Beyond Paradise’s Kris Marshall declares love for ‘stunning’ Cornish beauty spot

While Beyond Paradise's fictional town of Shipton Abbott is somewhere in Devon, its real-life counterpart is in Cornwall – and star Kris Marshall loves one nearby beauty spot in Particular

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Humphrey Goodman's 'Devon' home is on the Pentellie Estate, not far from St Mellion — Humphrey Goodman’s ‘Devon’ home is on the Pentellie Estate, not far from St Mellion (Image: BBC/Red Planet Pictures/Joss Barratt )

Beyond Paradise, the Death In Paradise spinoff that has won a whole new audience of its own, is back for a third series. Few people could be more delighted than star Kris Marshall.

Kris, who returns as Detective Inspector Humphrey Goodman, says he loves filming in the show’s Devon and Cornwall locations: “I absolutely love filming by the coast,” Kris told Best Magazine, revealing that one particular Cornish beauty spot has won his heart.

The show is set in the fictional town of of Shipton Abbott, somewhere near the Devon coast, but most of the filming takes place in and around in the Cornish town of Looe, with The University of Plymouth’s Portland Square and Nancy Astor buildings putting in an appearance as the South West Police Headquarters.

Low angle view of Rame Head against a clear sky. On the horizon you can see the sun disappearing into the sea. — Kris singled out Rame Head as his favourite Beyond Paradise location (Image: George W Johnson via Getty Images)

Cornwall’s combination of big open skies and rugged seaside landscape suits Kris very well, he says: “I’m a big fan of getting my ‘vitamin sea.’ Whether it’s surfing or swimming, being by the water makes me happy.”

Kris reveals that one particular location holds a special place in his heart: “One of my favourite filming locations is Rame Head in Cornwall .

“It offers stunning views, and has a fascinating abandoned military site. It’s a great spot for filming, and after work you can head down to a secret cove for a swim.”

In the show Humphrey moves to Martha's Devon hometown — In the show Humphrey moves to Martha’s Devon hometown (Image: Red Planet Pictures/Joss Barratt)

He says that South East Cornwall was chosen as a primary filming location, despite the show’s Devon setting, partly because it tends to be less “touristy” in the summer months.

The Tamar Valley and Looe are also within easy reach Plymouth, the A30 and the A38, so it is accessible for the caravan of location trucks that follows any major TV production.

The show's set in Devon, but largely filmed in Cornwall — The show is set in Devon, but largely filmed in Cornwall (Image: BBC / Red Planet Pictures / Mark Harrison)

The show’s executive producer Tim Key told the I that one of the first priorities had to be identifying a location that not only had good transport links, but stunning scenery to rival the glorious Caribbean setting of Death In Paradise.

“Being a Death in Paradise show,” he said, “we knew it had to be set somewhere beautiful, and, in the UK, we are spoilt for choice.”

He added: “There were lots of conversations about where we take it but we settled quite quickly on the West Country as we felt that Devon hadn’t had a huge amount of exposure in TV drama, Cornwall often nabs the glory.”

Viewers enjoy the scenery, too, but Kris thinks the secret to Beyond Paradise’s success is in its tight, multilayered storylines: “Each episode is packed with content,” he says, “and there’s a real sense of magic in how much is crammed into just one hour.”

Beyond Paradise airs tonight (Friday, April 11) at 8pm on BBC One.