BEYOND PARADISE - SERIES 1, EPISODE 1 (BBC ONE)

[Favourite of the Month] Detective Inspector Humphrey Goodman, formerly posted in the Carribean and in London, settle on the Devon coast with his fiancee Martha Lloyd in the enjoyable premiere of the spin-off from Death in Paradise.

Death in Paradise, the much loved BBC One detective drama filmed in Guadeloupe, was launched in 2011. Created by Robert Thorogood and produced by Red Planet Pictures, the series was sold in more than 230 territories. Since its start, five lead detectives of the Honoré police station have investigated all sorts of murders on the beautiful (but fictional) island of Saint Marie: DI Richard Poole (played by Ben Miller in the first couple of series), DI Humphrey Goodman (Kris Marshall, series 3 to 6), DI Jake Mooney (Ardal O'Hanlon, series 6 to 9)  and DI Neville Parker (Ralf Little, from series 9).

The bumbling (and fan favourite) Detective Inspector Humphrey Goodman left the island in 2017 with his love interest Martha Lloyd (Sally Bretton, Not Going Out). Now both return in Beyond Paradise, a 6 x one-hour spin-off series of Death in Paradise created by Robert Thorogood and Tony Jordan. Freshly arrived with Martha in her hometown of Shipton Abbott in Devon, Humphrey gets stuck in a tree before introducing himself to his new colleagues. After conducting the interview of a shoplifter in his unorthodox style, DI Goodman goes to the hospital with DS Esther Williams (Zahra Ahmadi). They interrogate a woman who claims she was attacked in her house by a 17th century witch named Old Mother Wheaten.

Humphrey Goodman is back and it's nice to watch Kris Marshall and Sally Bretton in their roles again. In this episode, the likeable detective arrives in a picturesque environment similar to the small coastal town of Doc Martin to bring some lightness in a 60-minute Midsomer Murders. Beyond Paradise takes the Martha/Humphrey couple in an interesting new direction and we meet Martha's mother Anne Lloyd (Barbara Flynn). The rest of the Shipton Abbott police station is composed of Office support Margo Martins (Felicity Montagu, Alan Partridge) and Police Constable Kelby Hartford (Dylan Llewellyn, Derry Girls). 

 

The guest cast of the first episode includes Yasmine Akram (Carol Meadows), Peter de Jersey (Patrick Wiley), Davood Gadami (Ben Tyler), Chris Jenks (Josh Woods), Montserrat Lombard (Gwen Tyler), Dan Mersh (Peter Meadows), Samantha Spiro (Yvonne Wiley), etc. Produced by Red Planet Pictures (an Asacha Company) for Britbox and the BBC.  Belinda Campbell, Alex Jones and Kris Marshall exec produce with Tony Jordan and Tim Key. Tommy Bulfin exec produce for the BBC. Stephen Nye and Diederick Santer exec produce for Britbox. Cat Fox is the Head of Production. Mike O'Regan is the line producer. Music by Magnus Fiennes. Closing title music by Bellowhead. Cinematography by Simon Walton. Editing by John Blackwell.

Shipton Abbott is as fictional as Saint Marie. Beyond Paradise was actually mostly filmed in Looe, Cornwall. Death in Paradise was recently renewed for two further series. It remains the most watched foreign drama in France. Episode 1 written by Tony Jordan and directed by Sandy Johnson. Beyond Paradise is distributed by BBC Studios.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m001jg5h

https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/drama/beyond-paradise-filming-locations-bbc/

DEATH IN PARADISE - SERIES 6, EPISODES 5 & 6 (BBC ONE)

DI Humphrey Goodman and the team find a man murdered on his boat five miles out at sea. The only clue leads to four suspects from London who quickly return to the British capital.  

Commissioner Patterson sends Humphrey, Florence and Dwayne to work on the case in London with DI Jack Mooney of the Metropolitan Police.

 

The bottom line: Here's the computer, said Florence.

It took five episodes of Death in Paradise (including last year's finale) to prepare the departure of Kris Marshall/DI Goodman and his replacement in this London two-parter. This is certainly an improvement over the inelegant ice pick exit of Ben Miller's DI Richard Poole, his predecessor. Too bad all this is at the expense of most of the current series, stucked until now into the annoying romance of Humphrey and Martha (Sally Bretton). The only purpose of this storyline (and consequently of the two-part episode) became obvious right from the second episode.

Then, ahead of the official confirmation that Kris Marshall was leaving, the trick was to spot the presence of Irish comedian/actor Ardal O'Hanlon (Father Ted) as DI Jack Mooney in the guest cast of the fifth episode. The laboured first half of the London story is saved by his introduction and the excellent Danny John-Jules (Dwayne). Except  for him and the the always enthusiastic J.P. (Tobi Bakare), the rest of the regular characters look like they seriously need a permanent new posting off screen. 

