Death in Paradise stars discuss possible crossovers with new Kris Marshall spinoff

"See which devils are lurking in Devon and Cornwall!"

By Justin Harp and Daniel Kilkelly

14 Dec 2022

The cast of Death in Paradise have discussed possible crossovers with the BBC's new Kris Marshall spinoff.

Earlier this year, the Beeb announced that Marshall would reunite with Death in Paradise co-star Sally Bretton for a companion show called Beyond Paradise, set in the British countryside.

While there is some serious distance between Cornwall and Saint Marie, the cast of Death in Paradise aren't ruling out meeting up with the detectives from Beyond Paradise someday.

death in paradise stars ralf little and don warrington

Denis Guyenon/Red PlanetBBC

"When you hear of a spin-off, you automatically go: 'Oh, will we be in it?' We'd love to be in it! Of course we'd love to be in it. But the fact that there is a spin-off just speaks to how popular the show is," Shantol Jackson told Digital Spy.

"I think when I got here last year, I didn't realise how popular it was and how much viewership it has. I used to watch it with my dad years ago, but you never know – it's not something I checked.

"But when a show has a spin-off, it speaks to its popularity and I guess we're doing something really good here and I'm sure they'll do even greater things there.

"I'm just excited to see it and to see how people respond to it. I'm happy that people want to see more of Death in Paradise."

Co-star Don Warrington added: "The clue's in the title [of Death in Paradise], really. People love detective shows and I think that they've landed on something with this – you can have death in anywhere. You can have Death in Egypt, you can have death wherever you want it to be. I think the concept is a very, very strong one. You take it and you make it better.

BBC

"There may or may not be crossovers. It doesn't need it, necessarily. It will have its own life. I just wish good luck to them and I can't wait to see it."

Ralf Little suggested that Death in Paradise could even build out its own universe like the MCU has done across TV and film.

"I've got high hopes for it too and I think it should be brilliant. Kris is great and a much-loved character. It's not like we know the ins and outs of what's happening with it. We're as curious as everyone else," he said.

"I certainly feel a supportive sense of: 'Go on guys, go and nail it'. We're all part of the same creative umbrella and family, really. I just hope it's a massive success. [Jokes] Like Don says, I'd love to have Death in Egypt – I've never been there, it'd be great! Pick a place out of a hat and we'll try that!

"Like Shantol said, it's interesting to know: 'Will there be character crossovers?' Yeah, maybe – what the Marvel Cinematic Universe shows is that people do like seeing characters cross over into other stories. Wouldn't that be fun? See which devils are lurking in Devon and Cornwall!"

tahj miles as marlon pryce, death in paradise, season 11 episode 8

BBC

Tahj Miles agreed: "It's great, the universe is huge from characters that have been on the show in the past. Sometimes we find out what they've been doing since they left, like when Sara Martin's character came back in series 10 – you found out what she was doing. That in itself could be a spin-off – what happened to her when she left. Same with Dwayne when he left and came back for the Christmas special last year.

"There's loads to explore, so the fact we're going to see it is amazing. I think it'll be the first of many too, hopefully."

Before the spinoff launches, Death in Paradise will be back for a 90-minute Christmas special that the cast have already hinted will be quite different than usual episodes.

Death in Paradise returns on Boxing Day on BBC One followed by series 12 from January 6, 2023. A spin-off, Beyond Paradise, is in production.