Dᴇᴀᴛʜ in Paradise cast talk new team dynamics, potential romance and a “very emotional journey” in Saint Marie

As the sun beams down, we’re transported back to the tropical island of Saint Marie, and this time with a new Detective Inspector in place – but will DI Mervin Wilson (Don Gilet) remain in the job for long? Following the recently cracked case of ‘who shot the Santas?’, along with the revelation that his estranged mother has passed away, Mervin is ready to get back home and leave the island for good. But when a case close to the hearts of those at the station presents itself, is he tempted to extend his stay?

As Mervin continues to ruffle feathers, the police team pull together to solve some of the island’s most confounding cases yet.

Elsewhere, Commissioner Selwyn Patterson (Don Warrington) must deal with momentous news from the Chief Commissioner in Jamaica that rocks the police department to its very core. As an unexpected foe attempts to enforce the unfathomable, Catherine (Elizabeth Bourgine), in her role as Mayor, acts as the last line of defence in a battle to save the team as we know it.

In an unexpected twist, Naomi (Shantol Jackson) finds herself at an emotional crossroads when an old flame from St Barnabas makes a surprising appearance on the island, while Darlene (Ginny Holder) becomes a mentor when a new officer joins the ranks, but is left questioning whether she’s the right person for the job. And with the opportunity to learn more about his mother’s life, Mervin begins to discover things may not be all that they seem in Saint Marie. As everything he thought he knew unravels, will his life ever be the same again?

Watch new episodes of Dᴇᴀᴛʜ in Paradise on iPlayer and BBC One from Friday 31 January at 9pm

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’.

You’ve appeared in Dᴇᴀᴛʜ in Paradise before as a different character. Do you remember much from your last trip to Guadeloupe?

It was a long time ago now, but I certainly remember enjoying it! I remember thinking I’m here just playing the villain. I’ll never have to play that character who speaks for seven pages nonstop. Cut to now, and I’m now playing the character who speaks for seven pages nonstop…

Did any of the cast show you any Guadeloupe hotspots? Did you find time to explore the island?

I did get recommendations for some nice restaurants as well as places to go and visit from the cast. They wanted to take me out, but I really wanted to knuckle down while we were filming so I could look back and say that I put all my energy into this role. We’ve spent so much time together and there’s such a beautiful, warm bond between us. Thanks to them, I have so many great places on my list!

What were you most looking forward to about joining the Dᴇᴀᴛʜ in Paradise family?

I was looking forward to seeing how we work as a team of detectives trying to catch our criminal. How we work as a group of actors and what the process is. The cast take the format seriously. They really care for their characters and are invested in them. As an actor, I love tinkering and seeing how much we can play with the material, our characters and get to know each other as people. When I found out they wanted to do the same, I thought this is going to be great! My hope was that I was going to be joining an environment where there were people who still loved working on the show and I wasn’t disappointed.

A fish out of water, Mervin struggles with life on Saint Marie. Can you tell us about his initial thoughts about the island and the police team?

He’s quite vocal about coming into a place where he’s battling with a temperature that he’s not used to. He didn’t realise how much he took for granted in London until he went somewhere that works at a different pace. He expects the same in Saint Marie, but – as we’ve seen already – he soon learns things don’t happen as quickly as they would back home. He doesn’t want to be there for very long because he wasn’t even meant to be on the island as a ‘Detective’, he was there as just Mervin. He’s not a well-travelled guy. He’s a British guy, a Londoner – he loves his fish and chips and home comforts.

In the Christmas special we discover Mervin’s mother has recently passed away – is there more for Mervin to discover around that?

Mervin must learn to deal with his mother’s Dᴇᴀᴛʜ . He constantly goes from trying to move on to trying to figure it out exactly what might have happened again, if anything at all. Then he’s also got these cases to solve on a regular basis, he’s got his job to do.

It’s great how the story has been written and unravels. There’s a possibility that there might have been some suspicious circumstances related to her Dᴇᴀᴛʜ , but we don’t know for sure. The question is can he juggle the personal with the professional? Can he get the job done or will it become too much for him?

How did you find working with Shantol Jackson, and how does Mervin and Naomi’s relationship develop?

I loved working with Shantol. Her character, Naomi, comes across as very studious and serious. It’s great to find out she’s nothing like that. She’s a very warm and approachable person, and she’s a bit like me in that she loves doing character deep dives. Both characters don’t have much of a social life because they put all their energy into their work. Later, a former love interest of Naomi’s returns and we explore why that didn’t originally work out, because she put her work above her love life. It’s the same with Mervin. He’s obsessive.

Over the series, they start to warm to each other. Mervin usually does his own thing, and it means that Naomi must play catch up but then he starts to include her more, begins to acknowledge her and they develop a mutual respect for each other.

How about working with the other cast and crew?

What I love about working with the cast and crew is they have this incredible enthusiasm for the series. They’ve also been very welcoming and have fully embraced me. They have been familiar with this body of work for a while now and for me, coming into this environment, it still feels like a breath of fresh air.

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 to 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 has it been like working with Don Gilet?

He’s a delight to work with. He’s a nice guy, very thorough, professional and he deeply cares about the role.

At the start of the series, Selwyn is given a huge bombshell about his job. How does he take that news?

Not well. It’s shocking for him, and he does his best to get the superiors to change their decision and see things differently…

Selwyn is used to being the one in control, but this series, we see him struggling with his superiors. How does he cope with that change of circumstance?

It’s very interesting because we discover other aspects of Selwyn and that’s always the joy about playing a character like him – there are so many different sides to him. You think you know about somebody but due to life events, you learn more about them. He’s opening up, he’s a bit like a flower coming in to bloom.

