Christmas is coming to Death In Paradise but that doesn't disrupt business as usual in Saint Marie.
A podcaster is murdered whilst investigating the disappearance of a child. It’s a case that’s haunted Selwyn for many years, and now Neville and the team must lay its ghost to rest.
Premier Comms
Ralf Little (DI Neville Parker)
How was returning to Guadeloupe?
It’s always exciting to be asked back. The first Christmas special was testing the waters to see if it was something people would enjoy, so the fact that it was such a massive success meant it was a no brainer to go again. I keep saying it, but how can you be anything but unbelievably proud to be part of something that people care about and love so much? So, I was delighted. Six months in the Caribbean doesn’t hurt either! I still love it here and it feels like home now. I know the area, I know a lot of the locals, I speak the language pretty well.
The Christmas special has quite a spooky storyline - what can you tell us about it?
The nice thing about a Christmas special is that everyone understands that you can be a bit more playful or experimental – or special, even – with the tone. We have ninety minutes instead of an hour, so we can give storylines time to develop. They went bold this year with the script. Don’t worry, it’s not a massive departure from the usual Death in Paradise story. We still know what people enjoy about the show, but it’s a good old-fashioned Christmas ghost story with clever twists. It has a scary tone, but it’s in keeping with the world of the show. It was fun to film and I think people are going to enjoy it.
How do you think Neville has changed since last series?
In the second half of the last series, he was trying to get over the loss of Florence. He’s still a little burned by that. He may be a superhuman sleuthing mastermind, but he’s still a human! Workwise, he’s mostly settled in, but in his personal life he’s not quite sure how he feels about trying to move on from that, or whether he wants to move on and carry the idea of Florence with him. He has a lot to work out. That sets the foundation for his journey in the Christmas special. We can’t let him get too settled. He loves life on the island, he’s got a great group of friends, his job’s going well – it can’t all be smooth sailing, so there’s a lot this year that he’s got to cope with. More than ever.
We go to another island this series, what can you tell us about that episode?
Naomi goes over for a wedding and a murder takes place. St Barnabas is such a small island that the only police force they have is one guy who was Naomi’s mentor, so they quickly enlist our help. All Caribbean islands have their own unique tone and vibe, so it was a nice challenge to portray the slightly different vibes of the islands. It’s lovely for Shantol Jackson playing Naomi because we go back to her roots, trying to solve a case with her mentor but she’s already had much more experience than him now, so there’s all that conflict. She’s able to step up and Neville sees that it’s important for Naomi to have autonomy in her own space. He follows her lead and I think that only strengthens their working relationship and their friendship.
There’s a potential love interest for Neville…
Sophie comes from Manchester too, played by the brilliant Chelsea Edge. It starts with them bumping into each other, it’s a very sweet, charming, cute meet. They get on well. As quirky and eccentric as he can be, he’s very kind, and is actually a little nervous when she expresses an interest in him. He’s still heartbroken over Florence and he doesn’t want to waste her time, so he’s very honest about it. Then there’s a few twists and turns from there…
Do you have a favourite storyline or episode this series?
Most of what you do in this job is contained episodes, with a bit of character building over the serial arc, so when you get episodes that really challenge a character and make life interesting, you really relish it. The one at St Barnabas is Naomi’s. I’m lucky this year that I have two stories that test the character and were really challenging to play. I’m lucky in that I get to do a job that I enjoy, but it’s especially fun to get up and go to work thinking this is going to be a pretty different day. Episodes six and seven are going to be brilliant. When people see them, they’re going to freak out. I think they’re going to love it, but they’re going to be like “no way”!
As the series progresses, we see a lot of support from Neville’s team. What was it like working with the other cast this series?
The dynamics of the team are crucial to the show’s success. The show stands or falls on whether the audience takes them into their hearts. Don Warrington is literally a living legend. Every time I’m in a scene with him, I’m thinking about how lucky I am. Shantol Jackson was an incredible addition last series. She fitted in easily. In the St Barnabas episode, she really took the opportunity. She’s a joy. Tahj Miles is annoying because he’s too good. He came in effortlessly. When I was his age, I wasn’t cool, and he’s effortlessly cool. He’s brilliant at his job.
