Beyond Paradise has returned for its much-anticipated second run, with the opening episode kicking off in classic form for our detective Humphrey (Kris Marshall), who found himself wrapped up in a very-real murder mystery on a steam train.

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The new season consists of six brand-new episodes airing every Friday, tackling everything from missing teachers to online dating – and it's sure to be as entertaining as ever.

Alongside Marshall, Sally Bretton also stars as Martha, and they're both joined by all of your favourites from season 1, plus a number of guests.

Read on for everything you need to know about the characters in Beyond Paradise and where you've seen the actors who play them before.

Beyond Paradise season 2 main cast

Kris Marshall, Sally Bretton, Zahra Ahmadi, Dylan Llewellyn, Barbara Flynn and Felicity Montagu standing in front of a coastal town.
Beyond Paradise season 2. BBC/Red Planet Pictures
  • Kris Marshall as DI Humphrey Goodman
  • Sally Bretton as Martha Lloyd
  • Zahra Ahmadi as DS Esther Williams
  • Dylan Llewellyn as PC Kelby Hartford
  • Felicity Montagu as office support Margo Martins
  • Barbara Flynn as Anne Lloyd
  • Melina Sinadinou as Zoe
  • Jade Harrison as CS Charlie Woods

Kris Marshall plays DI Humphrey Goodman

Humphrey sat in Martha's cafe with a contemplative expression on his face
,EMBARGOED: NOT FOR PUBLICATION BEFORE 00:00:01 MONDAY 11TH MARed Planet Pictures/Joss Barratt

Who is DI Humphrey Goodman? After leaving Saint Marie to follow his love interest Martha Lloyd to the UK to explore a relationship with her, they're now engaged. Humphrey is working a new beat in the fictional town of Shipton Abbott in Devon. His colleagues weren't sure what to make of him when he first arrived, but they quickly fell into a rhythm. In the first season, his relationship with Martha was driven to the brink as they struggled to conceive, but they're now firmly back on track and looking into fostering.

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Where have I seen Kris Marshall before? Aside from Death in Paradise, he's best known for Love Actually, My Family and Sanditon, among others.

Sally Bretton plays Martha Lloyd

Martha standing in a doorway looking into a building with a surprised expression on her face

Who is Martha Lloyd? Martha, Humphrey's partner, runs a cáfe of her own. In the first season, she and Humphrey were trying for a baby, but have since turned their attention to fostering.

"It was wonderful to come back to this character after five years," said Bretton. "I really like Martha. She's very warm and driven, but she overthinks things, so she's interesting to play."

Where have I seen Sally Bretton before? You've probably also watched her in comedy Not Going Out with Lee Mack.

Zahra Ahmadi plays Detective Sergeant Esther Williams

Esther stood with her arms crossed by the harbour

Who is Detective Sergeant Esther Williams? Like many people, Esther was bemused by Humphrey when she first met him and was unsure of his approach to policing, but they've since developed into a strong team. She's intelligent and driven, rising through the police ranks at a rapid rate, and she knows the community inside and out having grown up there, which is invaluable during their investigations. She had a child when she 17, Zoe, which was a challenging moment in her life, but she rose to the occasion.

Where have I seen Zahra Ahmadi before? She played the original Shabnam in EastEnders, starred in BBC sitcom Count Arthur Strong and appeared in season 3 of ITV's The Bay. Ahmadi also appeared in a single episode of Death in Paradise in 2018.

Dylan Llewellyn plays Police Constable Kelby Hartford

Kelby wearing his police uniform stood in front of a painting of a horse with his arms crossed

Who is Police Constable Kelby Hartford? He was born and raised in Shipton Abbott, which means he knows a lot of the criminals he catches. Kelby is naive at times, but he's also hard-working and determined – attributes which serve him well in the job. He also strives to impress Humphrey.

"Kelby looks up to Humphrey, he is really impressed and in awe of his work," said Llewellyn. "He always wants to do better and improve, so enjoys learning from Humphrey and sees him as almost a father figure."

Where have I seen Dylan Llewellyn before? He starred as the "wee English fella" in Derry Girls and Jack in Big Boys.

Felicity Montagu plays Office Support Margo Martins

Margo sat at her desk at the police station on the phone

Who is Office Support Margo Martins? She's permanently based at the police station, manning the phones and throwing a withering stare at whoever crosses her. She loves the job, although she'd never admit it.

Margo has had three husbands, all of whom are dead (no, she's not a serial killer – we hope not, anyway) and she hardly ever sees her grown-up children. She's not a fan of Humphrey when he first arrives on the scene, but grows to appreciate him.

"On the surface, she's very tough on everyone and she doesn't really want to give much away about herself," said Montagu. "Underneath it all, I think she lives for them. She has a very interesting life and nobody quite knows what Margo gets up to but she's very fond of them all in her own way."

Where have I seen Felicity Montagu before? She best known as Lynn in Alan Partridge. She recently appeared in Channel 4 comedy Hullraisers.

Barbara Flynn plays Anne Lloyd

Anne and Martha sat on a bench deep in conversation

Who is Anne Lloyd? Martha's mum. Her husband died three years ago, leaving her bereft. She's also very close to her daughter. In season 2, she explores the dating scene, which causes some friction with Martha.

