Death in Paradise and Beyond Paradise star Kris Marshall has revealed that his show Sanditon is the first he has had cancelled and then reinstated. The actor, known for playing Detective Humphrey Goodman, spoke about the revival of the Jane Austen adaptation after its initial axe.
Fan Campaign Led to Revival
Sanditon, adapted from Jane Austen's unfinished novel, was axed after its first series but later revived following a campaign by fans, particularly in America. Marshall previously told Radio Times: "It is the first show I've been on that has been cancelled and then reinstated." He added: "The fans did that after it took off in America, organising an incredible campaign to bring the show back."
Early Career Struggles
In an interview with the Guardian last year, Marshall opened up about his life before fame, admitting he struggled to pay rent and hid under the bed from his landlord. He said: "The only problem was, I had no idea how to get into the industry. Instead, I worked the odd, crazy job to make ends meet - doing shifts in a toothpaste factory or in the laundry of an abattoir. That one was pretty grim - the smell will never leave me."
He also recalled: "I was once fired from Iceland for wearing blue sunglasses on the till, and for a while, I knocked on the doors of people who hadn't paid their TV licences."
Breakthrough and Current Work
His breakthrough came unexpectedly while working in a pub, where a meeting with someone from the entertainment sector changed his path. He began touring with stage productions before landing his first film role. He said: "I went from hiding under my bed from the landlord because I couldn't pay my rent, to flying over to the Toronto film festival to promote my first lead role in a film 18 months later."
Marshall is currently in Cornwall filming the new series of Beyond Paradise. Death in Paradise and Beyond Paradise are available to watch on BBC iPlayer.
