Dᴇᴀᴛʜ in Paradise cast on DI Mervin’s ‘rude’ debut and the ‘Santarrific’ 2024 Christmas Special

It’s the most wonderful time of the year as we return to sun-drenched Saint Marie, joining the police team and a new Detective Inspector for a festive feature-length Dᴇᴀᴛʜ in Paradise Christmas special.

When holiday maker Stuart Fullwell (Marcus Brigstocke), fresh from performing karaoke dressed as Santa, is found dead on the beach by a young boy Ollie – son of Jamie (Jim Howick) – the Saint Marie police team kick into action. But with the Dᴇᴀᴛʜ clearly murder, and no Detective Inspector in place of the recently departed Neville Parker, are they ready to tackle such a big case?

With the pressure mounting, Commissioner Selwyn Patterson (Don Warrington) is relieved to discover that a British detective is holidaying on the island. Following a somewhat disappointing solo trip, DI Mervin Wilson (Don Gilet) is aboard a flight back home to London ready to take off, when he is informed by his boss that he needs to stay on Saint Marie – whether he likes it or not…

Reluctantly extending his stay, Mervin is thrown in at the deep end following the report of a second Santa shooting, this time that of celebrity songwriter Tony Hurst (Steven Hartley). Eager to get the case cracked and go home, Mervin’s disinterest in making pleasantries with DS Naomi Thomas (Shantol Jackson) and Officer Darlene Curtis (Ginny Holder) does not go unnoticed… The task at hand is made even more difficult as Tyrus DeMille (Michael Salami), also dressed as Santa, reports he was shot at in the woods by a shady figure, but managed to make a lucky escape.

On learning each Santa was seemingly shot with the exact same gun at the exact same time, the team must link three apparently unconnected victims and try to solve an impossible case, with hotel worker Kenny (Dex Lee), and guests Tabitha (Angela Griffin) and Karla (Elizabeth Carling) all being questioned. However, things take a shocking turn at Catherine’s (Élizabeth Bourgine) Christmas fair when Mervin is accused by local woman Brianna Clemetson (Joy Richardson) of being the killer, forcing him to reveal to Selwyn his real reason for being on Saint Marie…

Meanwhile, Officer Dwayne Myers (Danny John-Jules) is looking forward to a Christmas fishing trip with his father, Nelson (Ram John Holder), when a phone call out of the blue changes everything…

Watch the Dᴇᴀᴛʜ in Paradise Christmas Special on iPlayer and BBC One from 8.30pm on Sunday 22 December

Meet the cast

Don Gilet (Detective Inspector Mervin Wilson)

How did it feel stepping into the Detective Inspector shoes for the first time?

I’m sure it won’t be a surprise to say that it was both exciting and terrifying in equal measure. I liken it to one of those scary rides at a theme park. I’m going on it, and I know it’s going to be scary, but I’m going to do it. You’re daring yourself. Then you sit in the seat going, “What have I just let myself in for?!” But it was exciting because I knew I was embarking on this new journey.

Were you a fan of the show before you got the role?

I watched it before I appeared in series four with Kris Marshall. I was watching to see the style of the show and I was drawn in by how they managed to balance the seriousness and gravity of a crime show – because there are murders! – with the quirkiness from the character’s perspective, giving a light touch to it and a comedic edge. There are comedies and there are detective shows; they’d managed to combine those two things, and I thought, ‘this is really doing it’.

Can you tell us about when you found out you’d got the part of DI Mervin Wilson?

When I found out I felt this great sense of relief. This is what I’ve been craving. Then it was surprise: Wow. Really, me? It’s a weird feeling for an actor when you get any job, no matter what role it is, because they like your craft and what you did in the audition. When I was in the room, there were four people to impress, and I managed to do it. It was a great reminder to me that, yeah, you can still do this. It felt like a little personal air-punch-without-anyone-looking moment.

How did you find filming on the island?

It’s intense because you’ve got that heat from the start to the end of the day. It does get to a point where you are used to it, but it takes that extra layer of concentration. You can’t turn the temperature down, but it’s a beautiful backdrop to shoot against. Sometimes you have to pinch yourself and go look at where you are and what you’re doing. It’s a beautiful place. I haven’t had much of a chance to venture out to see just how beautiful it is yet. Once you get used to the temperature, it’s a great job!

