Death in Paradise boss shares update on show's future

"I don’t know about another renewal."

By Justin Harp

8 Feb 2023

death in paradise,l r marlon pryce tahj miles, di neville parker ralf little, naomi thomas shantol jackson and darlene curtis ginny

Denis GuyenonBBC

Death in Paradise producer Tim Key has offered an update on what the show's future may look like.

The BBC One drama series is rounding the corner on its 12th series, as viewers finally seem to be close to DI Neville Parker (Ralf Little) finding love with Sophie Chambers (Chelsea Edge).

Naturally, fans will want to know whether Death in Paradise will be back for more episodes in the years to come, but Key has confirmed to The Radio Times that he's yet to get a recommission from the BBC.

"We're going to keep on going as long as people watch the show, and loads of people watch the show — we love it," he insisted.

However, the writer-producer admitted: "We'll keep making it as long as the audience loves watching it. So, I don't know about another renewal, but we're ready to do it again if we're asked to do it again."

Traditionally, Death in Paradise has been renewed for another year before its current series has finished, so a renewal announcement could come at any time.

Key has already promised that this year's finale will be "going in directions that people won't expect", so there should be plenty of anticipation if a new series is commissioned.

The BBC is expanding the Death in Paradise universe with the spin-off show Beyond Paradise, which will premiere later this month once the main show wraps up series 12.

embargoed 141222 1401 kris marshall and sally bretton, beyond paradise

BBC

Beyond Paradise brings back Humphrey Goodman (Kris Marshall) and Martha Lloyd (Sally Bretton) to investigate puzzling cases set in England.

The spin-off's guest cast includes the likes of EastEnders' Davood Ghadami, Sex Education's Chris Jenks, and Doctor Who's Ingrid Oliver joining them.

Death in Paradise series 12 airs on Friday nights on BBC One and streams on BBC iPlayer. A spin-off, Beyond Paradise, will premiere on February 24.