The second part of this double episode is better, particularly for a scene between Humphrey Goodman and Jack Mooney (« Be my guest. ») and an appropriate nod to Love Actually. Ardal O'Hanlon does a very good job for his arrival. Anyway, the feel-good detective drama has a worldwide audience so there's no doubt that the new Detective Inspector has been choosen very carefully.  Although the character reminds of his predecessors, Jack is a recent widower and has a daughter in her 20s named Siobhan (Grace Stone). Next time, we'll see how he manages in Saint Marie.

See also:

http://tattard2.blogspot.fr/2017/02/no-sht-humphrey.html
http://tattard2.blogspot.fr/2017/01/midsomer-murders-series-19-episode-4.html
http://tattard2.blogspot.fr/2017/01/death-in-paradise-series-6-episodes-2-3.html

NO SH*T, HUMPHREY!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/latestnews/2017/new-detective-death-in-paradise

Well, it's certainly not a surprise for the readers and visitors of this little blog...

See:

http://tattard2.blogspot.fr/2017/01/midsomer-murders-series-19-episode-4.html
http://tattard2.blogspot.fr/2017/01/death-in-paradise-series-6-episodes-2-3.html 

[Update]  Danny John-Jules and Ardal O'Hanlon (as the Columboesque new DI) save the laboured first half of the London two-parter.

MIDSOMER MURDERS - SERIES 19, EPISODE 4: RED IN TOOTH AND CLAW + DEATH IN PARADISE - SERIES 6, EPISODE 4

A few words about the latest episodes of those crime/detective dramas.
 

- Midsomer Murders - Series 19, Episode 4: Red In Tooth And Claw (ITV). In recent years two scriptwriters amazingly succeeded in bringing fresh air into the venerable detective drama: Jeff Povey and Lisa Holdsworth. Povey is behind Last Man Out, the absolutely brilliant previous episode, and now here comes the eagerly awaited (by your humble servant at least) Holdsworth's annual Midsomer.

Lisa Holdworth caught our attention seven years ago with an episode of New Tricks. For her first gig on Midsomer Murders in 2013, a character died thanks to a giant round of cheese. Two years later she penned what was then the best episode since series 15 (A Vintage Murder). In Red In Tooth And Claw, death strikes in and around a pet show. DCI John Barnaby (Neil Dudgeon) and DS Winter (Nick Hendrix) investigate amongst an impressive number of rabbits.

There's Steve Pemberton as a champion rabbit breeder, a locum pathologist (played by Michael Obiora), and someone who plays with scissors. English acting deity Susan Hampshire graces Midsomer County with her presence. A most enjoyable episode with great lines (« It's been a bad week for small animals. First a rabbit-napping and now a dog-on-badger hate crime. ») 

For some reasons which only belong to scheduling geniuses, ITV keeps the two remaining episodes of this 19th series for "later in the year". Directed by Steve Hughes.

See also:

http://tattard2.blogspot.fr/2017/01/midsomer-murders-last-man-out-itv.html (Episode 3)

- Death in Paradise - Series 6, Episode 4 (BBC One). In which we learn what Commissioner Patterson did during his days off, and Catherine doesn't care about her election campaign. 

« No solace in a kiss. No comfort in a sigh. No good about goodbye. » (Dame Shirley Bassey)

It's all boredom under the sun since the second episode of this current series. The romance between DI Goodman (Kris Marshall) and Martha Lloyd (Sally Bretton) balances between annoying and painful. Its only possible excuse (with extreme indulgence) would be to pave the way for a potential departure of Humphrey during the London two-parter or in Episode 8. 

In that case, Ardal O'Hanlon, who plays "DI Jack Mooney" in Episode 5, would be my chief suspect for the replacement. Anyway, let's hope things will go back to normal (well,  the Saint Marie "normal"...) ASAP.

See also:

http://tattard2.blogspot.fr/2017/01/death-in-paradise-series-6-episodes-2-3.html (Episodes 2 & 3) 

DEATH IN PARADISE - SERIES 6, EPISODES 2 & 3 (BBC ONE)

The one with the dead friend, followed by the one in the hotel.

The bottom line: "Fun, fun, fun, In the sun, sun, sun."

After a slow but nice start, the sixth series of BBC One's tropical cluedo goes on with a couple of episodes regrettably deprived of vitality and group dynamic. This year it's DS Florence Cassell (Joséphine Jobert) who loses a friend. And the romantic weekend between DI Humphrey Goodman (Kris Marshall) and Martha Lloyd (Sally Bretton) in an island hotel turns into business as usual for Humphrey when a guest is stabbed to death.

The unnecessary romance between Humphrey and Martha (who's not even in the second episode) gives the impression that its only purpose is to trigger a departure of the beloved DI. Or this storyline would be even more unnecessary, which is probably preferable as Kris Marshall leaving would be a big loss for the feel-good detective drama. This said, the bumbling but brilliant Columbo of the Caribbean has become a more conventional type of sleuth.

