Ben Miller, the actor famous for playing DI Richard Poole in the BBC's Death in Paradise, has returned to television in a different beloved role. The 60-year-old star appeared on ITV1 on Wednesday, August 19, as the lead in the fourth season of Professor T.
Return to a Fan-Favourite Role
Miller originally played the original lead detective DI Richard Poole in the hit BBC crime drama Death in Paradise, solving crimes on Saint Marie from 2011 until his character was murdered at the start of season three. Years after that on-screen death, he now stars as Professor Jasper Tempest in ITV's series Professor T, which first aired in 2021.
The series follows Jasper, a genius criminologist with OCD who lives with his overbearing mother Adelaide, played by Frances de la Tour. His crime-solving skills assist the police over three series, and season four premiered on ITV1 on Wednesday.
Season Four Plot and Cast
Season four is set six months after the season three finale, which involved the death of DS Lisa Donckers (Emma Naomi), a police detective and former student of Professor T. The latest episode shows Jasper grappling with memories of Lisa's violent end, leading him to resist police work that once brought him fulfilment.
New cast member Zoë Wanamaker joins as Jasper's aunt Zelda Radclyffe. Returning cast includes Frances de la Tour as Jasper's mother, Juliet Stevenson as Dr Helena Goldberg, Barney White as DS Dan Winters, Sunetra Sarker as DCI Maiya Goswami, and Rhian Blundell as DC Chloe Highsmith.
Viewer and Star Reactions
Viewers shared their excitement on social media. One person wrote on X: "Here we go. Been a long wait for this!" Another added: "So excited." A fan on Instagram wrote: "The BEST." Someone else commented: "Can hardly wait!" A fifth fan said: "EXCELLENT!!!" Another shared: "Brilliant - thanks for making another season," while someone else wrote: "My goat is backk."
Miller previously expressed his love for the drama, saying: "There's nothing out there quite like Professor T, with its unique mix of complex crimes and captivating characters, all set against the beautiful backdrop of Cambridge; the central enigma being the Professor himself... a mystery I hope to investigate for many seasons to come!" Professor T is available to stream on ITVX.
