The BBC has unveiled an exciting lineup of television stars set to bring festive intrigue to the sun-drenched shores of Death In Paradise and the Devon coast of Beyond Paradise in their upcoming Christmas specials.
A Caribbean Christmas Mystery
For the beloved Caribbean crime drama, which has been a staple on British screens since 2011, the festive episode will feature a host of familiar faces. The guest cast heading to the fictional island of Saint Marie includes Josie Lawrence (Outside Edge), Kate Ashfield (Shaun of The Dead), and Pearl Mackie (Doctor Who).
They will be joined by James Baxter, Billy Harris, Oriana Charles, and Alix Serman. This ensemble will appear alongside the show's regular cast, led by Don Gilet as DI Mervin Wilson.
The Baffling Case
The official synopsis promises a classic Death In Paradise puzzle with a festive twist. An office Christmas party goes terribly wrong when four co-workers discover a dead stranger in their villa's pool. The investigation takes a perplexing turn when the murder weapon is identified, only for the team to find it was locked away in a drawer in Swindon at the time of the crime.
Stuck on the island, the team must call on a familiar face for help. Meanwhile, DI Mervin Wilson is distracted by family matters, anxiously awaiting contact from his newly discovered brother, which threatens to dampen his Christmas spirit.
Devon Welcomes New Faces
Over on Beyond Paradise, the sister show launched in 2023, the Devon town of Shipton Abbott will also welcome a roster of guest stars for the holidays. Adrian Edmondson (Alien: Earth), James Lance (Ted Lasso), and Jonny Weldon (One Day) are set to appear.
They will join the regular cast, including Kris Marshall, who reprises his role as DI Humphrey Goodman, a character he originally played on Death In Paradise from 2014 to 2017.
The festive special's plot involves a man with no memory appearing on the police station steps, holding a photo of Humphrey. This mystery, combined with a flurry of holiday crimes and unexpected visitors, will test the team's ability to juggle it all in time for Christmas.
Both the Death In Paradise and Beyond Paradise Christmas specials will be available to stream on BBC iPlayer.
