The third series of Return to Paradise introduces a new pathologist to Dolphin Cove, shaking up the team dynamic as DI Mackenzie Clarke faces a very public death. Jacob Collins-Levy joins the cast as Leo Drake, stepping in after Glenn Strong's departure from his pathology post. The Australian-set Death in Paradise spin-off returns to BBC One on Friday at 7.30pm.
New pathologist and a fatal collapse
Leo Drake's arrival does little to get his working relationship with Mack off to a good start, as she does little to welcome the newcomer. Meanwhile, an artist dies after collapsing on stage at the local art fair, bringing Mack face to face with a complicated connection to her past: the victim's muse, who becomes the team's main suspect.
Collins-Levy, a 34-year-old Australian actor, is known for roles in The White Princess, Young Wallander and The Witcher: Blood Origin.
Returning cast and characters
Anna Samson returns as Mackenzie, the franchise's first female lead detective. The British-born Australian actress, 36, worked in theatre before her television debut in Conspiracy 365. Her credits include playing Home and Away's Mia Anderson from 2021 to 2022. Although born in England, Samson grew up partly in Nigeria, where her engineer father worked, before the family moved to Sydney.
Samson said of her character: "She takes me by surprise all the time. I know her so well and yet it is rare that I've predetermined her response to something. Something will annoy her that I didn't expect or something will make her laugh that I didn't expect."
Actor and comedian Lloyd Griffith returns as Colin Cartwright. A former Soccer AM presenter, Griffith trained as a choral singer before pursuing comedy. His television career began with BBC Three's Taxi to Training, and he has since appeared in Ted Lasso, Not Going Out and It's A Sin.
Tai Hara, 36, plays Glenn Strong. Best known to many viewers as Andy Barrett in Home and Away, he has also appeared in Madam Secretary and Preacher. Hara said of Glenn's return: "When Glenn first returns, it's clear that he's not in a space for new romantic adventures. But yeah, He's reflected and asked deeper questions of where his relationship lies with Mackenzie. At his core, the main thing that he really wants to resolve and unpack is where they both stand now."
More regulars and guest stars
Catherine McClements returns as Philomena Strong. Her television credits include Water Rats and Tangle, and she starred in Netflix's The Survivors, earning a Logie Award nomination. Celia Ireland, 60, returns as Reggie Rocco, a retired teacher who has become an unofficial member of the police team. Ireland is known for her roles as Regina Butcher in All Saints and Liz Birdsworth in Wentworth.
Aaron McGrath plays Felix Wilkinson, a police constable based at Dolphin Cove Police Station. The 29-year-old Australian actor has appeared in Glitch, Ready for This and Gold Diggers. Ron Smyck plays Trevor Bongiovanni, Glenn's cousin. His screen credits include Netflix's Spiderhead, Two Years Later and Godzilla X Kong: The New Empire.
Guest stars in the opening episode include Deborah Faye Lee as Lisa Charlton, Lani John Tupu as Viktor Sevchenko, Mark Lee as Charles Frederick, and Tina Bursill as Hilde Mainwaring. Return to Paradise begins on BBC One on Friday at 7.30pm.
