The cast of Death In Paradise tell us about their seasonal special, the new series next year and their devoted fans
WORDS: JIM MALONEY
It might be the festive season – but DI Neville Parker is as sad as he has ever been, after suffering the latest in a long line of failed romances.
“He’s having an extremely difficult time with the recovery and fallout from everything that happened with Sophie at the end of last season,” explains Ralf Little, who plays the unlucky-in-love cop.
Ralf is chatting to us during a break in filming on the island of Guadeloupe.
“Having fallen in love with someone who was faking it just to frame him for murder and get him sent to prison, he is jaded and disheartened with the idea of falling in love with anyone again. He’s shut even the idea of it out of his life.
“Then his mum Melanie (played by Doon Mackichan) arrives on the island, like a hurricane!
“She’s loud, fun-loving and extremely disruptive – the very antithesis of her son – and she is saddened to see that he has given up on love.
“He tells her he doesn’t want to get hurt again and she has a little pep talk with him saying that sometimes getting hurt is part of it, but you pick yourself back up and you recover and you try again, because it’s worth it.
“It doesn’t mean that he’s suddenly all better and ready to go. He’s still extremely hurt and has a lot of things to process, but she’s the first person to really pull him out of this emotional hole that he’s fallen into.”
Seeing her son feeling at least a little less depressed gives the effervescent Melanie the green light to enjoy all the delights that Sainte Marie has to offer.
And there is no one better placed to act as her guide in discovering them than bar owner Catherine Bordey (Elizabeth Bourgine), with whom she quickly forms a real bond.
“Melanie is anxious about her son at first. But once she feels hat Neville will get over it, she and Catherine just think about having fun!” Elizabeth tells us.
“Catherine organises a lot of things – going to the carnival, dancing, having drinks together – and she even arranges dates for Melanie. They both become friends and really enjoy their time together.”
However the show wouldn’t be what it is without a murder! Glamorous Bella, played by Patsy Kensit, and her wealthy businessman husband Gerry (Geoff Bell), are holidaying on the island. When Gerry is fo