Selwyn works closely with Mervin on learning more about his mother. What was it like working with Don on these scenes?

It was a very emotional journey for Mervin because he’s discovering things that will turn his life upside down whether he likes it or not. It called for a kind of delicacy from Selwyn because he recognises how this situation may be traumatic for Mervin.

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…

We see Naomi supporting Mervin with his personal life, but she’s also not afraid to challenge him when she thinks he’s out of line. Can you tell us about how their relationship develops during the series?

There was a constant back and forth because he’s always here and then going again. It’s like a complicated on- off relationship. She discovers his mother has passed away, and he mentioned to her that he works every Christmas. She empathises with his loneliness; the fact he doesn’t have his mum around and he never knew her. So, she’s able to understand, but not accept some of his behaviour and work with him. Naomi’s become bolder and more confident this series, which means that she frequently confronts him on his behaviour. Over time, because she’s able to call him out, he’s able to see her capabilities and strengths and begin to respect her professionally.

Naomi often takes the more compassionate approach to questioning, as opposed to Mervin’s more direct route. How does that dynamic play out?

The contrast between their questioning styles works really well. Over time, Naomi maintains her compassionate and understanding line of questioning, but also adopts some of Mervin’s directness. It’s a lovely balance between the pair and because they have that balance, if anything slips through the cracks, there’s someone there to catch it.

We also get to see more of Naomi and Darlene’s friendship this series, what has that been like to film?

It’s been lovely. Naomi looks up to Darlene because she carries herself so well. She is a proper Caribbean woman and is an auntie to everyone in the police station. I am a huge fan of Ginny, of course, so being able to do more scenes together was great and we always had fun. Naomi’s coming into her own a lot more and who better to help her than Darlene? Someone she sees every day and realises that Naomi is inexperienced in certain aspects of life. Darlene is always encouraging her to get more out of her comfort zone. Convincing her to go on dates, wear makeup and enjoy herself as life is not only about solving crimes. These characters have personal stories, families, relationships and other things going on outside of crime solving.

We learn more about Naomi’s life before she came to Saint Marie this series. What can you tell us about that?

A man from Saint Barnabas who she hasn’t seen in a long time makes a visit, and there’s the possibility of something being rekindled. You might see a more romantic side to Naomi… But you’ll have to watch the episode and see what happens!

This is your fourth series of Dᴇᴀᴛʜ in Paradise, what is it about the series that keeps you coming back for more?

I love the fact that this is a Caribbean show and it’s a long running Caribbean show. The fact I’m able to speak in my own dialect and I’m a part of drama set in the Caribbean, that’s what brings me back. I’m adding value to something that means so much to me. I love Guadeloupe, the island and the people. I love the crew and the harmony between us all. I’m just very blessed to be a part of the Dᴇᴀᴛʜ in Paradise story.

Ginny Holder (Officer Darlene Curtis)

We get to see more of Darlene and Naomi’s friendship this series, what has that been like to film?

Darlene and Naomi’s relationship has really developed as result of having Mervin come into the mix because they’re both on the same page on how they feel about him; he’s incredibly rude, so it’s been quite nice and sometimes funny where they have those shared reactions.

Darlene helps Naomi out a bit with a relationship this series. There’s a scene where they chat quite personally and that was really nice. It’s lovely to have the other women on set – Shantol, Elizabeth – and for us to all come together as a team. We see them on a few occasions just being and existing solidly as three phenomenal women on screen and I like that.

Darlene’s certainly been growing in confidence at work. How do we see her develop this series?

Darlene loves her job, and she’s become quite obsessed with the crime board this series. She loves it. She likes to have things done in a certain way and loves going into detail with the case and the investigation. Her desk is always full and she’s always busy doing things. She’s a doer and it excites her, whether it’s going undercover or trying to find out who the killer is.

Do you have a favourite case or scene from this series?

There’s a great episode where Darlene gets to go undercover with a new officer…

Élizabeth Bourgine (Catherine Bordey)

Where do we find the residents of Saint Marie at the beginning of the new series?

They’ve lost two members of their team, Neville and Marlon. The most important thing is managing the arrival of the new detective – Mervin. They’re united, a great and friendly team who are always waiting for new adventures.

As someone who’s been in the series since the very beginning and worked with each Detective Inspector, what did Don Gilet bring to the role?

As the mayor, he’s not what she was expecting. Catherine finds him very rude and selfish and doesn’t like him at all at first but their relationship does develop and it’s nice to see.

Catherine and Selwyn have a long-standing friendship and she can see he’s struggling with some news this series. How does this affect their relationship?

In this series, we see just how deep their relationship and the connection between them is. They’re best friends. Selwyn struggles a lot this series and I think it might be the first time we see Catherine really lose her temper with him. There are times throughout the series where he’s feeling a bit down so she must pick him up. She tries to help him to take control of his life, both personally and professionally.

How does Catherine look after and help her friends this series?

She is very friendly to everyone but is also able to put people – like Mervin! – in their place when she needs to, which she likes to do! As a mayor, she can give power and confidence to Selwyn if he doesn’t have any. As for Naomi, Catherine can see she’s dealing with a personal problem, so she tries to help her. There are lovely moments this series between the three women – Catherine, Darlene and Naomi – and we’re so lucky to have such brilliant, strong female characters.

We find out Catherine’s been seeing someone this series! Tell us more about what it was like exploring a little more of her personal life?

We learn that Catherine has a very active personal life. She’s been dating, dancing and enjoying her life and she mentions that she’s seeing someone. Last series we saw her going on double dates with Neville’s mother, so hopefully we get to see more soon!