Death in Paradise cast: Meet the characters of BBC One drama
Our guide to the stars – past and present – of the popular island detective series.
Warning: Contains spoilers for the most recent episodes of Death in Paradise season 12.
Death in Paradise has kept viewers on their toes throughout season 12.
After Neville Parker was arrested for the murder of criminologist David Cartwright, his future was hanging by a thread. Was he about to be found guilty of murder and spend his days behind bars?
Thankfully, the answer was no, but there was another nasty surprise waiting for him.
His love interest Sophie was the one who had killed David and had tried to pin the crime on the detective. She blamed him for her sister's demise a number of years ago and had travelled to the island to ruin his life.
Following that ordeal, Neville was unsure whether he should stay in Saint Marie or leave and head back to the UK – and in tonight's finale, we learn his fate.
Elsewhere, Commissioner Selwyn Patterson finally came face to face with his daughter Andrina, who he only recently learned about. After a bumpy start, their relationship looks set to continue in a positive fashion, which is music to our ears given how anxious he was about meeting her.
As ever, a host of new guest stars appear alongside the main players in this week's episode. Read on for a full rundown of the Death in Paradise cast.
Death in Paradise season 12 main cast
The main cast of Death in Paradise season 12 is as follows.
- Ralf Little plays DI Neville Parker
- Don Warrington plays Commissioner Selwyn Patterson
- Tahj Miles plays Marlon Pryce
- Shantol Jackson plays Sergeant Naomi Thomas
- Élizabeth Bourgine plays Catherine Bordey
- Ginny Holder plays Darlene Curtis
Read on for more detail about the cast of Death in Paradise season 12.
Ralf Little plays DI Neville Parker
Who is DI Neville Parker? Neville Parker is Saint Marie's resident detective inspector – the fourth lead detective in the show's history following Richard Poole (Ben Miller), Humphrey Goodman (Kris Marshall) and Jack Mooney (Ardal O'Hanlon).
In the Christmas special, sparks flew between Neville and Sophie, a holidaymaker with whom he got off to a rocky start, but eventually found his feet. What lies in store for them this season?
What else has Ralf Little been in? Before joining the cast of Death in Paradise back in 2020, Little was best known for his roles on the sitcoms The Royle Family and Two Pints of Lager and a Packet of Crisps.
Don Warrington plays Commissioner Selwyn Patterson
Who is Commissioner Selwyn Patterson? Selwyn Patterson has been an integral part of Death in Paradise since the first season and oversees the running of the island's police department. Selwyn recently discovered that he has a grown-up daughter, but he's unsure whether he wants to invite her into his life.
What else has Don Warrington been in? Warrington has appeared in countless productions on stage and screen. with highlights including playing Philip in Rising Damp, and appearing in Doctor Who's Rise of the Cybermen back in 2006. In 2008, he took part in Strictly Come Dancing, in which he was partnered with Lilia Kopylova.
Tahj Miles plays Marlon Pryce
Who is Marlon Pryce? Marlon was first seen on Death in Paradise as a petty criminal who spent his days scamming tourists, but he is now a trainee officer with the local police and has taken to the job like a duck to water.
What else has Tahj Miles been in? Miles previously appeared as part of the main cast on the CBBC series Class Dismissed, and also had a role in Steve McQueen's Mangrove – part of the Small Axe series of films on BBC One.
Shantol Jackson plays Sergeant Naomi Thomas
Who is Naomi Thomas? Naomi is one of the newest additions to the police department and is determined to prove that she has what it takes to make a mark on the team. When she joined in season 11, she had never been part of a murder investigation before.
What else has Shantol Jackson been in? Death in Paradise is something of a career breakthrough for Jackson, but she has previously appeared in a small role in Idris Elba's film Yardie and had a main part in 2018 sports movie Sprinter.
Élizabeth Bourgine plays Catherine Bordey
Who is Catherine Bordey? Catherine Bordey is the island's mayor and owns her own beachfront bar. She's also a solid advice-giver and will jump at any chance to set Neville up on a date.
What else has Élizabeth Bourgine been in? Like Jobert, Élizabeth Bourgiune is French and has appeared in several shows and movies in her home country, including Private Lessons, A Heart in Winter, and My Best Friend.
Ginny Holder plays Darlene Curtis
Who is Darlene Curtis? We first met Darlene in season 7 when she entered the frame as Dwayne Myers's love interest. She was initially the police station's office admin, but she's now swapped that to become a trainee police officer and instantly proves herself to be an invaluable member of the team.
What else has Ginny Holder been in? Holder is best known for her role in Holby City, but has also starred in Doctors, DCI Banks, The Capture and Ragdoll.