Talking about unnecessary, they seem to have found something to do for poor Catherine (Élizabeth Bourgine) beyond the cocktails: she wants to run for the Honoré Mayor's office. That's certainly why she's too busy to appear in episode 3. In Death in Paradise there is worse than "not necessary", apart from dead we mean, it's "invisible". Like the wife of Officer J.P. Hooper (the excellent Tobi Bakare). Why J.P. keeps asking advices about Rosey and him to Dwayne (Danny John-Jules, thankfully still on board) is the most interesting mystery of this sixth series. 

After Natasha Little in the first episode, we can now add Ramon Tikaram to the list of the current series guest stars who have both Midsomer Murders and Death in Paradise (or vice versa) in their resume. But also Jason Hughes, Midsomer's DS Ben Jones himself. Thanks to the "Next Time" trailer at the end of the third episode, we learn that Commissioner Patterson (the great Don Warrington) hasn't been discretely kidnapped or murdered. Soon London will replace momentarily the gorgeous Guadeloupe scenery.

Written by Kelly Jones (Episode 2) and Alex Walker (Episode 3). Directed by Jermain Julien (Episode 2) and Claire Winyard (Episode 3). Death in Paradise is produced by Red Planet Pictures for the BBC, with the support of Region of Guadeloupe and Film Commission of Guadeloupe. Music composed by Magnus Fiennes. Created by Robert Thorogood.

See also:

http://tattard2.blogspot.fr/2017/01/death-in-paradise-series-six-episode.html (Episode 1)

[Update - January 26] It crossed my mind when I noticed the name of the actor and his character in the cast list of the fifth episode... Could Ardal O'Hanlon, who plays DI Jack Mooney, be DI Goodman's replacement in case of a possible Kris Marshall departure while Humphrey is in London? 

DEATH IN PARADISE - SERIES SIX, EPISODE ONE (BBC ONE)

[Spoiler-Free] Stephen Langham, chief volcanologist at the Saint Marie Volcano Observatory, is found dead halfway up the Mont Esmee live volcano. 

The apparent cause of death is an heart attack but DI Humphrey Goodman notices something is missing in the equipment of the scientist.

The new series of Death in Paradise, the globally popular feel-good detective drama, premiered this week on BBC One. Kris Marshall returns as DI Humphrey Goodman, alongside Danny John-Jules (Officer Dwayne Myers), Joséphine Jobert (DS Florence Cassell), Tobi Bakare (Officer J.P. Hooper), Élizabeth Bourgine (Catherine Bordey) and Don Warrington as Commissioner Selwyn Patterson. Set in the fictional island of Saint Marie, Death in Paradise is actually filmed in the French overseas region of Guadeloupe

The plot of this episode feels like a pretext to showcase the magnificent scenery. The romance between Humphrey and Martha Lloyd (Sally Bretton) (1) and a masterclass in comedy from Don Warrington and Danny John-Jules fill the rest of the hour. A slow start for this sixth series but a nice treat for a cold January evening. Murielle Hilaire (Justine Tremblay), Douglas Hodge (Daniel Langham), Natasha Little (Victoria Baker), Cyril Nri (Mayor Joseph Richards), Adrian Rawlins (Stephen Langham) and Emily Taaffe (Megan Colley) are the guest stars.

Written by Dana Fainaru and directed by Claire Winyard. Death in Paradise is produced by Red Planet Pictures for the BBC, with the support of Region of Guadeloupe and Film Commission of Guadeloupe. Music composed by Magnus Fiennes. Created by Robert Thorogood.

(1) See http://tattard2.blogspot.fr/2016/02/death-in-paradise-series-five-episode_25.html

DEATH IN PARADISE - SERIES FIVE, EPISODE EIGHT (BBC ONE)

[Spoiler-Free] A student backpacker is found dead in the communal shower of a Saint Marie youth hostel, slumped against the door and with a gun in her hand. But DI Humphrey Goodman is not sure it's a suicide.

The fifth series of the feel-good detective drama created by Robert Thorogood ends on a nice note with this episode written by Matthew Barry and directed by Richard Signy. J.P. (Tobi Bakare) is about to marry Rosey Fabrice (Fola Evans-Akingbola) and Dwayne (Danny John-Jules) is his best man.

« He explained about what happened last night. About how you talked the groom down from the metaphorical cliff.
 - Dwayne used the word "metaphorical?"
 - No, I'm paraphrasing.
 - Ah. » 

Humphrey (Kris Marshall) tries a suit specially made for the wedding by a tailor recommended by Dwayne. It frightens Harry the lizard and Florence (Joséphine Jobert) suggests to her boss that he could borrow something from her brother, who's the same size. The inspector bumps into (well, sort of...) Martha Lloyd (Sally Bretton), an acquaintaince from England.

« You know who did it?
- Not a sausage. » 

In the end no murder is "impossible" for Humphrey, who finds the solution during the wedding party. On Wednesday it was confirmed that there will be a sixth series of Death in Paradise in 2017, which is no surprise given the ratings. Now a (long overdue) Christmas special would be great. Owain Arthur, Ariyon Bakare, Aimee Ffion-Edwards, Maggie O'Neill and Tom York are the other guest stars of this episode. Élizabeth Bourgine plays Catherine Bordey. Don Warrington is Commissioner Patterson.