Ginny Holder calls herself the aunty of the group. Darlene really stepped up to being part of the police team. She humanises and grounds a lot of Neville’s quirkier stuff and Ginny just nails it.
It does feel a little bit special when Elizabeth is on set, which is funny because she’s been on the show since the start. It should feel normal, but it shows how much she’s respected. Catherine will be the one to give you a little nudge when you won’t take the plunge. That character is like an inspirational walking metaphor for how we should live life – grab every day, don’t waste your life, take your chances. She’s the show’s conscience.
What can you tell us about the guest cast? Is there anybody who really impressed you or you really enjoyed having on set?
As an actor who’s spent a lot of my career being known for one style of work and therefore had to work quite hard to do other stuff, one of the things I think is so great about this show is that they fearlessly cast against type. They’re very happy to go, “this is supposed to be an unpleasant, manipulative, dodgy character, what about Les Dennis?”. That’s brilliant, and they do that a lot. He’s a brilliant actor. It was lovely to see him enjoying being completely different. Anytime that happens, it’s always really good fun.
Another perfect example is Robert Webb. I’m a huge fan of his. It was a chance for him to do something completely different and I think he really relished it. He was a joy to have around. Kevin Eldon too as he’s basically a walking God in the comedy community. Kevin’s so known for being able to do anything that just having him felt like a massive coup and we felt lucky to have him.
It's lovely to ask the guest stars how they’re enjoying it and have them go, “yeah, I’m enjoying doing something different and it’s nice to have somebody take a chance”. It’s always nice for me, as someone with a background in comedy, to get to do something different, and then to see that happen to other people.
The show continues to attract fantastic, heavyweight actors. I think that’s partly because of its success, partly because the scripts are good, partly because it’s willing to take a chance on allowing people to do different things – and it doesn’t hurt that it’s filmed in the Caribbean!
What’s your favourite Christmas song?
Fairytale of New York.
What’s your favourite thing about Christmas?
Food.
What’s the best thing about Christmas dinner?
Roast potatoes.
Chelsea Edge (Sophie)
What was your first reaction when you found out you got the role in Death in Paradise?
I was super excited. It is such a well-loved show, all my family and friends watch it. My friends were like “what?! … No way!” They thought I would only be doing one episode because of the guest spots, so when I told them I would be out there for six months, they couldn’t believe it!
Everyone has been so welcoming, and the location is incredible. When you wake up and see the ocean or watch the sunset you cannot think of the downsides, it’s so beautiful.
What can you tell us about your character, Sophie?
Sophie is very sweet; I don’t think she knows exactly what she is looking for before she meets Neville. She is seeking some form of adventure, as she gets bored of the monotonous day-to-day life. She is curious about what else is out there, wanting to explore the world and discover more about herself. Sophie hasn’t done much travelling growing up, so I think she is keen to see what is out there to discover.
What do you think it is that attracts her to Neville?
She is a bit of a fish out of water, similar to Neville, which reminds her of home. I think that’s partly what attracted her to Neville. Obviously, he is kind, intelligent and reminds her of home in this completely different world. He provides the familiarity and comfort for her.
How have you found it filming on the island?
Amazing, apart from the mosquitoes! I seem to be an absolute feast for them. But I do love it. I love the heat. It’s a very well-oiled machine from the moment you get on set. The cast and crew have been doing it for a long time, so I feel lucky to be part of it.
What was it like working alongside the regular cast?
Everyone’s great and they are so lovely and talented. It’s nice when you come onto a job that you feel like you have a good set of friends. I have been very welcomed by all the cast.
Most of my scenes are with Ralf. I do work with the other cast, but a small amount in comparison to him. It’s been great working with Ralf - he went to school in my hometown! When we first met we hit it off, and he has taught me how to play poker, which I think he is regretting a bit now…
Did anyone show you around the island?
