Death in Paradise season 10: where is it filmed, who's in the cast with Ralf Little - and will there be more series?

Caribbean crime drama Death in Paradise returned to screens earlier this month (7 January) for its 10th season.

Once again filmed on the French Caribbean island of Guadeloupe (which stands in for the fictional island of Saint Marie), the fact that the new series exists at all is one that should be celebrated by fans.

It was filmed entirely through the Covid-19 pandemic, with production delayed by months and then accelerated to ensure viewers could enjoy the new series in the usual January slot.

The producers developed a detailed Covid-19 protocol policy, “implementing various safety measures including social distancing, face coverings and temperature and Covid-19 testing to minimise any risk of infection.”

Here is everything you need to know about it.

What happens in Season 10?

In the first episode of series 10, a TV reporter about to broadcast an expose on a prominent Saint Marie broadcaster was found dead in her swimming pool.

DI Parker (Ralf Little) initially suspected co-host Garfield Tourné was responsible, but he was live on air interviewing his daughter at the time of the presenter’s death.

Elsewhere, DS Cassell returned to the island (the first reappearance of Josephine Jobert’s character since 2019) to take up the vacant detective sergeant's position offered by Commissioner Patterson.

That theme of returning characters is one that is set to continue throughout the tenth series, as programme makers celebrate hitting the 10-series milestone by bringing back some fan favourites from days gone by.

"As well as the usual baffling murders, intriguing puzzles and famous guest stars,” say the producers, “viewers can expect some huge surprises as the show celebrates a decade as one of the most loved British dramas.”

Episode two will see archaeologist Professor Roger Harkness (Richard McCabe) poisoned, but “the biggest surprise for the cops may be that with only two suspects and a quick confession, for once it seems they are dealing with an open-and-shut case.”

Of course, it’s never as simple as that…

Who’s in the cast?

One of the new cast members for series 10 is Tahj Miles, who plays 18-year-old petty criminal Marlon Pryce, a “ball of energy” who “thinks he knows it all.”

Returning to the sun-soaked island to reprise their roles are Ralf Little (The Royle Family) as DI Neville Parker and Don Warrington (Casualty) as Commissioner Selwyn Patterson.

Also returning are Tobi Bakare (Silent Witness) as DS JP Hooper and French actress Elizabeth Bourgine as Mayor Catherine Bordey.

How was it filmed?

As mentioned, series 10 was filmed entirely during the Covid-19 pandemic, and its star has said it was a “Herculean effort” to get the show finished in time for its usual winter broadcast.

Ralf Little told BBC Breakfast the cast and crew worked to ensure filming wrapped in time for the show to air in January, with production on the 10th anniversary series starting more than two months behind schedule with additional safety measures.

“We only finished a couple of weeks ago which seems insane now to say it because it seems like a lifetime ago," he said. “I think I left the island on the 20th of December just in time for Christmas. It has been very hard work, if I may say, quite an achievement, to have got it all done in time.”

He added: “We made a commitment and the company made a commitment to try and get the show broadcast at the same time this year as any normal year.

“So it has been a real Herculean effort to get it done on a real time crunch. And yet here we are and we seem to have managed it.”

Will there be more series?

We may only be one episode deep into series 10, but already the BBC have announced that Death in Paradise has been recommissioned for a further two series.

Series 11 and 12 will once again “see cast regulars and new faces alike descend on Saint Marie,” and Executive Producer Tim Key said: “We are hugely proud of series ten and delighted we’ll be heading back to Saint Marie to continue the story.

"Our amazing cast and crew have delivered against the odds this year and we can’t wait to get going again - we’ve got huge plans for the future, with lots of surprises to come.”

“[Audiences] audiences have lots to look forward to with series 11 and 12,” said BBC Commissioning Editor Tommy Bulfin.

When can I watch it?

New episodes of Death in Paradise air on Thursday evenings at 9pm on BBC One.

Previous episodes are available to catch up on through iPlayer.