DEATH in Paradise’s new detective was accused of being a Santa serial killer in the Christmas Special.
Tonight’s festive edition of the hit BBC drama saw Don Gilet make his debut as DI Mervin Wilson.
He has replaced Ralf Little, who left Death in Paradise and his role as DI Neville Parker earlier this year at the end of the series.
Mervin was brought in by his boss back in London after Commissioner Selwyn Patterson called for help following the murder of two men dressed as Santa.
The men were strangers to one another and were shot with bullets from the same gun at the exact same time, leaving the local police force baffled.
Melvin already happened to be on the island of Saint Marie for a holiday, which hadn’t gone to plan.
Just as he was about to leave on a plane, his boss back in Blighty told him to stay and help solve the case.
Melvin begrudgingly did as he was told, but quickly rubbed his new colleagues up the wrong way with his demeanour and attitude towards the island.
But things took a further turn for the case when a third man dressed as Santa was shot at, but luckily survived with just an arm wound.
Later, the Commissioner spoke to a female resident of the town who had concerns about a man who had been lurking on her street.
When asked why she thought it was connected, she replied: “Because of the house he’s parked outside, old Mr Blanchard lives there and he works as a Father Christmas for the grotto at the supermarket up in Port Royal.”
The Commissioner then asked for a description of the man, and as she started to think what to say, she glanced around and clocked Melvin.
Looking alarmed, she pointed at an oblivious Melvin and said: “He’s right there.”
Getting louder, she said: “That’s him, that man over there in the green hat, he’s the one who has been committing these murders.”
Others heard her comments and the furore soon caught Melvin’s attention who asked Sergeant Naomi Thomas: “What’s going on?”
Perplexed, she replied: “I think they’re saying that you’re the killer, sir.”
Death In Paradise started in 2011 and has welcomed four detectives so far to the island.
These are all of the actors who have played the lead detective in the hit BBC series so far:
Ben Miller as DI Richard Poole – Actor Ben played the first ever detective from seasons 1 to 2, and then returned as a guest star in the third and tenth series.
Kris Marshall as DI Humphrey Goodman. Next up My Family star took on the role for three years from series 3 to 6.
Ardal O’Hanlon as DI Jack Mooney. Father Ted star Ardal was a fan favourite and was the detective for three seasons from series 6 to 9.
Ralf Little as DI Neville Parker. The actor started in 2019 and is the longest-running star to have the detective role. He was on the show for four seasons from 9 to 13.
Thankfully, Melvin was able to prove his innocence very quickly to the Commissioner when he explained why he was on the island in the first place and kept visiting the same street.
It took him a little while longer to piece together the puzzle of the murders, but like all good detectives, he got his culprit in the end.
The Christmas Special ended with Melvin driving off into the distance determined to head back to London.
But with Don signed up for the new series of Death in Paradise, viewers will have to wait and see what convinces his new alter ego to change his mind and stay in the Caribbean.
Death in Paradise airs on BBC One and is available on BBC iPlayer.
