Death in Paradise viewers are demanding the return of a fan favourite officer who left the BBC drama in season seven, which aired in 2017. The character, Officer Dwayne Myers, played by Danny John-Jules, is now regarded by many as the "most important officer" to have served on the island of Saint-Marie.
Dwayne Myers: The Beloved Officer
Dwayne Myers left Saint-Marie at the end of season seven to repair his relationship with his estranged father, Nelson. His departure came two detectives ago, as DI Jack Mooney (Ardal O'Hanlon) led the precinct from series six until the middle of series nine. He was succeeded by DI Neville Parker (Ralf Little), who became the longest-serving inspector, staying until series 13. The current DI Mervin Wilson (Don Gilet) took over as lead detective in series 14, joining an established team including DS Naomi Thomas (Shantol Jackson), Officer Sebastian Rose (Shaquille Ali-Yebuah), and Sergeant Mattie Fletcher (Catherine Garton).
Fans Call for His Return
In a Reddit forum, one user stated: "Dwayne is the most important officer that has been on DIP. He knows everyone, knows all the shady places and people. He knows the area to go to that people just won’t think about it. He was Saint Marie and the total package." Another fan suggested a potential return: "His last stint on the show wasn't good, he was just ended being a caricature of himself. I still think he's an ideal replacement for when Selwyn eventually leaves, if they can give him some gravitas. Maybe he comes back a more serious man after his father's passing. Still has a bit of a silly side, but much more toned down than previously." A third commented: "My favourite Dwayne knowledge was that he knew where you can buy a rare frog venom from." Another added: "I can't even be a little mad that he made a personal choice to leave the show, but damn it, I miss Dwayne!"
Why Danny John-Jules Left
After filming eight seasons in Guadeloupe, Danny John-Jules revealed he left to explore other ventures. He told TV Times: "I left Death in Paradise because I wanted to get back on stage. I needed a bit more razzmatazz in my life, and then along came Strictly! I haven't done a [stage] show for more than 20 years, so this is as close as I'm going to get to doing the jazz hands again. I've also been working on my one-man show about Sammy Davis Jnr, that's why I'm always wearing a bowler hat!"
Life After Death in Paradise
In the years since leaving, Danny appeared on Strictly Come Dancing in 2018, paired with Amy Dowden. After being eliminated in the seventh round, he continued performing in theatre, with roles in productions such as I've Gotta Be Me, The Da Vinci Code, and Shrek the Musical.