As soon as I arrived, I had the whole crew giving me recommendations of places to go and things to do. I’ve been to the waterfalls and the volcano, which was a bit treacherous because I am a bit clumsy! I have also visited Jacques Cousteau Island, which is where scuba diving originated, as well as taken a mangrove tour on a boat. Hand on heart, it was one of the most beautiful moments of my life. I did the sunset tour, which had birds flying over the ocean from the mainland. It made me feel emotional, like I was in a film. It was so surreal.
I am constantly sending my friends pictures of the ocean and sunset, and they are like, “yes, we know it’s beautiful!”
Have there been any challenging scenes to film?
Without giving anything away, I think the most challenging thing has been getting what we need from a scene over the sounds of nature. As soon as the sun sets, there are these tiny frogs that make the loudest noise! The rain has also been a challenge - it really does pour - similar to being in Manchester! When we film by Neville’s shack, we have the waves to contend with too.
What’s your favourite Christmas song?
I love Fairytale of New York.
What’s your favourite Christmas tradition?
Other than eating copious amounts of food and drinking lots of wine, finding the ugliest Christmas jumper I can find and wearing it on Christmas day. Last year it was green with a snowman with tinsel and lots of lights, it was pretty hideous!
What’s the best thing about Christmas dinner?
Yorkshire puddings, obviously. I will have at least three.
How will you be spending Christmas this year?
I will be spending it at home up north with my family, my nieces and nephew.
Ginny Holder (Darlene Curtis)
Darlene appears in the Christmas special this year. What was it like to film?
The Christmas special is brilliant. It is a heartfelt story about family, and we had some amazing actors come over to help us with it, including Les Dennis, Jo Martin, Siobhan McSweeney and Hakeem Kae-Kazim. It was a joyous experience for us to work with such talented people.
How was it working with Les Dennis in the Christmas episode? His character gives you a bit of a run around…
Les is a workhorse and he’s brilliant. He’s one of those old school actors who’s got everything down pat. He’s also generous with his stories and experience, so it was a real treat and complete honour working with him. He’s beautifully genuine.
What do you think Darlene learned in the Christmas episode from having to deal with Les’ character?
He was a slippery fish and quite confrontational! Darlene found him quite a challenge. She’s just helping out, and so doesn’t have all the power as the rest of the team to deal with the situation fully.
This is Darlene’s first full series of Death in Paradise. What has that been like to film?
You have to get into a rhythm because it’s a lot. I’m still finding my feet. The amazing thing about Death in Paradise is that we’ve got a solid main cast and they’re all very supportive. We’re also so lucky to get different guest cast in, so you get new blood and new stories to keep everything fresh.
How are you coping with the heat?
Me, the heat, and makeup don’t go hand-in-hand! I have someone fanning me 24/7 so my makeup doesn’t melt. It’s especially bad in the police station, but the crew do their best to keep us cool. We were filming on location once and the weather kept changing between sunshine and rain. When the sun is out, it’s intense. You’re melting straight away, makeup gone. You get the scene done because you’re trying to beat the sweat dripping down your face. But I can’t complain because Guadeloupe is amazing. People travel from all over the world to come and see us film and see the sets. That’s extraordinary.
How have you found working with the main cast more regularly?
We have a laugh on set. We’re a supportive team and that’s evolved even more so towards the end of this series. It’s difficult when a new person joins a group because it changes the dynamics but I’m having a whale of a time. There’s lots of jokes.
Is there anyone in particular you would love to do a guest role on Death in Paradise?
Viola Davis. I would love to work with her and see what she would bring. Obviously, Idris Elba, but I’m sure everybody says that. It’s those people that have that magnetism, that presence.
There’s an episode involving some doomsday preppers. What essentials do you think Darlene would have in her end-of-the-world bunker? And what would you have in yours?
Darlene would have some red wine. She’d have her crime magazines and novels, that would keep her going. She likes vibrancy, so if she was on her own, she’d get a bit bored. For her music, it’d have to be Afrobeat. She would have a one-woman party!