Death in Paradise is produced by Red Planet Pictures for the BBC. Yvonne Francas is the producer. Robert Thorogood is the co-executive producer. Tony Jordan and Tim Key exec produce. Music composed by Magnus Fiennes. Produced with the support of Region of Guadeloupe and Film Commission of Guadeloupe.

http://www.mirror.co.uk/tv/tv-news/death-paradise-series-6-confirmed-7430051 http://dramaquarterly.com/highlights/paradise-found/ (An interview with Robert Thorogood)

DEATH IN PARADISE - SERIES FIVE, EPISODE SEVEN (BBC ONE)

[Spoiler-Free] A treasure hunter is murdered on his rival's boat. His body is thrown overboard and washes up on the beach the following morning.

The bottom line: The One before Episode 8.

We can really thank the region of Guadeloupe for the magnificent scenery because this penultimate episode of the current series, written by Will Fisher and directed by Richard Signy, is rather tedious. Soon after marine salvage hunter Tosh Walker and his team found £300,000 worth of ancient silver coins, Tosh has a run-in with his rival Newton Farrell. When he's stabbed to death on Newton's boat, Farrell becomes the chief suspect.

DI Humphrey Goodman (Kris Marshall) and DS Florence Cassell (Joséphine Jobert) are surprised when they learn from Catherine (Élizabeth Bourgine) that Newton Farrell has a solid alibi. Meanwhile, Dwayne (Danny John-Jules) organises the stag party of a terrified J.P. (Tobi Bakare). Lorcan Cranitch, Jack Donnelly, Roger Griffiths, Jill Halfpenny and Ade Oyefeso guest star. Don Warrington plays Commissioner Patterson.

Death in Paradise is produced by Red Planet Pictures for the BBC. Yvonne Francas is the producer. Series creator Robert Thorogood is the co-executive producer. Tony Jordan and Tim Key exec produce. Music composed by Magnus Fiennes. Produced with the support of Region of Guadeloupe and Film Commission of Guadeloupe.

Next, please...

DEATH IN PARADISE - SERIES FIVE, EPISODE SIX (BBC ONE)

[Spoiler-Free] Robert Holt, a famous chef from London, is found stabbed to death (with one of his personalised knives) after the opening of his new restaurant on the island. 

His body was stored in a freezer so the time of death cannot be correctly determined. His partner says money was taken from the safe and the victim's smartphone is gone but not his prized watch. DI Humphrey Goodman (Kris Marshall) tells Florence (Joséphine Jobert), Dwayne (Danny John-Jules) and J.P. (Tobi Bakare) that he rules out a robbery. Each person in the chef's life had a motive to kill him, particularly his staff. Gary Holt, Robert's brother, arrives in Saint Marie.

Jackson, a troublesome schoolboy, gives Dwayne the chance to repay an old debt. J.P. attends the inspector "movie night" ("the full big screen experience") and proposes to Rosey (Fola Evans-Akingbola). According to Humphrey 10% of all people are left-handed,  20% of Mensa members are, and apparently most parrots are left-footed (or is that left-clawed?) A mimic octopus may be the key of this case in this excellent episode written by Dana Fainaru and directed by Roger Simonsz.

Alexander Arnold, Martin Compston, Louisa Connolly-Burnham, Tara Fitzgerald, Alun Raglan and Andrew Whipp guest star. Jackson is performed by Dante Langlais John-Jules, 10, who's Danny John-Jules's son. Élizabeth Bourgine plays Catherine. Death in Paradise is produced by Red Planet Pictures for the BBC. Yvonne Francas is the producer. Series creator Robert Thorogood is the co-executive producer. Tony Jordan and Tim Key exec produce. Music composed by Magnus Fiennes.

Produced with the support of Region of Guadeloupe and Film Commission of Guadeloupe. Amusingly, Rosey's present to J.P. for their "two month anniversary" is a weekend in Guadeloupe.

http://writerscompany.co.uk/clients/clients-3/dana-fainaru/
http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/entertainment/14269115.Paradise_found_for_Danny_John_Jules/ 

DEATH IN PARADISE - SERIES FIVE, EPISODE FIVE (BBC ONE)

[Spoiler-Free] Humphrey's most favourite aunt comes to Saint Marie and soon becomes the only witness to a murder.

Series creator Robert Thorogood penned this excellent episode of Death in Paradise, directed by Roger Simonsz. Mary Goodman, played by the great Wendy Craig, is the most favourite aunt of DI Humphrey Goodman (Kris Marshall) because she inspired him his love of puzzle-solving. As she comes to visit her nephew on the island, the inspector picks her up at the "Saint Marie International Airport" with Florence (Joséphine Jobert). 

At her hotel Aunt Mary witnesses the murder of a fellow tourist, thrown from his balcony in the middle of the night. Keith Allen plays a British career criminal named Neil Jenkins, who's coincidentally (or not) in the same hotel. Meanwhile, J.P. (Tobi Bakare) takes relationship advice from Dwayne (Danny John-Jules) after confessing his feelings for Rosey (Fola Evans-Akingbola). Humphrey is pushed down the stairs by a suspect and ends up in hospital, where his aunt tells him something important. 