How did you find filming the Christmas special in the sun?

It’s obviously a weird juxtaposition because I am used to – and Mervin is used to – a British Christmas which has inclement weather. It may be bright, but it will be cold and that’s what I associate Christmas with, wrapping up, wearing gloves, boots and thermal gear, snowball fights, sledding and snowmen. You don’t get that in a hot country!

That’s what I find weird about anywhere that celebrates Christmas in the heat. You’re meant to be cold and cosy and the only time you’re hot is when you’re in front of the fire, but you must embrace it. It was just another fun day in Paradise the way I saw it, Christmas or not.

How do you think DI Mervin Wilson would spend Christmas in London, and in Guadeloupe?

In the Christmas special, he says he always works on Christmas day. Clearly, he doesn’t have anything to do from a social aspect. He spends Christmas in an environment that he’s used to: work. Either way, if he was at home or in Guadeloupe, he’d be working. Christmas is just another day to work for him. It’s a bit lonely, but it’s what he’s used to.

What would be the perfect Christmas present for Mervin?

The perfect Christmas present for Mervin is a decent working air conditioner unit and a Wi-Fi router. Then he can watch his football in a cool environment. He’d say, “give me that and I’ll be fine”. He would want something that is practical and connects him to the outside world.

Don Warrington (Commissioner Selwyn Patterson)

Selwyn has welcomed multiple new Detective Inspectors over the years – what are his first impressions of DI Mervin Wilson?

He’s cagey and he’s watchful to see how he does. He’s not looking at traits but he’s looking at who Mervin really is. There’s a slight edge because Mervin has his way of doing things, and the team have theirs. But that changes when Selwyn begins see there’s more to Mervin. He finds Mervin’s methods of working stressful, but he goes along with it up to a point until Mervin reaches that point and he sees another side of the Commissioner.

What do you think Selwyn would buy Mervin for Christmas?

I think Selwyn would buy him a gag.

What sort of office Christmas party do you think Selwyn would organise?

It’d be in Catherine’s bar. The drinks would be flowing, and it would be full of warmth and happiness that they made it through another year.

Shantol Jackson (DS Naomi Thomas)

What are Naomi’s first impressions of DI Mervin Wilson?

Rude, insensitive and impatient! During the Christmas special, Naomi and Darlene want Mervin to leave but they understand that the team need a Detective Inspector. He complains about the island a lot and is offensive, and that doesn’t sit well with her, or Darlene! She makes these feelings known to him, but she does realise that he is very capable and intuitive…

How have you found working with Don Gilet?

He’s lovely! He’s a jokester. I really enjoyed working with him. He comes to set every morning always ready to jump in and cares a lot about the other actors. Having people who come in and set the tone for the day like that, it really helps you, as well as the chemistry between the cast.

He also plays just as hard as he works. He likes to have fun and he’s very aware that he’s coming into a system that’s been running for a long time, so he must come in and try to fit into something that’s already existed, and I think he did very well.

What can you tell us about the case in the Christmas episode?

The Christmas special is Santarrific! It’s filled with Santas, surprises and lovely guest cast. It’s one of the biggest cases we’ve had thus far. We have three different murders and attempted murders to solve, which all happened, seemingly, at the same time, and we have to do it without an Inspector initially. It was a big task. And on top of all that, Naomi is then trying to understand this man that she’s being forced to work with…

What would Naomi buy Mervin for Christmas?

A handheld fan. He’s always complaining about the heat. He wouldn’t find it funny, but she would.

How will you be spending Christmas this year?

This year my family are coming to my house for Christmas! I’m so excited and I’m in preparation mode already as they’re based all over the place. I’ve got a dining table for everybody because I’m in a new space. My niece, my nephew and my mum will all be there and we’re going to watch the Christmas special and have an intimate screening of it in my living room.

My mum has already sent the itinerary for the Christmas dinner, so I now need to go shopping and get everything… Christmas is my favourite time of the year because I get to eat a lot of food, but also because it’s family orientated. People are much nicer and kinder. It’s blissful and I’m glad that I’ll be spending it with the people who keep me grounded and who I haven’t seen in such a long time.

What sort of Christmas party do you think Naomi would organise?

