Death in Paradise Christmas Special News

DEATH IN PARADISE Christmas Special 2024:  Today! December 27 on Britbox in the U.S. 

Don Gilet will play the new lead Detective Inspector Mervin Wilson on Death in Paradise. 

This is one of my favorite detective shows, and I've liked all the past DIs. The BBC has a tradition of releasing a Christmas special to mark the end of the current season and the start of a new one. 2024's special will introduce a new detective in Saint Marie after the departure of Ralf Little's DI Neville Parker. DI Mervin Wilson makes his debut in a feature-length Death in Paradise Christmas special December 27, before series 14 broadcasts in 2025. Mervin arrives on the island of Saint Marie from his home in London. 

Don Gilet says: “I am delighted to have returned to the wonderful island of Guadeloupe and this time to be stepping into the well-worn shoes of the Detective Inspector. It’s been a real pleasure filming such a beloved series alongside the hardworking cast and crew. I can’t wait for the fans to see how DI Mervin Wilson fares on the island, how he fits within the Saint Marie police team and what secrets may unfold..."

Gilet will be joined by series regulars Don Warrington, Shantol Jackson, Ginny Holder, Élizabeth Bourgine and Danny John-Jules who will continue playing Commissioner Selwyn Patterson, DS Naomi Thomas, Officer Darlene Curtis, Catherine Bordey, and Officer Dwayne Myers, respectively.

THE MADAME BLANC CHRISTMAS SPECIAL

I'm behind on The Madame Blanc mysteries, but I will definitely give the Christmas special a look. I do like lighter fare every once in a while, so I plan to catch up on this series, and it is set in France, after all. There have been 3 Seasons so far, and Season 4 is scheduled for 2025. Madame Blanc is on AcornTV. 

The Christmas Special for The Madame Blanc Mysteries will air on AcornTV on December 20 in the U.S.

The Madame Blanc Mysteries is a crime drama series created by and starring Sally Lindsay as antiques dealer Jean White. The show follows Jean as she investigates her husband's death and encounters the colorful locals in the fictional French town of Sainte Victoire.

BEYOND PARADISE CHRISTMAS SPECIAL

Beyond Paradise (the spin-off from Death in Paradise) premieres on Christmas Day (12/25) on BritBox. It's a one-hour episode.  

Beyond Paradise stars Kris Marshall, Sally Bretton, Zahra Ahmadi, Dylan Llewellyn, Felicity Montagu, and Barbara Flynn

The story follows Detective Inspector Humphrey Goodman (Marshall) after he and his fiancée (Bretton) move to her hometown and he joins the small town’s police force Beyond Paradise stars Kris Marshall as DI Humphrey Goodman who left Saint Marie, the setting of Death In Paradise, to move to his partner Martha’s (Sally Bretton) hometown of Shipton Abbott near the Devon coast. Not long after arriving, Humphrey joins the small local police force, where he quickly makes an impression on the local officers. 

Catch up on Seasons 1-2 on BritBox. The Christmas Special is Episode 1 of Season 3. Future episodes should drop early in 2025. Update soon. 

Death in Paradise: Christmas Special and Series 14 News!

Don Gilet will play the new lead Detective Inspector Mervin Wilson on Death in Paradise that will debut on the BBC on Christmas. 

This is one of my favorite detective shows, and I've liked all the past DIs. The BBC has a tradition of releasing a Christmas special to mark the end of the current season and the start of a new one. 2024's special will introduce a new detective in Saint Marie after the departure of Ralf Little's DI Neville Parker. DI Mervin Wilson makes his debut in a feature-length Death in Paradise Christmas special this December, before series 14 broadcasts in 2025. Mervin arrives on the island of Saint Marie from his home in London. 

Don Gilet says: “I am delighted to have returned to the wonderful island of Guadeloupe and this time to be stepping into the well-worn shoes of the Detective Inspector. It’s been a real pleasure filming such a beloved series alongside the hardworking cast and crew. I can’t wait for the fans to see how DI Mervin Wilson fares on the island, how he fits within the Saint Marie police team and what secrets may unfold..."

Gilet will be joined by series regulars Don Warrington, Shantol Jackson, Ginny Holder, Élizabeth Bourgine and Danny John-Jules who will continue playing Commissioner Selwyn Patterson, DS Naomi Thomas, Officer Darlene Curtis, Catherine Bordey, and Officer Dwayne Myers, respectively.

Death in Paradise returns with the 2024 Christmas Special on BBC One, and Season 14 will be released in early 2025. Previously, Death in Paradise aired in the U.S. on BritBox. No news yet, but I'm assuming the Christmas Special and series 14 will be available here in early 2025, based on former releases. I'll keep you posted.

VERA CHRISTMAS SPECIAL: REMINDER

I'm really enjoying the many Christmas specials of my favorite British TV series. 

Just want to remind you that the Vera Christmas Special will air in the U.S. on December 20 on Britbox. (UK: 12/26) 

This feature-length Christmas Special is based on Ann Cleeves's The Rising Tide. We discussed The Rising Tide in my mystery book group. It was very well received. The Rising Tide is perfect for TV, although, of course, everyone should read the book first! 

In The Rising Tide, a group of teenagers spent a weekend on Holy Island fifty years ago, but it forged a bond that has lasted a lifetime. They still return every five years to celebrate their friendship, and remember the friend they lost to the rising waters of the causeway at the first reunion. When one of them is found hanged, Vera is called in. Learning that the dead man had recently been fired after misconduct allegations, Vera knows she must discover what the friends are hiding, and whether the events of many years before could have led to murder then, and now . . 

But with the tide rising, secrets long-hidden are finding their way to the surface, and Vera and the team may find themselves in more danger than they could have believed possible . . The story takes place on Holy Island (aka Lindisfarne --remember the Gospels!), a tidal island. We all know tides can be tricky.. If you go IRL, be sure and check your tide tables to avoid problems!

Can't wait to watch The Vera Christmas Special! What a nice holiday present!

SISTER BONIFACE CHRISTMAS SPECIAL

I always enjoy the Christmas detective specials, and I was happy to see that Sister Boniface has one. Sister Boniface, about an investigating nun, is a Father Brown spin-off. It has had two successful seasons. It's light detective entertainment and fun for a palette-cleanser amongst the gritty British detective shows I watch.  I found this Sister Boniface Christmas Special especially delightful with its references to Agatha Christie, Roald Dahl, and others. 

The Sister Boniface Mysteries Christmas special 2023 plot has Sister Boniface, played by Lorna Watson, stranded on a snowbound train investigating the theft of a precious gemstone and a murder! It's Christmastime and Great Britain is in the grips of the worst storm on record. The crime-solving nun on a snow-bound train uncovers murder, ancient curses, and dark family secrets. 

 Read an interview with Lorna Watson about the Christmas special plot here. 

Available on BritBox in the U.S.

Doc Martin Christmas Special 2022: AcornTV

Update: Doc Martin Christmas Special is now on AcornTV as Series 10, Episode 9.

Alas, this will be final episode of Doc Martin. 

Read Martin Clunes (Doc Martin) comments on ending the long-running show. There have been 10 seasons over 18 years.