Death in Paradise season 14 teased an exciting Catherine development – but season 15 won't deliver

There's much to look forward to in Death in Paradise season 15. From Selwyn officially stepping back into his role as commissioner, to Mervin's ongoing personal growth – he's set to meet his half-brother Solomon for the first time – the theme of the murder mystery's upcoming chapter is undoubtedly new beginnings

Well, for some, anyway.

For Catherine, Saint Marie's much-loved mayor and owner of the best bar in town, the word stagnation springs to mind – particularly given what was hinted at in season 14.

"I've started seeing someone," she previously confided in Naomi and Darlene, a twinkle in her eye. But it was "early days, we're having fun."

And that was all we got. Catherine kept her cards close to her chest as we were left to wonder, with justified anticipation, what the writers had in store for her.

Surely they would pick up where they left off? We assumed, with confidence, that her mention of a new romantic partner – and one shrouded in so much secrecy, we should add – would eventually lead somewhere.

That teasing moment was brief, sure, but it was a moment nonetheless.

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Because to not take things any further would be completely pointless and random — why mention it at all? It would also feel like a feeble attempt to remind us that she has a personal life and isn't just a vessel for other people's problems.

But more than that, it would be genuinely irritating, not to mention entirely at odds with good storytelling, especially given that a section of the fandom has been calling for Catherine to find love for quite some time – and not without reason.

She briefly dated Adrian Dunbar's Aidan Miles in the first season of the show, but that crashed and burned when he was arrested for murder. Such is life in Saint Marie…

There has also been some casual dating here and there, but the details are so hazy — that tells you all you need to know.

But those tantalising season 14 comments were obviously laying the groundwork for a new chapter in Catherine's life. The patience of viewers and actor Élizabeth Bourgine herself – "I think Catherine should be dating and have a love story," she told Virgin Radio UK in 2024 – was surely about to be rewarded? Or so I thought.

Frustratingly, Bourgine has since confirmed that there is nothing of the sort in Catherine's immediate future.

"I keep on asking for a romance for Catherine. She's desperately wanting one… or two, so I hope one day she'll have a lovely one, [but] it will not be in this series. I'm sorry, but no, not yet… maybe later," she told RadioTimes.com and other press.

So there you have it. While there's a possibility of some dating – and perhaps even a relationship – further down the line, there's nothing to speak of in season 15, although Don Gilet did joke about Catherine giving Mervin the "glad eye", which would be one hell of a development.

"Let's just keep them wanting that because it's quite an interesting idea," he teased, as Bourgine chuckled. "Don’t sound so disgusted!" he added in faux annoyance. "Stop it!"

But on a more sincere note, why include any mention of Catherine's love life if there were no plans to explore it?

With there always being a legitimate case for revisiting that side of the character, the writers have then turbocharged the idea, only to steer us into a dead end, as we're left wondering: when?

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Perhaps the real love story is her enduring friendship with Selwyn, who she fought tooth and nail to save when his job was under threat. But while heartening, so much of what we see from Catherine in that dynamic – and others – is in service to the needs of those around her. She spends much of her time supporting everyone else, which certainly has its place on the show and is a key part of her personality, but it can come at the expense of her own characterisation.

Not that we'd ever want to reduce her to someone who is desperate for a man, but her desire to meet someone has become part of the fabric of her story and would deliver rich, well-earned storytelling.

To the show's credit, Catherine is set to become more involved in the various investigations this year – "She's a hub of information; she knows the people and their business." And she also has a "backstory" with the station's new sergeant, Mattie Fletcher, which will become clearer over the course of the season.

As for Catherine's love life, though, that will have to keep waiting.

Death in Paradise season 15 premieres on 30th January at 9pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.

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