Naomi would want to do a black-tie event. She’s very organised and likes to get things done. Of course, the Commissioner would be present. She’s always trying to impress him and be in his good graces. It’s likely that we would be in the middle of solving a crime or wrapping something up, so she would probably hold it in the police station.

Mervin has never really celebrated Christmas and Naomi is very much aware of that, so she would want it to be special for him. She would want it to be very homely and Caribbean, and for it to bring in lots of local food. She would invite everyone’s family so Mervin can see what that looks like and put up a lot of decorations. It would be very intimate and small with the team and the people closest to us.

Ginny Holder (Officer Darlene Curtis)

What are Darlene’s initial thoughts of Mervin?

Initially, she was very welcoming to him, but he was rude! She went to shake his hand, and he just ignored her. It went downhill from there. As soon as you disrespect Darlene, forget it! It takes a while for her to warm up to you again. He’s very impatient, too. Someone could be talking to him and then he’ll just walk off because he’s so in his head. We’re all stood there going, did he just do that?! It’s baffling.

Mervin brings the complexities of London onto an island which is a bit more chilled. He brings a type of focus that is a bit gritty and edgy.

What would Darlene buy Mervin for Christmas?

Darlene would buy him an espresso machine! That would be it.

What sort of office Christmas party would Darlene organise?

Darlene would have it in the station. She’d get rid of the desks and put up lots of fairy lights. There would be good music, dancing, champagne and martinis.

Danny John-Jules (Officer Dwayne Myers)

How did you find returning to Guadeloupe for another Christmas special?

It’s pretty much like walking out your front door for me. I first went there fourteen years ago, and I filmed seven series. After seven years, it was pretty much like being at home.

I used to annoy everyone because I could speak the local language. The mayor went crazy because when she first spoke to me, I was speaking in English, and so she couldn’t understand how I was born in England but could speak Creole. She nearly fell over!

Dwayne’s father Nelson is back on the island. What was it like working with Ram John Holder again?

I first worked with Ram John Holder in 1985 in a musical at the Donmar Warehouse. He’d always been a big inspiration of mine. He’s an actor, singer… He’s just one of those guys. And he’s 90?! It’s like getting to work with Laurence Olivier.

Can you tell us about Dwayne’s plans for Christmas and how they pan out?

Dwayne is a bit of a changed man and he’s all about family these days. Whereas before he was very self-centred, chasing women three times an episode and so on. And then, he got his heart broken by the girl that tamed him. Everybody goes back home to Mummy and Daddy after that, don’t they? He’s Dwayne. He’s human.

Let’s just say that the plans that he and Nelson had for this Christmas, don’t exactly go to plan…

What would you buy Dwayne for Christmas?

I would buy Dwayne whatever he thought could get Darlene back… He’s trying to pretend that he’s not hurt. The thing about Dwayne is that women like him because he’s the kind of guy that they love to beat, love to get one up over.

A lot of the women, if you watch, are really stringing him along. He’s not stringing them along – it’s the other way round! But women like him, because he’s not a scoundrel. He’s not calculated, and he believes in what he’s doing.

Élizabeth Bourgine (Catherine Bordey)

What does Catherine make of Mervin?

Catherine finds him very rude and selfish. She doesn’t like him at all. As the mayor, he’s not what she was expecting. She was hoping for somebody more respectful! He’s like a bull in a China shop.

What would Catherine buy Mervin for Christmas?

Catherine would buy Mervin two Saint Marie themed jigsaw puzzles. A historical one and a geographical one for him to get know the island and to understand its history and people. A very long one, so long that it would take up the space of two tables!

What makes your perfect Christmas dinner?

My perfect Christmas dinner would be one that makes me think of my childhood because Christmas time is really about family. When I was a little girl, it was very important for me to make and put decorations on the Christmas tree. My mother would have chocolate cakes, sweets and eat an orange because my father would always say that if you have an orange, “you will have the best Christmas!” You would usually find oranges in his garden and now I have a garden with orange trees. So, all I would need is chocolate, my orange trees and then everything else doesn’t matter.

How will you be spending Christmas this year?

It was so hot in Guadeloupe this year that it made me dream of snow so, I think this year, I will be going to the mountains to do some skiing and play in the snow – just to get the feeling of the cold!