Harry is a guard lizard. Commissioner Patterson (Don Warrington) has a very Selwyn moment. A "good egg" is a "bon oeuf" in French. Humphrey remembers his aunt taught him the Epimenides Paradox. The episode also shows a great subtlety to deal with a sensitive issue. Susie Amy, Robert Daws and Eddie Nestor are also in the guest cast. Élizabeth Bourgine plays Catherine. 

Death in Paradise is produced by Red Planet Pictures for the BBC. Yvonne Francas is the producer. Robert Thorogood is the co-executive producer. Tony Jordan and Tim Key exec produce. Music composed by Magnus Fiennes. The series is produced with the support of Region of Guadeloupe and Film Commission of Guadeloupe. 

http://www.express.co.uk/showbiz/tv-radio/639313/Wendy-Craig-Detective-Humphrey-Goodman-Death-In-Paradise 

http://www.whatsontv.co.uk/tv-news/news/wendy-craig-on-death-in-paradise-kris-leaps-about-like-a-young-puppy 

http://www.agencesartistiques.com/Fiche-Artiste/404625-roger-simonsz.html

DEATH IN PARADISE - SERIES FIVE, EPISODE FOUR (BBC ONE)

[Spoiler-Free] A very special episode with a great Danny John-Jules.

 

Officer Dwayne Myers (Danny John-Jules) attends the funeral of his old mentor, the popular barber Cedrik Verga. Shortly after the cremation of the body, Dwayne receives a text from Cedrik claiming: "I was murdered." The thing is Cedrik apparently died of natural causes and his phone was in the coffin («  It's an island thing. »)

DI Humphrey Goodman (Kris Marshall), DS Florence Cassell (Joséphine Jobert) and Officer J.P. Hooper (Tobi Bakare) help their colleague and friend in his search for the truth amongst childhood pals of the defunct. A missing pillowcase, a death during a hurricane 45 years ago and the "Myth of Mont Clair" are the keys to solve the mystery of this message from beyond the grave.

« I'm scared. I've looked up to these men my whole life and I'm starting to wonder if I've got it all wrong. »

This episode is the first written by Emma Goodwin (Casualty) for Death in Paradise. Her bold departure from the format is a hit, highlighted by an emotional performance from Danny John-Jules, a splendid direction by Audrey Cooke and the score by Magnus Fiennes. Don Warrington shows a tactful side of Commissioner Patterson (« All I can ask is... if feathers are to be ruffled, that you'll ruffle them as delicately as possible. »)

Kris Marshall successfully adjusts his character to the gravity of the story though humour is not completely absent (« JP, you're the closest thing we have to a teenage boy. ») Tony Armatrading, Burt Caesar, Joan Hooley, Nimmy March, Gary McDonald and Trevor A. Toussaint are the very competent guest actors of this episode. Oh, Humphrey cooks.

Death in Paradise is produced by Red Planet Pictures for the BBC. Yvonne Francas is the producer. Series creator Robert Thorogood is the co-executive producer. Tony Jordan and Tim Key exec produce. Produced with the support of the Region of Guadeloupe and Film Commission of Guadeloupe.

Next week: Humphrey's most favourite aunt comes to Saint Marie. The pitch of the fifth episode says it all, looking forward to it.

DEATH IN PARADISE - SERIES FIVE, EPISODE THREE (BBC ONE)

[Spoiler-Free] A weak, forgettable episode. Maybe we needed some rest after two weeks of absolute brilliance.

Zoe Mackay, a young model, is strangled during a fashion show of designer Nelson Benedict at the Paradise Beach Hotel. Why was she holding a stocking?  

DI Goodman (Kris Marshall) asks Florence (Joséphine Jobert) for some advices on meeting women. Dwayne (Danny John-Jules) wears cologne and J.P. (Tobi Bakare) went to school with one of the models, Rosey Fabrice. Humphrey tries to tell a joke about a pterodactyl to Catherine (Élizabeth Bourgine).

This week's happy winners of a trip to Guadeloupe (aka "The guest cast") are Jason Barnett, Hannah Britland, Fola Evans-Akingbola, Elarica Johnson, Paul Nicholls and Heida Reed. Death in Paradise is produced by Red Planet Pictures for the BBC. Yvonne Francas is the producer.

Series creator Robert Thorogood is the co-executive producer. Tony Jordan and Tim Key exec produce. Musique composed by Magnus Fiennes. Produced with the support of the Region of Guadeloupe and Film Commission of Guadeloupe. Episode written by Tom Higgins and directed by Audrey Cooke.

http://tattard2.blogspot.fr/2016/01/death-in-paradise-series-five-episode_14.html (Series Five, Episode Two)
http://tattard2.blogspot.fr/2016/01/death-in-paradise-series-five-episode.html (Series Five, Episode One)

DEATH IN PARADISE - SERIES FIVE, EPISODE TWO (BBC ONE)

[Spoiler-Free] A sparkling cyanide episode particularly hilarious from a French perspective.

