Death in Paradise season 10 release date: Cast and latest news
Here's everything we know about series 10 of the BBC drama.
Crime drama Death in Paradise has pulled out all the stops for season 10, with big-name guest stars and special cameos and some particularly brain-teasing murder mysteries.
Ralf Little stars as DI Neville Parker, a brilliant detective from Manchester who now finds himself living in Saint Marie – which is well outside his comfort zone. And this season, after the departure of DS Madeleine Dumas (Aude Legastelois) and Officer Ruby Patterson (Shyko Amos) from the team, he's joined by former star Joséphine Jobert who returns as DS Florence Cassell.
Rounding out the team are Sergeant JP Hooper (Tobi Bakare) and Trainee Officer Marlon Pryce (Tahj Miles), who are ready to help get to the bottom of some puzzling murders.
Here's everything you need to know about the current season of Death in Paradise.
When is Death in Paradise back for season 10?
Death in Paradise season 10 began on Thursday 7th January 2021 at 9pm on BBC One. While the show usually airs on Thursdays, it was delayed by a day thanks to the FA Cup – so episode seven will air on Friday 12th February at 9pm.
The eighth and final episode of season 10 will air on Thursday 18th February at 9pm.
Death in Paradise series 10 cast
The full Death in Paradise cast for series 10 includes some real surprises, with old characters returning to Saint Marie as well as some big-name guest stars.
In season nine, Death in Paradise gained a brand new lead detective in the form of DI Neville Parker (Ralf Little), who took over from DI Jack Mooney (Ardal O'Hanlon). Neville is now settling into life on Saint Marie, although there have been quite a few other staffing changes at the Honoré Police Station.
While DS JP Hooper (Tobi Bakare) has stayed on, Officer Ruby Patterson (Shyko Amos) and DS Madeleine Dumas (Aude Legastelois) have both left the team.
Neville Parker spent most of his time on the island in season nine complaining about the sun and the mosquitos and the spicy food; but despite his intense desire to get the next flight home as soon as his DVT (deep vein thrombosis) had cleared up, the detective had an epiphany in the finale episode – and decided to stay.
We've also seen a surprise return from former series regular DS Florence Cassell, played by Joséphine Jobert.
Having worked with DI Humphrey Goodman (Kris Marshall) and then DI Jack Mooney (Ardal O'Hanlon), she departed the show in series eight in a dramatic double-bill that saw her badly injured and her fiancé killed. Florence quit her job and left Saint Marie in the aftermath – but now she's back on the island, teaming up with Neville has his new sidekick.
And not only that – but she may be a potential love interest for Neville. The BBC teased: "Florence thinks she’s ready to get back to work after her fiancé’s death two years ago – but she hasn’t banked on her new boss, Neville. As she tries to understand his peculiarities, sparks are bound to fly."
Joséphine Jobert isn't the only familiar face to rejoin the cast for season 10. Sara Martins returned for two episodes as DS Camille Bordey (from seasons 1-4), while original series lead Ben Miller (DI Richard Poole) returned for a cameo in episode six.
Other returning cast members for season 10 include Don Warrington as Commissioner Selwyn Patterson, Tobi Bakare as Sergeant JP Hooper, and Elizabeth Bourgine as Mayor Catherine Bordey.
Joining the cast for the first time in season 10 is Tahj Miles, who plays an 18-year-old petty criminal called Marlon Pryce – who has been given the chance to rehabilitate himself by joining the police force as a Trainee Officer.
However, two main characters have not returned for season 10: Officer Ruby Patterson (Shyko Amos) and DS Madeleine Dumas (Aude Legastelois) are nowhere to be seen.
Death in Paradise new guest stars
Guest stars for season 10 include Luke Pasqualino, Jason Manford, Kelvin Fletcher, Patrick Robinson, Faye McKeever and Richard McCabe.
Other guest stars include Kiell Smith-Bynoe (Ghosts, Stath Lets Flats), Luke Bailey (Noughts and Crosses), Delroy Atkinson (Luther), Lia Williams (The Capture), Eleanor Fanyinka (Holby City), Clarence Smith (Casualty), Bryony Hannah (Call the Midwife), Jim Caesar (Grantchester), Sam Retford (Ackley Bridge), Franc Ashman (I May Destroy You) and Shalisha James-Davis (Alex Rider).
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Was series 10 of Death in Paradise delayed?
Filming for season 10 had been due to begin in April 2020, but (as you might guess) it had to be called off thanks to the global pandemic. Announcing the news, creator Robert Thorogood said: "We're all a bit thrown to say the least, but we'll be back – at some point – and look forward to start killing people again as soon as possible."
Then, later in 2020, production resumed on the French Caribbean island of Guadeloupe. The cast and crew pulled off the audacious feat of managing to film the entire eight episodes on Guadeloupe, despite the spectre of the COVID-19 pandemic overshadowing the production.
And after massive effort by cast and crew, the show arrived on our screen in time for its usual January air date on BBC One.
Check out what else is on with our TV Guide.