I quite like doing meditation so if I was on an island with a beach and the sea, I’d be happy. Beaches change all the time, which I find extraordinary. When you’re connected to the sea, you think, “do you know what? You just need to go with the flow” because that’s what happens with water. The tide comes in and goes out, and everything goes with the flow. That’s what I think we should do in life.
Darlene takes on a more senior role this series. What can you tell us about that?
She becomes part of the police force. It’s taken her all this time to find her perfect job and she’s found her thing in life. It’s so interesting and diverse. For her, she’s fascinated – shocked, even – by the reasons why somebody has chosen to take someone else’s life. She doesn’t necessarily voice it, but she’s often in the denouements thinking, “What? Why? How?”. How human relationships work is of interest to Darlene, so she’s found her joy.
Darlene works quite closely with Marlon. What is their working relationship like? How does it progress?
It’s interesting because Darlene would like to see herself as someone senior, but she really isn’t, and Marlon is above her. Marlon is initially a bit wary because he wanted to withhold his position, so they have a tiny bit of a tug of war. But they come together and understand they can work well as a team. It’s a very respectful team and they do work well together. They start playing on the funny moments between them a bit more towards the end of the series.
What’s your favourite Christmas film?
It’s a Wonderful Life is one I watch every Christmas.
What’s your favourite Christmas song?
Mariah Carey – All I Want for Christmas is You. That is Christmas for me.
What’s your favourite Christmas gift you’ve given or received?
I prefer giving gifts than receiving. My favourite gift this year is the gift I’m going to give you all is… Darlene in the Christmas special!
How will you be spending Christmas this year?
In the Cotswolds with the kids. We’ll absolutely be watching the Death in Paradise Christmas special. Everyone’s going to love it. People need to tune in for this one. It pulls at the heartstrings.
Élizabeth Bourgine (Catherine Bordey)
How was returning to Guadeloupe to film Death in Paradise?
It was really nice to do a second Christmas special as the script was amazing and very different from last year and it keeps you wondering what will happen. I was happy that the episode showcased Catherine as mayor, because I think it’s very important to see her in that role, even during the Christmas season. It was fun, it was different, and I loved it.
We see Catherine trying to play matchmaker for Neville again, do we think she’ll have any luck this series?
Neville will really have to deal with his emotions this series. He will have enough courage to face things head on and will realise he does not have to depend on Catherine, as she has forced him to come to terms with his feelings.
Catherine spends a lot of time helping Neville, would she want to find love herself?
She’s strong and a loving mother who is pleased her daughter lives her life, even if she is away from Saint Marie. We can see she is a happy woman, with a loving life with plenty of love to give. In the future, I hope we get a chance to see more of an insight into her personal life, meeting her lovers, love affairs and friendships.
During the series we see Catherine at the centre of the crime scene while completing her mayoral duties. How does she deal with this?
She is there as the mayor figure, but she is also a support to the people who are at the scene of the crime. She is always there to offer wise words and comfort for those in need. It’s one of her best qualities, being able to help people and really spur them on!
When it comes to Selwyn’s relationship with his daughter, Catherine is not afraid to speak her mind, ultimately offering the best advice, even if it can be difficult to hear. Do you relate to this quality in real life?
Yes, I am like Catherine. Her characteristics have rubbed off on me after living with her for 12 years. Catherine always speaks the truth with Neville but is always careful not to hurt his feelings, as she is aware he is sensitive.
With Selwyn, who she knows very well, she immediately knows how he feels. She understands he is fragile when it comes to the news of his daughter but is really pushing him, for his own good, to have a relationship with her.
Whenever a character is in a moment of need, they always confide in Catherine. She appears as the one constant in Saint Marie, and many would be lost without her! How does it feel to have such a key role in this long-running series?
I love it! I love it for Catherine, she’s so loving and strong. When she appears on screen, it’s like “oh we can breathe!” She brings a lot of peace; every appearance is very powerful. As an actress, I really enjoy going into Catherine’s bar on set in the morning. I welcome everyone to my bar and take in that we are by the sea, in the Caribbean, so let’s make some great work.