Death in Paradise season 12 episode 1 guest stars
- Chelsea Edge (Suspicion) plays Sophie Chambers, a Mancuinan woman on holiday in the region. She has a holiday romance with Neville
- Christopher Villiers (Emmerdale) plays Bertrand Sworder, a celebrated professor who winds up dead
- Sarah Woodward (Professor T) plays Mirian Sworder, Bertrand's wife
- Amit Shah (Happy Valley) plays Sunil Singh Kirmani, an amateur astronomer
- Kevin Eldon plays Jeremy Herbert, Bertrand's friend from university who heads up an observatory
- Alexandra Moloney (Domina) plays Sally Blake, a PHD student and Betrand's protege
- Aaron Shosanya plays Eddie Marlow, a local man who's had run-ins with the police
Death in Paradise season 12 episode 2 guest stars
The episode revolves around a group of doomsday preppers, one of whom is murdered. The cast is as follows:
- Robert Webb (Peep Show) plays Justin West
- Jo Hartley (After Life) plays Raya West
- Joplin/Chook Sibtain (Andor) plays Charlie Banks
- Elander Moore (Casualty) plays Kit Martin
- Felixe Forde (Doctors) plays Luna Jones
Chelsea Edge also features as Sophie.
Death in Paradise season 12 episode 3 guest stars
- Laura Rollins (Doctors) plays Cheryl Horner, a woman who works in real estate.
- Fiona Button (The Split) plays Hannah Roberts and John Michie (Holby City, Coronation Street) plays Peter Galbraith, two people who are taken by Cheryl to visit a local beauty spot.
- Barney Walsh (The Larkins and Bradley Walsh’s son) plays Ryan Cook, the driver who drives Cheryl, Hannah and Peter to the island.
- Kent Riley (Hollyoaks) plays Andrew Buckley, a former colleague of Neville’s from Manchester who works in fraud.
- Okorie Chukwu (Kate & Koji) plays Jermayne Boon, a man who runs a local shop.
Death in Paradise season 12 episode 4 guest stars
- Patrice Naiambana (The Baby) plays Sammy Debraun, a police sergeant on the island of St Barnabas. Naomi Thomas used to work alongside him.
- Gia Ré plays Monique Hays, Naomi’s best friend, who is getting married.
- Gamba Cole (The Outlaws) plays Ty Edgars, Monique’s husband-to-be.
- Curtis Walker (Youngers) plays Rex Hays, the father of the bride.
- Velile Tshabalala (Class Dismissed) plays Barbara Carter, Rex’s wife.
- Nicola Alexis (Doctors) plays Odette Hays, Monique’s mother who steps foot on the island for the first time in 15 years.
Death in Paradise season 12 episode 5 guest stars
- Genesis Lynea (Silent Witness) plays Andrina Harper, Selwyn's daughter. She arrives on the island to meet her father for the first time.
- Jennifer Saayeng (Raised by Wolves) plays Dr Claire Molyneaux
- Nicola Hughes (Mount Pleasant) plays Marianne Laforge, the manager of Miracles children's home.
- Micha Balfour (Emmerdale) plays Roy Hamilton, he grew up at Miracles with Vincent.
- Craig Stein (The Biz) plays Vincent Petit, he grew up at Miracles and is the vice president of a construction company
- Tara Tijani plays Josephine Porter, one of the current residents at Miracles
Death in Paradise season 12 episode 6 and 7 guest stars
- Patrick Kennedy (The Queens Gambit) plays David Cartwright, Neville accuses him of murdering Jake Dalton. A short time later, he's also found dead, with Neville arrested for his murder.
- Jaye Griffiths plays DI Karen Flitcroft, brought in to head up the investigation into David's murder.
- Ben Tavassoli (Screw) plays Jake Dalton, a water taxi driver who's found dead.
- Cara Theobold (Downton Abbey) plays Rose Dalton, Jake's wife. She's been having an affair with another man. She was also David's cleaner.
- Solomon Israel (Doctor Who) plays Henry Baptiste, a teacher at an adult education centre who is in a relationship with Rose.
- Robert Webb (Peep Show) plays Justin West, a doomsday prepper whose wife was arrested for manslaughter.
Death in Paradise season 12 episode 8 guest stars
- Jacqueline Boatswain (Carnival Row) plays Babette Francois, she co-owns a bar and wants to be a Calypso singer.
- Joe Dixon (Atlantis) plays Ellijah St John, Babette's romantic and business partner.
- Tommie Earl Jenkins (Wednesday) plays Kenton Sealy, a barman at Babette's establishment.
- Christelle Elwin (The Witcher) plays Romy Christophe, a young Calypso singer.
