MISTLETOE & CRIME

Leading man Ralf Little and returning star Danny John-Jules celebrate Christmas – Caribbean-style

- STEVEN PERKINS

DEATH IN PARADISE

NEW BOXING DAY / BBC1 / 7.30PM / DRAMA

Christmas specials tend to conjure up images of snow-dusted streets and sumptuous family feasts. But there will be none of that in Death in Paradise’s first festive episode, as the BBC1 crime drama showcases a very different side to the season in the sun-drenched Caribbean.

The 90-minute story is the finale of the popular show’s 10th-anniversary celebrations and sees DI Neville Parker (played by Ralf Little) having to shelve his plans to return home to Manchester for the holidays after a billionaire shipping tycoon dies.

While the death doesn’t seem to be suspicious at first, London minicab driver Colin Babcock (Ghosts star Mathew Baynton) then receives a Christmas card with a message hinting there has been foul play in Saint Marie.

With DS Florence Cassell (Joséphine Jobert) away visiting family, the police are desperately in need of temporary help – just as fan favourite Officer Dwayne Myers (Danny John-Jules), last seen in 2018, returns to the island!

Here, stars Ralf, 41, and Danny, 61, tell TV Times why fans are in for a tree-mendous treat...

How excited are you about the show’s first Christmas special?

RALF Very! It was a bit weird filming it – when you are used to Christmas being cold, snowy and wet, it’s odd to see Christmas decorations in the blazing sunshine.

But you get used to it very quickly, and it’s not too shabby!