‘I feared meeting Dᴇᴀᴛʜ in Paradise’s Don Warrington – his ways on set show true colours’
A Dᴇᴀᴛʜ in Paradise actor shared his true thoughts on co-star Don Warrington after confessing he was nervous to meet him on set
Selwyn Patterson (Don Warrington), DI Mervin Wilson (Don Gilet), and Naomi Thomas (Shantol Jackson)(Image: BBC)
Dᴇᴀᴛʜ in Paradise star Tahj Miles has opened up about working with Don Warrington, admitting he was initially “scared” to meet him. Tahj, who portrays Marlon Pryce in the BBC drama, joined the series in 2020 as a young police officer.
By that point, Don had long established himself as Commissioner Selwyn Patterson, a role he has held since 2011.
Asked what his co-star was like in real life, Tahj admitted he was “scared” to meet him at first, but quickly realised he had nothing to worry about.
“He’s amazing – he’s everything you think Don Warrington would be like,” he shared.
“I remember when I first joined the show, I was almost scared to meet him. I was like, ‘What’s he going to be like?’ But he was really, really cool.”
Looking back on their earliest conversations, Tahj said Don chatted to him about “football and random stuff”.
However, once filming commenced, he said his co-star would switch effortlessly into professional mode.
Dᴇᴀᴛʜ in Paradise’s Marlon Pryce actor Tahj Miles said he was ‘scared’ to meet his co-star(Image: BBC/Red Planet Pictures)
“When it comes to shooting scenes, he’ll be all serious and focused,” Tahj explained.
Speaking on the Bad Wilf YouTube channel, he added: “But if you want to go up to him, have a laugh and start talking about random things, he’ll do that too.
“You don’t have to be scared being around Don Warrington on set and think, ‘I don’t want to mess up in front of him,’ because he’ll come and have a chat.”
Praising the veteran actor further, Tahj said he has learned a great deal simply from observing him work. “He’s like an encyclopaedia of acting,” he added.
“Just watching him, you’ll always pick up on something new that could change your entire career and how you work. It’s brilliant.”
Tahj shared his remarks ahead of the latest series of the BBC drama.
Set on the fictional Caribbean island of Saint Marie, DI Mervin Wilson (Don Gilet) and the team are back solving a string of mysterious d.e.a.t.h.s.
Dᴇᴀᴛʜ in Paradise returned to screens last month(Image: BBC/Red Planet Pictures/Denis Guyenon)
The new run also sees the return of Don’s character, who sparked concern among viewers last year when he appeared to leave the series.
Commissioner Selwyn Patterson chose to depart the island after losing his position. Although he was later offered his job back, he instead decided to return to the UK to see his daughter.
Many fans feared it signalled the end of the character, but Selwyn returned in the Christmas special and remains part of the cast.
Addressing the reaction to his apparent exit, Don told The i Newspaper: “That was just the storyline. The producers thought it would be interesting to have Selwyn reach some kind of crisis and then, after dealing with it, return.
“There was no Machiavellian intent – but it was certainly very nice to know my character had penetrated people’s consciousness to that extent.”
Dᴇᴀᴛʜ in Paradise continues tonight at 9pm on BBC One.
