BBC Dᴇᴀᴛʜ in Paradise’s Don Gilet bans family from visiting him on set
Don Gilet has banned his family from visiting him on the French Caribbean island of Guadeloupe
Don Gilet, the latest addition to Dᴇᴀᴛʜ in Paradise, made his debut as DI Mervin Wilson during the 2024 Christmas special. He now takes on the mantle of lead detective for the sun-drenched series, succeeding Ralf Little who portrayed Detective Inspector Neville Parker.
This isn’t Gilet’s first stint with the seasoned cast on the French Caribbean island of Guadeloupe, which doubles as the fictional St Marie. His initial appearance was back in 2015, playing a minor role alongside then-lead Kris Marshal, who embodied DI Humphrey Goodman.
However, the former EastEnders actor has since imposed a ban on family visits to the island during filming, including his 18 year old son.
Since his comeback as the show’s lead, Gilet has emphasised his commitment to the role by setting stringent personal boundaries.
Despite residing a mere two minutes from one of Guadeloupe’s picturesque beaches, he has prohibited himself from indulging in a swim, reports the Express.
The 57 year old has also vetoed visits from his father, sister, and adult son to the island paradise, contrary to their anticipation of an invite.
Speaking to Radio Times, he revealed that he has eliminated all potential daily distractions to focus on studying the script “so that you know it inside out.”
Despite the tough call, Gilet is determined to impress the showrunners and reassure those who selected him that they won’t “regret the choice they made”.
The actor expressed his satisfaction with being part of the show, saying: “It’s been a real pleasure filming such a beloved series alongside the hardworking cast and crew.”
Recent updates confirm that Gilet announced on ITV’s Lorraine, which he visited with co-star Shantol Jackson, that season 15 will start shooting in April.
Regarding his upcoming departure for Guadalupe, he commented: “Unfortunately, it is about April time, end of April.”
His reasons for calling the return ‘unfortunate’ were highlighted when Jackson queried him about it; Gilet chuckled and clarified that by ‘unfortunate’ he meant “just meant for the people I am going to leave”.