- Tyrone Huggins (Black Earth Rising) plays Clifford Brown, one of the punters at the bar.
Death in Paradise former cast members
Ben Miller played DI Richard Poole
Who is DI Richard Poole? The first lead detective to feature on Death in Paradise, Richard Poole was a very accomplished detective – who was shockingly murdered in the first episode of season 3.
What else has Ben Miller been in? Miller is well known as one half of the comedy double act Armstrong and Miller alongside Alexander Armstrong, while other major roles have included playing James Lester in Primeval, Lord Featherington in Bridgerton and the title character in Professor T.
Kris Marshall played DI Humphrey Goodman
Who is DI Humphrey Goodman? Poole's replacement on Saint Marie, Humphrey Goodman arrived on the island in season 3 and became chief inspector. He enjoyed life in Saint Marie and was known for solving mysteries very quickly. He left to start a new chapter with his girlfriend Martha, but we'll be seeing him again in Death in Paradise spin-off Beyond Paradise.
What else has Kris Marshall been in? Marshall is well-known for playing the role of Nick Harper in My Family and for a memorable turn in Love, Actually, in addition to playing Tom Parker in Sanditon.
Ardal O'Hanlon played DI Jack Mooney
Who is DI Jack Mooney? The third lead detective in the show's run, Mooney took over from Goodman and was a friendly and unassuming inspector. He was planning to travel the world with his love interest Anna, hut instead headed back to London to spend more time with his daughter.
What else has Ardal O'Hanlon been in? O'Hanlon is best known for playing Father Dougal McGuire in Father Ted and George Sunday in My Hero, in addition to his successful stand-up career.
Sara Martins played DS Camille Bordey
Who is DS Camille Bordey? A Detective Sergeant who worked under both Richard Poole and Humphrey Goodman, Camille is the daughter of Catherine. She was departed the island after being assigned an undercover job in Paris.
What else has Sara Martins been in? Martins has appeared in a number of series both in the UK and in France including Father Brown, Grand Hôteland and The Coroner.
Danny John-Jules played Dwayne Myers
Who is Dwayne Myers? Dwayne was a long-serving police officer at Honoré Police Station, appearing in 57 episodes of the show – and knew the island of Saint Marie better than anyone. He left to spend time with his estranged father in London, who was ill. But he did briefly return in the 2021 Christmas special, before exiting once again.
What else has Danny John-Jules been in? John-Jules is best known for playing Cat in Red Dwarf, while other credits include a role on CBBC children's spy drama M.I. High and CBeebies series The Story Makers.
Joséphine Jobert plays DS Florence Cassell
Who is DS Florence Cassell? Florence worked alongside Neville in the Saint Marie police force as a detective sergeant, and had something of a will-they / won't-they romance with the detective. But she later told him that she only sees him as a friend. Florence left saint Marie due to being in danger after exposing a major big-time criminal.
What else has Joséphine Jobert been in? Death in Paradise is the most high profile gig from Jobert's career to date, but other roles have included a number of TV shows in her homeland France including Cut and Time Is a Killer.
Gary Carr played Fidel Best
Who is Fidel Best? Originally an officer – before being promoted to Sergeant, Fidel was a young investigator who was known for his organisational abilities and his eagerness to impress. He went on to work in St Lucia.
What else has Gary Carr been in? Since leaving Death in Paradise in 2014, Carr has had major roles in a number of series including The Deuce and Trigonometry as well as appearing in four episodes of Downton Abbey and films including Bolden and 21 Bridges.
Tobi Bakare played JP Hooper
Who is JP Hooper? A sergeant who is close friends with Dwayne Myers, JP had always dreamed of being a diligent and hard working police officer. He left to take on a new job.
What else has Tobi Bakare been in? Bakare played Jamal in the first two Kingsman films and has also had regular roles on The Tunnel and The Smoke.
Aude Legastelois-Bidé played DS Madeleine Dumas
Who is DS Madeleine Dumas? A Detective Sergeant who worked alongside Jack Mooney, arrived in Saint Marie after living in Paris for most of her life. She moved back to Paris after being offered a promotion.
What else has Aude Legastelous-Bidé been in? Legastelois-Bidé has also appeared in episodes of Nox and The Hookup Plan.
Shyko Amos played Ruby Patterson
Who is Ruby Patterson? An officer who replaced Dwayne Myers on the Honoré Police Station team, Ruby was just starting her career in the police – and is the niece of Commissioner Selwyn Patterson. After a trip to Paris, she decided to remain there permanently.
What else has Shyko Amos been in? Besides Death in Paradise, Amos most high-profile appearance to date was in an episode of A Very English Scandal in 2018.
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