A Beyond Paradise star has confirmed the future of the beloved BBC crime drama after season four came to an end. Zahra Ahmadi, who plays DS Esther Williams in the Death in Paradise spin-off, has officially announced that a fifth series is in the works.
The actress joined the show in 2023 alongside Kris Marshall as DI Humphrey Goodman and Sally Bretton as Martha Lloyd. The series has been airing for four seasons, and while rumours of a fifth had been circulating, the BBC had not yet confirmed it. Now, Ahmadi has teased an exciting update, revealing that her co-star Kris Marshall accidentally let slip the news before he was allowed to.
During an interview on BBC Sounds, Ahmadi was asked the question fans have been asking: “Is that it or is there more?” She responded: “I have been given permission to say that we have got a fifth series. And I have been given — in a very Head Girl way, as I’m called on set — permission to say that. It has been said by a certain Kris Marshall but he was not allowed, and he was very undisciplined and blurted it out but you are getting the true exclusive. We have a fifth series, we are very excited.” She added: “I’m thrilled, it’s the icing on top of the cake.”
This announcement comes after the BBC confirmed that Death in Paradise, starring Don Gilet, will return for two more series and two Christmas specials. Fans were delighted by the Beyond Paradise news, which was shared on social media with the BBC teasing: “The cameras return to Cornwall. Beyond Paradise Series 5 is confirmed in Looe.” One fan replied: “My absolute fave I love all the cast, can’t wait for series 5 and I hope there is a Christmas special planned too.” Another echoed: “Fantastic, love it,” while a third wrote: “Yesssss can’t wait love all the series on beyond paradise series 5 here we come.”
Talking about filming in Cornwall, Ahmadi continued on BBC Radio Cornwall: “I think sometimes it’s difficult to put into words just how beautiful it is down here. It really is, the colour of the water down here… it’s crystal clear, it’s blue, especially now in Spring when everything is coming alive, the sheer number of greens that exist, the flowers are all in bloom, the birds are out, it is just heaven.”
This follows Kris Marshall’s earlier slip about the fifth season, when he said: “Well, we're about to start shooting season five,” before quickly clarifying: “I am kidding, I am kidding. I am not gonna give away spoilers, they haven't even written it yet.” Beyond Paradise is available to watch on BBC iPlayer.