« We have a bit of a problem. »

The outgoing governor of Saint Marie dies poisoned at her leaving party in the gardens of Government House after drinking a glass of champagne served by Commissioner Patterson (Don Warrington). DI Goodman (Kris Marshall) searches for the "future Mrs Humphrey" on a dating website under the guidance of Dwayne (Danny John-Jules) when he's interrupted by a phone call from his superior. They join Florence (Joséphine Jobert) and J.P. (Tobi Bakare) on the crime scene. Quite embarrassed, the commissioner is excluded from the investigation.

« "You can't trust the French as far as you can throw them. »

The team finds out that Spinner's Rock, an inhabited rock between Saint Marie and Saint Robert, could be a motive for the governor's death. The place is owned by the British and claimed by the French (« The correct title is La Roche de la République. ») Behind the island diplomacy lies blackmail, bugging and treason. Nothing is what it seems, even the murder, and Humphrey needs "a highly technical piece of cutting edge kit". Writer Dan Muirden's first Death in Paradise is a coup de maître. His resume includes Father Brown, The Coroner and New Tricks but in the past he also worked as a diplomat!

« You British complain about having lost your identity in the world. Well, I disagree. You're just as hypocritical as you ever were. »

Muirden's clever and fun script is served by a delightful performance from French actor Valéry Schatz as the vaping François Tromeur, "President of the General Council of Saint Robert". Tromeur is arrogant, untrustworthy and... Parisian (Selwyn dixit). The regular cast is at its best. Lucy Cohu drops by on Saint Marie as Governor Caroline Bamber. Adetomiwa Edun plays her private secretary Ellery Wallace (which sounds like "Ellery Queen" and "Edgar Wallace"). Charlotte Hope and Nigel Lindsay are the other guest actors.

Catherine Bordey is played by Élizabeth Bourgine. Episode directed by Edward Bennett. Death in Paradise is produced by Red Planet Pictures for the BBC. Yvonne Francas is the producer. Series creator Robert Thorogood is the co-executive producer. Tony Jordan and Tim Key exec produce. Musique composed by Magnus Fiennes.

http://schatzvalery.wix.com/valery-schatz#!valry-schatz/c1o2y
http://www.theguardian.com/stage/2016/jan/10/don-warrington-king-lear-interview (An interview with the supremely talented Don Warrington).

DEATH IN PARADISE - SERIES FIVE, EPISODE ONE (BBC ONE)

[Spoiler-Free] The fifth series of Death in Paradise, the globally popular feel-good detective drama, premiered this thursday on BBC One with a brilliant episode penned by series creator Robert Thorogood and directed by Edward Bennett.

Set on the fictional Caribbean island of Saint Marie and actually filmed in the French overseas region of Guadeloupe, Death in Paradise stars Kris Marshall as DI Humphrey Goodman, Danny John-Jules (Officer Dwayne Myers), Joséphine Jobert (DS Florence Cassell), Tobi Bakare (Officer J.P. Hooper), Élizabeth Bourgine (Catherine Bordey) and Don Warrington as Commissioner Selwyn Patterson.

« Ahoy there! » 

A millionaire marine biologist is murdered in the middle of the sea, alone on his boat. The only suspects were all underwater at the time, studying the coral reef. And the only clue is a toy soldier. Commissioner Patterson's sole worry is to reassure the members of the Saint Marie Yacht Club that there's no gang of pirates off the island coast to disturb the wealthy tourists. Incidentally, Humphrey has bought a "yacht"... well, rather an old boat. Much to the perplexity of Dwayne and the team.

J.P. and Dwayne confront their respective fears and Florence shows them that she has no weaknesses while chasing a suspect. A Duke of Wellington infantryman and the riddle of the two barbers help DI Goodman to crack the case. Every British actor will appear on the island at some point. This time it's the turn of Julian Ovenden (Downton Abbey), Emma Rigby (Prisoners Wives, Hollyoaks), Joshua Hill, Lloyd Owen and Neve McIntosh (Doctor Who).

Death in Paradise is produced by Tony Jordan's Red Planet Pictures for the BBC. Yvonne Francas (The Syndicate) is the producer. Robert Thorogood is the co-executive producer. Tony Jordan and Tim Key exec produce. Musique composed by Magnus Fiennes. Produced with the support of the Region of Guadeloupe and Film Commission of Guadeloupe.

http://www.radiotimes.com/news/2016-01-07/the-secrets-of-death-in-paradise
http://www.radiotimes.com/news/2016-01-07/meet-the-famous-faces-set-to-appear-in-death-in-paradise-series-5

DEATH IN PARADISE - SERIES THREE (FRENCH REGION 2 DVD)

Detective Inspector Humphrey Goodman, from London, solves crimes with French Detective Sergeant Camille Bordey on the beautiful Caribbean island of Saint Marie. They're assisted by officer Dwayne Myers and Sergeant Fidel Best.

