Return to Paradise stars share excitement over show first ahead of BBC spin-off’s debut
THE stars of Return to Paradise have shared their excitement over the introduction of the franchise's first LGBTQ+ main character.
The new series of Return To Paradise, the Australian spin off of Death In Paradise, airs on the BBC in just a few days.
Return to Paradise stars the show's first female lead, Anna Samson, who plays Detective Mackenzie Clarke.
Celia Ireland, best known for her roles in Wentworth and All Saints, will play the role of police volunteer Reggie Rocco, the franchise's first LGBTQ+ main character.
The show's stars are excited for Celia's debut, with Anna saying: "I think the viewers and the fans of the franchise, I think we trust them.
"I think they're totally ready for a female detective. I really trust that the audience are going to embrace, certainly, a lead female detective.
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"I think we have to trust our audiences to move with the times and to come along on the journey with us, because the DNA of the show hasn't changed, you know.
"The spirit of the original is still very much in the bones.
"And also, I think kindness is in the DNA and the bones of the Para-verse. And Peter Mattessi is an incredibly kind showrunner, so that's infectious.
"And I think kindness without inclusivity is pointless."
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Lloyd Griffith agreed with Anna's sentiments adding: "times have changed a little bit, I think it's just being up to date with what's going on,"
He also described Celia as "the funniest actor you'll ever, ever, ever encounter".
He said: "She's like the queen of corpse, she'll just do something and she has this amazing way, like her eyes go when she knows the camera's not on her."
Joining Anna as her sidekick is British actor Lloyd Griffith, who plays Detective Senior Constable Colin Cartwright.
The series also features Glenn Strong played by Tai Hara (Home and Away, Colin from Accounts), and PC Felix Wilkinson played by Aaron McGrath (Gold Diggers, Preppers).
Most memorable Death in Paradise episodes
By Conor O'Brien
- Arriving in Paradise: The show's very first episode, introducing Ben Miller as the straight-laced DI Richard Poole. This episode also introduces Poole's team and the fictional island location location of Saint Marie.
- Amongst Us: The eighth episode of series one sees Richard uncover a major secret about Aidan (Adrian Dunbar), who has been dating Catherine (Elizabeth Bourgine). Far from his Line of Duty character Ted Hastings, Aidan is revealed to be a murderer.
- Death of a Detective: The first episode of series three marks a major turning point for Death in Paradise. DI Poole is killed off - with his murder being the first case for replacement DI Humphrey Goodman (Kris Marshall). This mirrors two years earlier, when Poole solved his predecessor's murder.
- Stab in the Dark: This instalment, the first episode of series four, proved memorable for two reasons. It marked the introduction of Florence Cassell (Josephine Jobert) who became a long-running character. Meanwhile, Don Gilet guest-starred as the killer - almost a decade before becoming the show's latest DI.
- Swimming in Murder: Similarly to above, this episode marks the first appearance of JP Hooper (Tobi Bakare), who starred for seven series.
- Man Overboard (Part One and Two): This two-parter in series six had a lot of different elements involved. Some of the team travelled to London, DI Goodman exited the show - while newcomer DI Jack Mooney (Ardal O'Hanlon) made his first appearance.
- Switcharoo: Airing as the fifth episode of series nine, this was the first intalment following DI Mooney's departure. In his place came DI Neville Parker (Ralf Little) - who became the show's longest-serving DI.
- Sins of the Detective: The latter half of a two-parter in series 12, which saw Neville in the frame for murdering smarmy criminologist David Cartwright. Although the team eventually uncover the actual murder, it comes with a big shock.
- A Murder in the Skies: The finale of series 13 marked Neville's exit from Saint Marie. The unlucky-in-love detective got a happy ending by sailing into the sunset with love interest Florence Cassell - who'd returned a few episodes earlier.
According to the new BBC synopsis: "Return to Paradise follows DI Mackenzie Clarke, an Australian expat who’s made a name for herself in London’s Metropolitan Police for cracking uncrackable murder cases.
"When she is accused of tampering with evidence, Mackenzie returns to Australia, back to the last place she ever wanted to be – her hometown of Dolphin Cove.
"Having fled the town six years ago, infamously leaving her ex-fiancée Glenn (Tai Hara) at the altar, Mackenzie is not welcome here.
It concludes: "Once a case lands on her desk, she can’t rest until she’s figured it out, and the killer is in handcuffs.
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"It’s that tenacity and work ethic that might just, over time, help Mackenzie win over her new colleagues, and the people of Dolphin Cove.";
Return to Paradise will be available on BBC iPlayer from 6pm on Friday, November 22. Episodes will also air weekly on BBC One at 8pm starting from the same date.