Ben Miller, the original lead detective in Death in Paradise, has expressed a desire to reprise his role as Richard Poole, even though the character was killed off over a decade ago. The actor, who played the detective for the first two series, was murdered at the start of series three to make way for Kris Marshall's Humphrey Goodman.
Miller's Love for the Character
In an interview with Radio Times, Miller said: "If I wasn't so ruddy old, I could play him in a prequel. I loved the character and I loved the show. It just came at a slightly unfortunate time in my life." He added that he often "really miss[es] that character" and noted that creator Robert Thorogood wrote four DI Richard Poole novels after his exit, saying "so that's a nice way to live the character again."
The novels, released from 2015 to 2018, see Richard investigate murders on the fictional island of Saint Marie. The stories include a spiritual leader found dead in a locked room, a corpse with impossibly placed fingerprints, and a boat explosion.
Spin-offs and Successors
While a prequel series may be unlikely due to Miller's age, the Death in Paradise universe has expanded. Thorogood has created two spin-offs: Beyond Paradise, which follows Humphrey and his fiancée Martha (Sally Bretton) in the fictional town of Shipton Abbott, and Return to Paradise, an Australian-set show about a detective returning to her coastal hometown after working in London. Ardal O'Hanlon's DI Jack Mooney makes cameo appearances in the latter.
Since Miller's departure, several actors have taken over as the lead detective, including Kris Marshall, Ardal O'Hanlon, Ralf Little, and currently Don Gilet. The only characters to appear in all 15 seasons are Catherine Bordey (Elizabeth Bourgine) and Commissioner Selwyn Patterson (Don Warrington).
