Don Gilet, who plays DI Mervin Wilson in Death in Paradise, has praised his on-screen half-brother Solomon, played by Daniel Ward, as the character makes his debut in tonight's episode. Mervin, who never met his biological mother, tracks down his estranged sibling, but their reunion does not go as planned.
Speaking about working with Ward, Gilet said: "It's great working with Daniel. I didn't realise until working with him, he also writes, so he's one of those people who really loves to do a deep dive into the writing and the character." He added that the pair's characters "couldn't be any more opposed, which makes the drama, which makes the entertainment".
Gilet explained that Mervin had always wanted family and was devastated to learn his mother had died before he could meet her. Finding a brother was "a dream he never even thought he could have", but Solomon is "larger-than-life" and at odds with everything Mervin would want in a sibling. The first meeting proves challenging, with Gilet suggesting "be careful what you wish for".
Also joining the Saint Marie police force in the episode is Sergeant Mattie Fletcher, played by Catherine Garton, who takes over from Darlene Curtis, portrayed by Ginny Holder. The official synopsis reveals that the commissioner's return is disrupted by a suspicious incident at Government House, where a man has fallen from the roof to his death. It looks like suicide, but Mervin suspects foul play, with the roof door locked and no one else present.
Away from the investigation, Mervin is anxious to finally meet Solomon, the half-brother he never knew he had. The episode airs this evening on BBC One.
