Happy Valley and Killing Eve stars join BBC's long-running detective drama


The new season sees the return of Don Warrington and a brand-new team member alongside a stacked cast led by Don Gilet as DI Mervin Wilson


DI Mervin Wilson (DON GILET)© BBC / Red Planet Pictures / Lou Denim
Abby Allen
Abby AllenTV writer
2 minutes ago
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The BBC has announced the star-studded cast joining the fifteenth season of its hit detective drama Death In Paradise, including Siobhan Finneran (Happy Valley, The Loch) and Sean Delaney (Killing Eve, Life After Life).

The long-running crime drama, which first aired in 2011, will return viewers to the fictional Caribbean island of Saint Marie, where Don Gilet (EastEnders) stars as DI Mervin Wilson. This season, the detective tackles a fresh batch of cases while trying to build a relationship with his recently discovered half-brother, Sol.

Death in Paradise is cosy crime at its finest, with each season welcoming a stellar guest cast that keeps murder mystery fans coming back for more. Following the Christmas special, which saw the likes of Kate Ashfield (Line of Duty) and Pearl Mackie (The Diplomat) joining the team in Saint Marie, series 15 promises another slate of twisty plotlines and new mysteries.

Intrigued? Keep reading to find out more about the guest cast, as well as what to expect for series 15.

Deborah Shelman (SARAH HADLAND), George McCan (STEFFAN RHODRI), Leo Quinn (LOUIS DAVISON)© BBC / Red Planet Pictures / Philippe Virapin

Meet the Death in Paradise season 15 guest star line-up

As usual, the guest cast for the new season features some big names from the entertainment industry, including Miranda star Sarah Hadland, Killing Eve's Sean Delaney and Steffan Rhodri, best known for playing Dave Coaches in Gavin & Stacey.

Media Image© Getty Images

Also joining the guest cast is Happy Valley's Siobhan Finneran, who also happens to be in a relationship with the show's main star, Don. 

The two actors met on the set of ITV crime drama The LochSpeaking about their relationship to The Times, Siobhan said: "We are both off the telly. Other than that we're pretty normal. You wouldn't think we were a power couple this morning, both running around trying to get out of the house on time. Hopeless."

They're joined by Scarlett Alice Johnson, who played Vicki Fowler in EastEnders, Ghosts star Ben Willbond and West End actor Gary Wilmot.

Rounding out the guest cast are Cold Feet actress Hermione Norris and Green Wing's Julian Rhind-Tutt.

Selwyn Patterson (DON WARRINGTON), Rosalie Dolor (MAXINE FINCH)© BBC / Red Planet Pictures / Philippe Virapin

What happens in Death in Paradise season 15?

Picking up after the events of the feature-length Christmas special, which saw Mervin waiting to hear from his newly discovered half-brother Sol, the new season follows the detective as he adjusts to life in Saint Marie, alongside the return of commissioner Selwyn Patterson.

(SHAQUILLE ALI-YEBUAH), Sergent Mattie Fletcher (CATHERINE GARTON), Naomi Thomas (SHANTOL JACKSON), DI Mervin Wilson (DON GILET), Selwyn Patterson (DON WARRINGTON), Catherine Bordey (ELIZABETH BOURGINE) © BBC / Red Planet Pictures / Lou Denim

The BBC's synopsis reads: "Selwyn's return to Saint Marie is disrupted by a suspicious death at Government House, where a man has fallen from the roof. It looks like a suicide, but DI Mervin Wilson suspects foul play. 

"However, no one was on the roof with the victim when he fell, and he had locked the roof door behind him. So, if this man was pushed, how did it happen?

"Meanwhile, Mervin is anxious to finally meet his half-brother Solomon, the other son of the mother Mervin never knew. Granted, the pair have never met before, but family's family! Surely, they'll get on like a house on fire?"

Naomi Thomas (SHANTOL JACKSON), DI Mervin Wilson (DON GILET)© BBC / Red Planet Pictures / Lou Denim

Which cast members are returning for series 15?

Alongside the new guest stars, several familiar faces will return, including Don Gilet as DI Mervin Wilson.

Don Warrington reprises his role as Commissioner Selwyn Patterson, after fans were left speculating whether he would be leaving the show for good.

Sergent Mattie Fletcher (CATHERINE GARTON) © BBC / Red Planet Pictures / Philippe Virapin

Elizabeth Bourgine returns as Catherine Bordey, while Shaquille Ali-Yebuah appears as Officer Sebastian Rose and Shantol Jackson plays DS Naomi Thomas.

The team will also be joined by Catherine Garton as Mattie Fletcher, a new sergeant working under Mervin and Naomi.

Death in Paradise returns to BBC iPlayer and BBC One on Friday 30 January.

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