BBC Dᴇᴀᴛʜ in Paradise spot major nod to Richard Poole in spin-off after character return
The brand new Dᴇᴀᴛʜ in Paradise spin-off, Return to Paradise, aired its second episode tonight and fans are convinced that the show's first lead detective is very similar to the series' first-ever detective.
Devotees of Dᴇᴀᴛʜ in Paradise are drawing parallels between the series’ first female lead, Mackenzie Clarke (portrayed by Anna Samson), and DI Richard Poole (Ben Miller), the show’s original detective.
The recently launched spin-off titled Return to Paradise broadcasted its second instalment tonight, and viewers didn’t hesitate to express their opinions on the fresh narrative.
Ben Miller’s tenure as a central character was dramatically cut short at the start of the third series when his character, DI Richard Poole, was killed.
Keen observers among the fan base flagged up some striking resemblances between the iconic detectives.
Several comments on a dedicated Facebook fan group compared Mackenzie and Richard, with one person posting: “I liked it! The lead character seems to be like a female Richard Poole or Neville Parker. I hope we see more of Jack in the future.”
Echoing the sentiment, another chimed in: “Yes, you’re right, very Richard Poole-ish.” (sic)
Anna Samson, who brings life to the role of Mackenzie, has previously spoken about Return to Paradise and how her character resembles the former DI.
She revealed: “So the show, without being a carbon copy of the original, has lots of tips of the hat to the original, not just with the characters but even certain shots are paying homage to the original, like on the beach with the suitcase and not [wearing] an appropriate outfit for the weather. That is certainly a wink and a nod to the original.”
Discussing the series’ cast dynamics, she touched upon the return of Dᴇᴀᴛʜ in Paradise detective Jack Mooney (portrayed by Ardal O’Hanlon).
Anna continued: “I didn’t get to meet Ardal because he shot his stuff in London and my stuff in Australia. I want to meet all of [the Dᴇᴀᴛʜ in Paradise cast]. I think it is something about playing the lead detective in a Paradise show, so I want to talk to them; I would love to meet them all.”
The plot summary for the third episode, now available on BBC iPlayer, states: “Three hairdressers return from lunch to find their boss, Bianca Bailey, has been killed.
“The method is strangulation, but the murder weapon remains a mystery, one that Mackenzie is determined to untangle.
“Mackenzie also faces a personal dilemma as she contemplates whether to accept Philomena’s offer of a permanent position. The question lingers: Is it time for Mackenzie to leave paradise behind for good?”
Return to Paradise is available to watch on BBC iPlayer.
