Exclusive: D.e.a.t.h in Paradise star Shantol Jackson says acting was ‘out of the question’ until twist of fate

Set against the backdrop of the beautiful Caribbean, D.e.a.t.h in Paradise has become one of the BBC’s most popular dramas over the past 14 years – thanks to its mix of fiendishly-clever murders and fish-out-of-water detectives but that can prove a bit daunting for new cast members.

It’s been regularly bringing in more than 8 million viewers and some fans have even been known to travel to Guadeloupe where it’s filmed, to get their own taste of the fictional Saint Marie. Such popularity can make it a little overwhelming for new cast members – as former EastEnders star Don Gilet discovered when he took over from Ralf Little as the island’s new Detective Inspector.

Fans will have seen Don, who played the Square’s serial killer Lucas Johnson make his debut as DI Mervin Wilson, in the Christmas special, before officially joining the Saint Marie Police Department in the series 14 opener last Friday.

While It can be a nerve-wracking joining such an established show, there was one cast mate who definitely knew what he was going through. For, despite having played Sergeant Naomi Thomas for four years now, Shantol Jackson is still pinching herself that she’s on the show herself – mainly because it was a complete twist of fate that launched her own career. That’s why she’s been the first to welcome Don.

Shantol, 32, tells us: “With every inspector, their introduction to the show is tricky because people get used to the previous inspector – so you get used to someone and then they are gone. There was Ralf (Little), Ardal (O’Hanlan), Kris (Marshall) and Ben (Miller) and now there is him.

“Not long after he joined, Don [Warrington, who plays Commissioner Patterson] told him: ‘Nobody will like you at the beginning but they will eventually. They never like the inspector at first!’.” Shantol adds: “Coming into such an established show, [Don] was understandably nervous. “We all wanted him to be comfortable, and that was one of our top priorities – to ensure he felt safe and comfortable. Eventually the jitters left and it was good fun. He is a great actor. Don did such a great job and because his character is always on the go, you are forced to be engaged. I think people are going to really like this inspector.”

Smiling, Shantol is a key part of the DIP family. But before she got her part she had no idea just how keen some of the fans could be or the sheer scale of the show’s success. She says: “When I started four years ago, I had no idea how popular it was – until I got to Guadeloupe! People literally fly to the island to see ‘Saint Marie’. When we are filming, we can be having dinner and people will walk up and tell us: ‘Gosh, you are the reason why we are here!’. They come with their children too. But that’s the great thing about D.e.a.t.h in Paradise – it spans across all generations, ages and genders. It’s a nice show that everyone can enjoy. I feel privileged to be a part of it.”

Yet as she readily admits today, it’s been a long, tough journey to get to where she is. And it’s testament to Shantol’s strength of character that she has never given up despite being faced with many difficult hurdles along the way. A very friendly actress who is worlds apart from her D.e.a.t.h in Paradise character, she was born and grew up in Jamaica. Although she does have three siblings, her dad raised her alone as a single parent. A career in acting was always out of the question.

“My father grew up very poor and he wanted me to have a better life than he did,” Shantol says. “The Caribbean culture is to have a career and their definition is a doctor, lawyer or a teacher. So I picked a vet. But when my dad suggested we dissected a frog, I knew in that moment I didn’t want to be a vet! I joined the school acting club and suddenly I found my passion.”

After leaving High School, Shantol was sent to nursing school. By now, she had fallen in love with acting but knowing this was not possible because it would disappoint her family, she threw herself into the work. By night, however, she attended a local theatre club. “Dad wanted me to have a conventional job and I had to fight my way to stay in the theatre,” she says. “At night, I’d be there.”

Raize Foster, Idris Elba, Aml Ameen, Shantol Jackson, Sheldon Shepherd and Everaldo Creary ( Image:
Penske Media via Getty Images)

It was then fate and luck intervened. After an actress in a play fell ill, Shantol was asked to take over her part and her dad came to watch. “After watching me, he realised this is what people had been trying to tell him,” she says. “[and] He told me I could do acting.” That was only the first lucky break. The play was then turned into a TV show to be aired in Jamaica – that landed her an agent who started sending her tape out acorss the idustry – just as a certain someone was making their directorial debut and looking for the perfect Jamaican star.

She was told by her agent that the director of a crime drama was flying over to meet her. But when she turned up for the meeting in a local hotel she discovered it was Idris Elba. “I get to this place and there’s this massive human being,” she says. “Really tall, really big, and he’s just very cool and I’m standing there like: ‘This is fricking Idris Elba!’”

She won the part in his crime drama The Yardie in 2018 – and that led to her first trip to Britain. “That was amazing to be part of,” says Shantol. “Although it was my first time to the UK and it was super cold!” In 2019, Shantol was then invited to audition for the role of Ruby Patterson in D.e.a.t.h in Paradise – but unfortunately the part was given to fellow actress, Shyko Amos. Shantol was gutted. “I cried I didn’t get the role,” she admits.