Series 3 of Death in Paradise is available in France on DVD from Koba Films since July.

« London speaks very highly of him. »

Created by Robert Thorogood, Death in Paradise, the very popular BBC One lighthearted crime drama, was launched in 2011. It is set on the fictional Saint Marie island and actually filmed in the French overseas region of Guadeloupe. The first two series starred Ben Miller (Primeval) as Detective Inspector Richard Poole. In April 2013, it was announced that Miller would leave during the third series and that he would be replaced by Kris Marshall (My family) as Detective Inspector Humphrey Goodman.

Original cast members Sara Martins (DS Camille Bordey), Danny John-Jules (Officer Dwayne Myers), Gary Carr (Sergeant Fidel Best), Don Warrington (Commissioner Selwyn Patterson) and Élizabeth Bourgine (Catherine Bordey) all returned, like Harry the (CGI) lizard. An university reunion party attended by Richard Poole comes to an abrupt end with a murder. DI Goodman arrives to help the Honoré police on this very sensitive case and stays on the island as his wife, Sally, broke up by voicemail.

« Am I seeing things or did he fall out of the window? »

Ben Miller set the bar very high as Poole and his character deserved a more elegant send-off but Kris Marshall is awesome as a radically different eccentric English sleuth. The disheveled and clumsy DI Humphrey Goodman is a bumbling but brilliant Columbo of the Caribbean. Series three's bodycount includes a stunt double on a film set, a local gigolo, an air stewardess, the Saint Marie commerce minister, a bird-watcher, a real estate magnate and a pensioner in a luxury retirement home.

« There's a whole list of things I'm not very good at. But I am a good detective. »

Humphrey,  his notes written on everything and his "Fox, goose and a bag of beans" type of puzzles proved to be favourites of viewers everywhere. The ingenious formula of Death in Paradise for fun escapism is intact with murder mysteries under the sun, splendid locations, humour and guest stars: Peter Davison, Michelle Ryan, Josette Simon, Raza Jaffrey, etc... There's also a great soundtrack with ska and reggae standards and original music by British composer Magnus Fiennes. French pubcaster France 2 airs the series with a different intro (Sunday Shining by Finley Quaye) and You're Wondering Now (1) as the end title.

Death in Paradise is produced by Red Planet Pictures for the BBC. It is filmed with the support of the Region of Guadeloupe and the Film commission of Guadeloupe. Koba Films releases the eight one-hour episodes of this third series in a 3-disc DVD set with the UK theme tune, the original dialogue track (available with optional French subtitles) and the French dubbing. Bruno Choël, who dubs Kris Marshall, does a very good job. The fifth series is currently being filmed and Series 4 started on France 2 in July.

(1) http://liberalburblings.co.uk/?p=26297

http://www.kobafilms.fr/reservation/meurtres-au-paradis---saison-3-441.html

See also:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/tv/entries/93bca142-25af-4ec9-98e0-3cc504ee8adc

http://www.radiotimes.com/news/2015-01-08/kris-marshall-on-sunny-whodunit-death-in-paradise-not-all-tv-has-to-be-shot-down-a-danish-alleyway

DEATH IN PARADISE - SERIES THREE, EPISODE ONE (BBC ONE)

Death in Paradise, the highly popular BBC One crime comedy drama launched in 2011, came back this week for a third 8X60-minute series of Caribbean Cluedo.

« I'm not here to take his place, you know, Camille. I'm not here to be him. »

Created by Robert Thorogood, Death in Paradise is set on the fictional Saint Marie island and actually filmed in the French overseas region of Guadeloupe. It stars Ben Miller as Detective Inspector Richard Poole and French actress Sara Martins as Detective Sergeant Camille Bordey. Danny John-Jules (Officer Dwayne Myers) and Gary Carr (Sergeant Fidel Best) return. Don Warrington (Commissioner Selwyn Patterson) and Élizabeth Bourgine (Catherine Bordey) are back too.

In April 2013, it was announced that Ben Miller would leave Death in Paradise during series 3 and that he would be replaced by Kris Marshall (Lightfields, My family) as Detective Inspector Humphrey Goodman. In the series' premiere, written by Robert Thorogood and directed by Cilla Ware, an university reunion party attended by Richard comes to an abrupt end with a murder. DI Goodman arrives from London to help Camille and the Honoré police on a very sensitive case.

« London speaks very highly of him. »

The grumpy yet likeable Richard Poole deserved a better send-off than this inelegant exit and the case resolution is rather far-fetched. However it is very smart to bring a radically different sleuth. The disheveled  and casually dressed DI Humphrey Goodman is a bumbling but brilliant detective, part Jacques Clouseau, part Columbo. Kris Marshall manages to do well in this weak transitional episode, given that Ben Miller set the bar very high.