What’s your favourite Christmas song?
Jingle Bells!
What’s your favourite thing about Christmas?
Definitely the night before Christmas. I love the dinner, where it’s tradition in my house to give small presents to loved ones at the table. I have done this since I was young.
What’s the best thing about Christmas dinner?
The best thing about my Christmas dinner, is that traditionally each guest must bring a dish themselves to share with everyone - but make it, not buy it! These dishes also have to be given a name of a famous film, corresponding whatever dish they make. I will be making a Creole course.
How will you be spending Christmas this year?
It will be with family. Not everyone will be there, but I have three couples visiting who I like very much who do not know each other, so it will be a nice surprise! We will all be spending it in the South of France.
Don Warrington (Commissioner Selwyn Patterson)
How was returning to Guadeloupe for a second Christmas special and a new series?
It’s been very nice. It’s a very beautiful place. It’s lovely to do another Christmas special - we did our first one last year that seemed to go very well, so we have done another one! This one is very different to the one we previously did. It is more Dickensian as it is more of a ghost story…
The Christmas special has quite a spooky storyline surrounding the historic case of a missing child that a Young Selwyn was involved with - what can you tell us about it?
Again, I come back to the theme of the ghost story. Selwyn has been haunted by his inability to solve this case when he was a very young policeman, and after all those years it comes back to him, and he has a second chance. So, he grabs it with both hands, as we would all like to get rid of ghosts.
Did you give any tips to the actor playing Young Selwyn?
Not at all. I think playing the younger version of someone who is actually there is tricky enough. I left him alone because he seemed pretty confident about what he was doing.
At the end of the last series, Selwyn was landed with a huge bombshell when he was told he had a daughter he didn’t know about – how does he handle that news?
In the new series Selwyn meets his daughter and they try to find common ground. It’s a difficult situation when you meet your father or daughter, especially if you haven’t seen them before and as they are both adults. It is a huge bridge to build. It’s not always a smooth process and needs a lot of negotiating.
Marlon is looking to take his Sergeant’s exams. How is Selwyn’s relationship with Marlon?
Marlon is somebody who Selwyn sees great potential in but has ways which need to be amended. Selwyn is acting as a sort of parental figure for Marlon. Like any parent, he can be quite stern, so the relationship is a dynamic one.
Catherine is always on hand to give Selwyn advice, now more than ever - why do you think he trusts her so much?
Catherine is a good friend and I think she has managed her life very well. She is more about feeling and Selwyn, to some extent, keeps his feelings in check quite a lot. He trusts her to the extent that he feels with her advice he can release emotions he has not released before.
You have been in the show since series one. What do you think makes the series so successful?
If I were to take a stab at it: it has comedy, drama and characters who are essentially loveable and are relatable to the audience in different ways and have more to them than their professions. I also think the interrelationships between the characters are special. Selwyn’s relationship to Neville, Marlon and now to other characters have evolved. The audience is interested in how those connections develop, that to some extent makes it a successful series. The formula for the show has a magical chemistry. Do you have a favourite storyline or episode this series?
Do you have a favourite storyline or episode this series?
I like the Christmas special, I thought that was a very interesting storyline. I think it cut deeper, it’s surprising for a Christmas special because it went deeper than one might imagine a Christmas special would, except Oliver Twist, which, I guess, is a Christmas story!
Have there been any challenging scenes to film this year?
In a sense (laughs) they are all challenging. You start from somewhere, and you have to end up somewhere else and the challenge is to make it as real as you can. In terms of weather, it’s very hot in the suit, also this season we have had a lot of rain. When it rains here, boy does it rain! We have had to stop and wait many times because we can’t hear each other as it’s so loud.
What’s your favourite Christmas movie?
The Philadelphia Story. It is beautifully done, very moving and has a happy ending.
What’s your favourite thing about Christmas?
Pudding!
What’s the best thing about Christmas dinner?
