detective.
Ben Miller played Detective Inspector Richard Poole (Image: Getty)
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Miller has previously explained that his departure wasn’t a creative decision but a personal one, as filming in Guadeloupe meant spending months away from his family, making it increasingly difficult to balance his career with home life.
Since then, a string of detectives have taken charge on the fictional island of Saint Marie, with Don Gilet now leading the cast as Detective Inspector Mervin Wilson.
Away from Death in Paradise, Miller has also opened up about a very modern concern — whether anyone can truly avoid being “cancelled” online.
Kris Marshall played a detective in the series when Ben Miller stepped down (Image: Getty)
Speaking to Radio Times while promoting the second series of his comedy Austin, in which he plays a children’s author whose career is derailed after being publicly cancelled, Miller admitted the subject resonates with him.
He suggested that almost everyone worries about becoming the target of an online backlash, arguing that even an innocent social media post can unexpectedly snowball into widespread criticism. In his view, social media platforms often encourage that kind of pile-on, with posts quickly attracting people looking for something to criticise.
Although Austin explores the idea through comedy, Miller’s comments suggest he believes the pressures of online culture are something that affect public figures and ordinary social media users alike.
Death In Paradise is available to watch on BBC iPlayer