Although it's not unusual for a TV series to survive a lead/character change, Poole and his great interaction with Camille will be missed. Death in Paradise has an ingenious formula for fun escapism: murder mysteries under the sun, splendid locations, humour, guest stars (here Helen Baxendale, Mark Bazeley, etc.) and an excellent regular cast. Next week will be crucial after the return of this favourite amongst detective drama buffs with an average of 7.1m viewers.

Death in Paradise is produced by Red Planet Pictures for the BBC and exec produced by Tony Jordan and Belinda Campbell. Tim Bradley is the producer. It is filmed with the support of the Region of Guadeloupe and the Film commission of Guadeloupe. In France the first two series are available on DVD from Koba Films since the end of last year.

The soundtrack includes ska and reggae standards and original music by British composer Magnus Fiennes. 

http://www.radiotimes.com/news/2014-01-15/death-in-paradise-didnt-give-di-richard-poole-a-fair-send-off (Spoilers)
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/tvandradio/tv-and-radio-reviews/10568337/Death-in-Paradise-episode-one-review.html (Spoilers)

See also:

http://tattard2.blogspot.fr/2013/12/death-in-paradise-series-two-french.html (Series 2 DVD review)
http://tattard2.blogspot.fr/2013/11/death-in-paradise-french-region-2-dvd.html (Series 1 DVD review)

DEATH IN PARADISE - SERIES TWO (FRENCH REGION 2 DVD)

Detective Inspector Richard Poole, of London's Met Police, is assigned to the Caribbean island of Saint Marie. Except he hates the sun, sea and beach sand. Poole can't stand heat either though his perennial dark suits won't help.

His partner, Detective Sergeant Camille Bordey, is French and as spontaneous as he's uptight. He must share a modest beach house with a lizard. But when death comes to paradise, Richard Poole is the best to solve crimes. As long as he can get a cup of tea.

« La Manche.
- Yeah, that's what I said. The English Channel.
- Why is it English?
- I don't know really, but it's called the English Channel. »

Series 2 of Death in Paradise (Meurtres au paradis in French) is available in France on DVD from Koba Films since December 4. Launched in 2011, the BBC One hit crime comedy drama stars Ben Miller (Primeval, Johnny English) as DI Richard Poole and French actress Sara Martins (Pigalle, la nuit) as DS Camille Bordey. Danny John-Jules (Red Dwarf) and Gary Carr return as officers Dwayne Myers and Fidel Best. Don Warrington (Commissioner Patterson) and Élizabeth Bourgine (Catherine) are back too.

Death in Paradise was created by Red Planet Prize finalist Robert Thorogood (it's his first broadcast credit). Series 2 is produced by Red Planet Pictures with Kudos Film and Television, for the BBC. The first  8X60-minute series was a joint British-French production with Atlantique Productions and France Télévisions. Death in Paradise is filmed in the French overseas region of Guadeloupe (doubling as the fictional Saint Marie island) with the support of the Region of Guadeloupe and the Film commission of Guadeloupe.

« But... who'd want to murder a nun?
- Anyone who'd seen The Sound Of Music more than once? »

This is Caribbean Cluedo all over again for the "quintessential English" sleuth. The owner of a plantation is found with a machete in his back. Did a novice nun smoke her last cigarette? The world's most expensive tea is the key to a luxury clinic mystery. A pirate treasure hunt goes bad. Camille's best friend is poisoned and the husband of a strangled woman is Richard's former foe at the Met. Someone wants to frame a hurricane for the murder of a meteorologist. Will Richard go back to London and will Fidel become a sergeant?

« You do know about the curse?
- Yes. Although for the time being I have decided to eliminate all 400-year-old pirates from our enquiries. »

Stephanie Beacham, Michael Brandon, James Murray and Hannah Spearritt (who both played with Ben Miller in Primeval) and Julie Graham are amongst the guest cast of those old school but astute whodunnits. Imagine Murder, She Wrote with nicer locations and humour - thanks mainly to Miller and Don Warrington. No wonder why its ingenious formula for fun escapism brought Death in Paradise high ratings in the UK since its start, and made it a global favourite amongst detective drama buffs.

« Dwayne, Fidel. I want you to pick everyone up. Well, everyone who's still alive anyway. »

Koba Films releases the eight one-hour episodes of this second series in a 3-disc DVD set with the original dialogue track (available with optional French subtitles) and the rather unfortunate French dubbing. In April 2013 Ben Miller announced that he would leave Death in Paradise during its third series, due to arrive in January 2014 on BBC One. He's replaced by Kris Marshall as DI Humphrey Goodman. French fans can also enjoy the case files of DI Richard Poole in a DVD set containing the first two series.

The soundtrack includes ska and reggae standards and original music by British composer Magnus Fiennes.

http://www.kobafilms.fr/serie/meurtres-au-paradis---saison-2-350.html
http://www.kobafilms.fr/serie/meurtres-au-paradis---saison-1-346.html
http://www.kobafilms.fr/serie/coffret-meurtres-au-paradis---saison-1-et2-351.html

Death in Paradise - Series One (French Region 2 DVD):

http://tattard2.blogspot.fr/2013/11/death-in-paradise-french-region-2-dvd.html