It depends, if my Christmas dinner is in the Caribbean then my favourite thing is a drink called a Sorrel.
Shantol Jackson (D.S. Naomi Thomas)
How was returning to Guadeloupe for your first Christmas special and your second series?
I am really excited about the Christmas Special because last year I was jealous I wasn’t in it! People were in costumes; I was so mad as I really wanted to be an elf. The producers promised me next year that I would be an angel. So, I came back, anticipating my angel costume, but this didn’t work out as the storyline was different this year, but it’s fine…!
Christmas is my favourite time of year so of course I was very excited to be part of this special. I feel very blessed to be back for a second series of Death in Paradise. It’s great being here, doing what I love, surrounded by the best people.
The Christmas special has quite a spooky storyline surrounding the historic case of a missing child - what can you tell us about it?
It is a case from Selwyn’s past which has come back to haunt him, funnily enough, and the team are of course on hand to assist him in solving the murder. Because it’s set at Christmas, which is when people tend to tell ghost stories, it’s even spookier. I am very excited for people to watch it and see how they respond to it.
Do you believe in ghosts, and have you ever had a paranormal experience?
I do not believe in ghosts and have always warded off paranormal experiences as I do not want to have one. I am not interested in having any type of interaction with anyone or anything from the other side. I know of people who have had those experiences, some scared by it, some not. But for me personally, no, nor would I want to…
There’s an episode involving Doomsday Preppers – what essentials would Naomi have in her end of the world bunker? What essentials would you have in yours?
Naomi would have her flashlight. I am sure she would stock up on tinned stuff and have all the things you should have as a Doomsday Prepper, as she is so focused and does everything by the book. She would have the things you should have - candles, batteries, flashlights, and her Sergeant’s book just to refresh her memory.
Shantol would hopefully have boxes of sour Skittles, as well as essentials such as radios, sudokus, crosswords and books as I love to read. The Doomsday Preppers seem very introverted. I am an introverted extrovert so I would need things to keep me occupied. I can be introverted but I do need a bit of human contact just to keep my mind occupied. Novels are great as I can connect with their stories and characters and feel like I am in their world.
Do you have a favourite storyline or episode this series?
Episode four is my favourite as it is a coming-of-age moment for Naomi. It was an emotional, special episode for me. I came home very exhausted from set, not just for the long days but because of the emotional roller coaster, which I appreciated, because sometimes we don’t get much human interaction in the show as we are always solving crimes and getting down to business.
In this episode, Naomi’s back in St Barnabas with her friends and family in a place where she has history on the island. Someone has been accused of murdering someone she knows, so the team come to the island to help solve the crime. She gets to share the island with her team, but I am sure not in the way she had envisaged. A lot happens emotionally, and I enjoyed that process of growth for my character and loved working with the guest cast, especially my old Sergeant Sammy (Patrice Naiambana). This episode really challenged Naomi and I, that’s why it was my favourite.
How does Naomi find work on her home island?
Saint Barnabas locals have never really experienced a crime as severe as murder and Naomi has to take control of the investigation when her old Sergeant is usually the one in control. You see an interesting power dynamic emerge between the duo, with Naomi trying to navigate the tricky case whilst, at the same time, she is trying not to be in complete control whilst he is giving her the opportunity to do just that. Those scenes are my favourite scenes, as you see growth in Patrice’s character, too.
How does Saint Barnabas compare to Saint Marie?
Saint Barnabas is tiny in comparison to Saint Marie! The locals have never really experienced a crime like a murder before, as they usually deal with natural disasters. Also, as Saint Barnabas’ community is so small, everybody knows everybody, whereas Saint Marie is bigger, with many people coming and going constantly.
How do you think Naomi has grown from the last time we saw her?
Naomi is a lot more confident. When she first got there, she was excited, but very timid. Her aim was to impress the Inspector and do a good job, however she tended to overwork herself. Now, she has settled, her confidence has grown, and she is working with the Inspector more rather than under him. She seems a lot more settled and comfortable and is trying to do her best.
