The sun-drenched shores of Saint Marie are welcoming a fresh face to the Honore Police force. The BBC has exclusively confirmed to the Daily Mail that up-and-coming actress Catherine Garton, 27, has been cast as a new sergeant in its beloved long-running drama, Death in Paradise.
A Proven Talent Lands a Dream Role
Garton, who is also a musician, reportedly made a significant impression on producers with her performance in the recent Doctor Who spin-off, The War Between the Land and Sea. In the five-part BBC One mini-series, broadcast last month, she played Corporal Jane Hart, a role she filmed at the end of 2024.
This prior work meant that when she auditioned for the part of the sassy new sergeant, bosses already knew her capabilities and swiftly offered her the role. A source revealed, ‘Catherine was over the moon when bosses called to say she’d got the part. It’s a huge role for her.’
The London-born actress, who is engaged to musician Dominic Darmanin, 30, flew out to the Caribbean last April to begin filming her scenes alongside Don Gilet’s Detective Inspector Mervin Wilson.
Injecting New Energy into a Hit Series
The insider added that the production team is confident in their choice, stating, ‘Catherine brings something a little different to the role and the camera just loves her. Everyone is very excited as they are certain the fans will love her.’ They emphasised the importance of getting the casting right for the show's loyal fanbase, concluding, ‘with Catherine they believe they’ve done just that. She's certainly going to turn one or two heads on the Island.’
Garton’s character will be a key part of the supporting team for Don Gilet, who made his debut as the lead detective in the 2024 Christmas special after Ralf Little’s departure at the end of series 13. The most recent full series, the 14th, saw Gilet settle into the role and also featured the promotion of Shantou Jackson's character, Naomi Thomas, to Detective Sergeant.
The Enduring Legacy of a BBC Staple
Death in Paradise remains one of the BBC’s top-performing dramas since it first aired in 2011 with Ben Miller. The show has successfully navigated several detective handovers:
- Ben Miller led until series 3.
- Kris Marshall took over until series 6.
- Ardal O’Hanlon then held the post until series 9.
- Ralf Little led from series 9 through to 13.
Alongside the new faces, stalwarts like Don Warrington as Commissioner Selwyn Patterson and Elizabeth Bourgine as Catherine Bordey have been constants since the very beginning. The series has also spawned successful spin-offs Beyond Paradise and Return to Paradise.
Fans can look forward to seeing Catherine Garton’s debut when the new series airs, bringing her unique sparkle to the tropical crime-solving team.
