Death in Paradise spin-off delivers major update on third season – plus returning and new cast confirmed

The BBC has confirmed that filming is officially underway on Return to Paradise season 3.

The Death in Paradise spin-off, which focuses on DS Mackenzie Clarke (Anna Samson) as she balances the hectic fallout of her personal life with solving all sorts of murder cases, first aired in 2024, with a follow-up landing last year.

The BBC confirmed the news on Friday (27 March) as the 15th series of Death in Paradise wrapped up on BBC One, while also revealing that fans can expect the new six-part season of Return to Paradise to land on BBC iPlayer and BBC One later this year.

Set in the fictional Australian coastal town of Dolphin Cove, the new season will pick up in the aftermath of season 2’s finale, which saw Clarke wreck another of her ex-fiance Glenn’s (Tai Hara) weddings.

She’ll also continue to tackle a stream of baffling murder mysteries, from the artist stabbed in full view of the public, to the wildlife worker dead in a locked cassowary cage, according to the official synopsis.

Other returning cast members alongside Clarke include Lloyd Griffith as Colin Cartwright, Tai Hara as Glenn Strong, Catherine McClements as Philomena Strong, Celia Ireland as Reggie Rocco, and Aaron McGrath as Felix Wilkinson.

Meanwhile, new additions include Kerry Armstrong (Lantana), who joins the cast as DS Clarke’s force-of-nature mother Jillian, and Jacob Collins (The White Princess), who will appear as new pathologist Leo.

Series three also features an impressive guest cast line up, which includes Mark Lee (A Place to Call Home), Tina Bursill (Strife) and Ngali Shaw (Ladies in Black).

Anthony Hayes (The Slap), Zöe Ventura (Packed to the Rafters), Zindzi Okenyo (Troppo) and Matt Day (The Unusual Suspects) are also set to guest star.