"Anne is a little bit at sea at the moment," said Flynn. "She would have been an easy woman who is very supportive to her husband and her daughter, knowing that the relationship ups and downs in families grow and change. She's quite a jolly person. She's not overly accommodating. She has a relationship with her daughter that is very interesting, special and real."

Describing Anne's relationship with Humphrey, Flynn said: "[It] is not as plain sailing as, 'Oh, my goodness me, this man is in love with my daughter, I'm going to open my gate.' She finds him rather bewildering and astonishingly tall."

Where have I seen Barbara Flynn before? You might have watched her in ITV's Kate & Koji and The Durrells, BBC's Cranford and Cracker with Robbie Coltrane.

Melina Sinadinou plays Zoe

Beyond Paradise s2,24-12-2023,Christmas Special 2023,Zoe Williams (MELINA SINADINOU),+EMBARGOED NOT FOR PUBLICATION BEFORE 12th DECEMBER 2023+,Red Planet Pictures,Joss Barratt

Who is Zoe? Esther's teenage daughter. The pair have a loving relationship, but can clash on occasion.

Where have I seen Melina Sinadinou before? This is her biggest role to date.

Jade Harrison plays Charlie Woods

Jade Harrison as CS Charlie Woods, talking to Humphrey at the police station
BBC

Who is Charlie Woods? A chief superintendent who takes no prisoners.

Where have I seen Jade Harrison before? You might know her from Netflix's The Stranger, Disney Plus series Wedding Season and Hollyoaks.

Beyond Paradise season 2: episode 1 guest cast

  • Adam Fogerty (Snatch) as Paul Yellen - a member of the Shipton Abbott Players, who recently moved to the area. He's murdered on a steam train during a rehearsal.
  • Abi Clarke (The Emily Atack Show) as Kate Potts - part of the Shipton Abbott Players. She's a "wannabe actress, straight out of drama school".
  • Peter Landi (Ted Lasso) as George Harris - another amateur dramatics enthusiast. He recently lost his wife.
  • Paul Bradley (Holby City) as Noah Culpepper - part of the Shipton Abbott Players, described as a "bit of a geek, harmless".
  • Anna Crilly (The Sixth Commandment) as Vivienne Bishfield - she is in charge of the production's costumes.
  • Richard Glover (Innocence) as Harry Bishfield - the train driver and Vivienne's husband.
  • Dane Williams as Kieran Fish - the train's fireman.
  • Flip Webster (Night & day) as Polly Deakins - a local resident who reports a peeing Tom outside her home.

Beyond Paradise season 2: episode 2 guest cast

  • Peter Davison (Doctor Who) as Richard - Anne's latest date.
  • Amalia Vitale (Big Mood) as Hannah Owen - a social worker.
  • Comedian Cariad Lloyd as Claire Moss - a psychic.
  • Kevin Bishop (Super Fun Night) as Mike Moss - Claire's husband.
  • Emily Lloyd-Saini (Horrible Histories) as Belle Hammond - Martha's friend from school.
  • Charlie Baker (EastEnders) as Quinn - a mechanic.

Beyond Paradise season 2: episode 3 guest cast

  • Jenny Coverack as Maisie Morgan - a dying woman who appears to have taken her own life.
  • Danny Webb (Liar) as Jaime Martin - Maisie's brother and Margo's ex-husband.
  • Harry Long (Hollyoaks) as Billy Morgan, Dan Skinner (eastEnders) as Adam Morgan and Louis Martin (Holby Cuty) as Sam Morgan - Maisie's sons.
  • Gem Carmella (Doctors) as Sandra Martin - Billy's wife.
  • Jasmin Hyde as Jenny - Maisie's estranged daughter.
  • Amalia Vitale (Big Mood) as Hannah Owen - social worker.
  • Peter Davison (Doctor Who) as Richard - Anne's beau.

Beyond Paradise season 2: episode 4 guest cast

  • Joe Barnes (Starstruck) as Father Michael - a housemaster at St Barnabas boarding school who disappears during a midnight beach stroll.
  • David Olaniregun as Roddy - a student at the school.
  • Emma Fielding (Van der Valk) as Marion Goddard - the school's headmistress.
  • Nicholas Woodeson (Rome) as Father Brian - Father Michael's colleague.
  • Malcolm Storry (Doc Martin) as Old Harry - a mechanic who's questioned by the police.
  • Kat Dulfer as Marie - Old Harry's daughter.
  • Liz Crowther (Family Affairs) as Penny - she gets chatting to Anne at a local event.

Beyond Paradise season 2: episode 5 guest cast

  • Carolyn Pickles (Emmerdale, The Bill, Broadchurch) as Rebecca Thompson - she finds an unconscious woman with an arrow in her arm while out walking.
  • Seeta Indrani (Doctors, The Bill) as Niamh Kirby - the victim.
  • Mark Frost (Doctors, Coronation Street) as Patrick Kirby - Niamh's brother-in-law. Patrick is a landowner who has been trying to push through a spa development.
  • Eve Feiler (We Were the Lucky Ones) as Lucy - the nurse looking after Niamh.

Beyond Paradise season 2 continues on Friday 26th April on BBC One and iPlayer. Check out more of our Drama coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what else is on.

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