Dᴇᴀᴛʜ in Paradise’s Don Gilet speaks out as he replaces Ralf Little in Christmas special – Commissioner Patterson isn’t too keen on the new detective
Dᴇᴀᴛʜ in Paradise is back and this time the team are faced hunting down a killer who has been targeting Santas and new British detective, Mervin Wilson, lends a hand
It’s a not-so-merry Christmas on the island of Saint Marie, as the police force faces a grim festive season. Following DI Neville Parker’s exit, portrayed by Ralf Little on Dᴇᴀᴛʜ in Paradise, the squad is stretched thin when a Santa-clad man is discovered shot dead on the beach.
Enter British detective DI Mervin Wilson, played by Don Gilet, who’s vacationing there and gets roped into solving his first Caribbean case by Commissioner Patterson. For both the character and actor Don Gilet, known for his role in Sherwood, it’s a significant shift from their usual chilly Christmases.
“Both Mervin and I are used to a British Christmas, which has inclement weather,” Don chuckles. “That’s what I associate Christmas with, wrapping up, wearing gloves, boots and thermal gear, snowball fights, sledding and snowmen. So it was just another fun day in Paradise the way I saw it, Christmas or not.”
Commissioner Selwyn Patterson, brought to life by Don Warrington since 2011, has witnessed several detectives come and go. He’s keeping a close eye on Mervin, assessing not his traits but his true character.
“Selwyn’s cagey and he’s watchful to see how Mervin does. He’s not looking at traits but he’s looking at who Mervin really is,” reveals Don. There’s tension as Mervin’s investigative style clashes with the team’s, pushing Commissioner Patterson’s patience until a different side of him emerges.
The investigation heats up, but the tropical Christmas spirit remains cool. The plot thickens with two more Santas being shot on the island, and Mervin is determined to solve the mystery. However, his abrasive manner rubs his new colleagues the wrong way.
“Rude, insensitive and impatient!” Shantol Jackson declares, describing DS Naomi Thomas’ initial reaction to Mervin. “Naomi wants Mervin to leave, he complains about the island a lot and is offensive, and that doesn’t sit well with her.”
Ginny Holder, who portrays Officer Darlene Curtis, chimes in, “Darlene tries to shake Mervin’s hand and he ignores her,” and notes, “It goes downhill from there. As soon as you disrespect Darlene, forget it!”.
Mervin’s eagerness to wrap up the case swiftly to return to London is met with a twist at Catherine’s (Élizabeth Bourgine) Christmas fair, where a local accuses him of being the Santa shooter. The question arises – could Mervin actually be the culprit?
Watch Dᴇᴀᴛʜ in Paradise on Sunday 22 December, 8.30pm, BBC One