What have you learnt throughout your time on the show so far?
It’s not for the faint-hearted! This experience builds character because you are away from home for six months. I am also from a very tightknit community in Jamaica as my friends and my family are very close, and I have never been away from home or my dad for this long.
You get to learn things about yourself, what you do and don’t like, being in your own space and realising you’re okay on your own. You also experience different personalities which is always good because I want to be able to work everywhere with people from all over the world and from different cultural backgrounds. We have new people coming to set every two weeks, mostly from the UK, but different parts of the UK, so I get exposed to various personalities and backgrounds. I am from a tiny dot on the map, so it’s different. I have learnt how to work with other people because this job is an ensemble effort. This experience has thrown me in the deep end and has prepared me for the future I am anticipating. I am very grateful.
Have there been any challenging scenes to film this year?
The ‘Doomsday Preppers’ episode was challenging because the location was set in the woods, and it rained the whole time. Location wise, that wasn’t ideal, especially going down a hill in my sandals!
What’s your favourite Christmas tradition?
The food. Seeing a plethora of food. Everyone in Death in Paradise knows Shantol loves fried chicken!
What’s your favourite thing about Christmas?
Christmas is my favourite time of the year because everyone is so happy. People are kinder, more loving, and so are falling in love. People are gifting; they are giving and receiving. It’s a very bright time and that’s why I love it.
What’s the best Christmas gift you have ever received?
I have always looked forward to going to whoever’s house, whether it be my grandparents or aunts, seeing a lot of food on the table. I guess food is the gift.
I love gifting. I remember one year, my best friend loves to do Christmas dinners, so I went downtown and bought gifts for everyone who would be at dinner. They weren’t extravagant gifts; they were more personal.
How will you be spending Christmas this year?
I will be spending Christmas at home in Jamaica with my dad’s side of the family. We are in the process of deciding what meats to have and who is baking the cake! I am very excited as I haven’t been home for so long.
Tahj Miles (Officer Marlon Pryce)
How was returning to Guadeloupe for a second Christmas special and a new series?
It was great, it is always exciting to come back out here. When we get towards the end of the series, you are kind of missing home, but once you spend a couple of months at home, you miss Guadeloupe straight away. From the moment I got back here I had a smile on my face.
Doing another Christmas special was exciting, especially after seeing the viewing figures from last year. Last year was amazing but they have upped the levels this year! We cannot wait for everyone to watch it – it was great to film.
The Christmas special has quite a spooky storyline surrounding the historic case of a missing child, with Marlon having to sleep in a ‘haunted house’ – what can you tell us about it?
It’s interesting, because as much as it is a beautiful, caring and sentimental piece about family, it also doubles as a horror story too, with Marlon staying in a haunted house which I loved. It’s a nice hybrid between Christmas and a thriller. It works brilliantly, the scary elements incorporated in a Christmassy theme is something I have never seen done before!
Would you like to stay in a haunted house?
No, never, there is no way. There are some things I wouldn’t mind trying just to see what happens, but this is not one of those things. I kind of believe in paranormal activity, so I don’t want to be involved!
There’s an episode involving ‘Doomsday Preppers’ – what essentials would Marlon have in his end of the world bunker? What essentials would you have in yours?
Marlon would need a phone, whether he will have internet connection, though, I don’t know. The logistics of it aren’t quite clear. I feel like five minutes in a dark room doing nothing would be overwhelming for Marlon, I am not sure he would be able to handle it.
For myself, I don’t know. I don’t think I would need my phone as much as I think I would. If I could only pick one thing, I would need a notebook and a pen so I can write my thoughts or stories, or even just draw. I am terrible at drawing, but I think time in a bunker would help me improve.
We see Marlon working closely with Darlene this series, what is their working relationship like?
It’s cool because it is the first time Marlon has been the senior officer. When he worked with either JP, Dwayne or Naomi, he was always a rank below. Now, even though he is not a Sergeant, Darlene is a trainee which is what he used to be. He is not technically the senior officer on paper but in terms of experience he might know a little bit more than her, and he is definitely not in a position to be leading someone underneath him. He still needs a partner however, which he starts to learn as the series goes on.
