The BBC has confirmed that Death in Paradise will be back on our screens with its 14th series later this month.
The upcoming series of the popular drama has been eagerly anticipated, with former EastEnders actor Don Gilet stepping into the role of lead detective DI Mervin Wilson, following Ralf Little’s departure as DI Neville Parker at the conclusion of the 13th series.
Don’s first outing as DI Wilson will be in the 14th season of Death in Paradise, after making his debut in the Christmas special last December. The BBC has officially announced that the new series will premiere on BBC One on Friday 31 January at 9pm.
DI Wilson will certainly have his hands full in the new series, as he tackles a slew of fresh cases. In the Christmas special, he was tasked with investigating three men who were all apparently shot with the same gun simultaneously.
Mervin didn’t exactly win over the locals of Saint Marie initially, managing to get on the wrong side of his colleagues, including Naomi (played by Shantol Jackson), who found him difficult to work with, reports the Express.
Viewers also got a glimpse into Mervin’s past, learning that he had journeyed to the island to meet his mother for the first time. He shared this information with his boss Selwyn (Don Warrington), paving the way for a budding friendship between the two. However, it was sadly disclosed that Mervin’s mother had recently passed away. This prompted Selwyn to suggest that the detective prolong his stay on Saint Marie, as a way to feel closer to his late mother.
Discussing Mervin’s adjustment to life in Saint Marie, Don remarked: “Everything in Saint Marie runs counter to how things are supposed to be done, as far as he’s concerned. His approach is more suited to a London pace of life, but nobody, even back in London, works the way he does.”
Reflecting on joining the established BBC series, Don confessed that he was both nervous and thrilled about taking on such an important character. He shared: “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.”
He continued: “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.”
Death in Paradise will begin airing on BBC One on 31 January at 9pm. All previous 13 seasons of the show are available to stream via BBC iPlayer
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