At the beginning, he’s like “No, I’m the boss, I’m finally going to be the boss, I want people to understand I can be the boss”, but he then quickly realises he doesn’t really have the qualifications. Darlene is good at what she does when she comes in. She might have a few kinks to iron out when she first joins as she hasn’t done this before, but Marlon learns sometimes you’ve got to trust people the same way they trusted him. He used to be a criminal when he first got here! They trusted him with a lot of things when he first joined which they shouldn’t have, but he appreciated and respected it. It is only fair to do the same for Darlene.
Marlon is very keen to progress in the team and is aiming towards becoming a Sergeant – do you think he’s ready for that next step?
On paper, no way, he can’t be. I am always comparing him to JP, and he hasn’t had close to the experience he had. But there is more to being a police officer then what is in a book. Sometimes it’s about who you are as a person and what you can bring to the force. I think Marlon has a lot of qualities that could make him a very good Sergeant. How close he is to the Saint Marie community, the people he knows, the way he can think outside of the box and take shortcuts. If he can work on the academic side of the job, he could make a great Sergeant, but it is up to him.
What skills do you think Marlon has picked up from the other officers?
He has worked with three different senior officers now: Dwayne, JP and Naomi. Naomi is a very ‘by the book’ Police Officer as she hasn’t had any previous experience with murders before she came to Saint Marie. JP was a good balance; he had been on the island for a long time so understood how things worked. By knowing people like Marlon before he joined the force and being thorough with investigations, that’s how he ended up being a Sergeant.
Dwayne was a bit more of a loose cannon than Marlon, who would sometimes think of doing something outside the box but would hold off. Dwyane wouldn’t really think about it, he would just go off and do it.
What are your thoughts on the guest cast this series? Do you have a favourite?
The guest cast this series is amazing. There are some heavy hitters this year, including Jo Martin, Les Dennis and many more in the Christmas special. We have Gamba Cole in episode four who I worked with when I was sixteen in a theatre workshop. I have been watching his career since, he has progressed like crazy. It’s always great to have healthy competition of people we admire. We all want them to be great and to bring the best out of in all of us.
Have there been any challenging scenes to film this year?
There are challenging scenes every year, it wouldn’t necessarily be the scene itself, it could be where we are filming it. Episode one features astronomers watching an eclipse on a cliff. Filming on a cliff isn’t the easiest place - it was windy, hot and there were no clouds in sight. It was difficult as we couldn’t go too close to the edge, so we had to cheat where we were in terms of location, which as an actor is not the easiest things to do. But the scenes themselves are always good, written well with great characters. We can’t complain, because when we watch them on screen, they look fantastic. It is all worth it in the end.
What’s your favourite Christmas memory?
The first thing that pops into my head is when I was young, and it was a Christmas when I was ill. For Christmas in my family, it all depends on who is cooking and where the food is. This year, Christmas was not meant to be at my nan’s house, but I was there so she could take care of me. Everyone brought all the food to my nan’s house. They came into my room instead of eating in the front room. One thing I love about Christmas is family, and I feel that Christmas that year, even though I was ill, my family were all together.
What’s your favourite thing about Christmas?
Food. Being from a Caribbean family, Christmas time… actually, any weekend is a feast! Christmas time is when everyone chips in, even I have started learning to cook - I might make a little macaroni to put aside. As much as I love the family time, it’s the food which has to take the top spot.
What is the main dish?
There are too many! My mum’s speciality is duck, which is usually the main event of the meal. My nan will cook chicken six different ways and my auntie also makes a really nice coleslaw and prawn salad. There are leftovers for two weeks!
How will you be spending Christmas this year?
I don’t know what country I will be in. I am not sure if I’m staying in London with my nan or in the Caribbean, spending time with my Grandad. I know, wherever I am, there will be a lot of family there. It will be like a regular Christmas in my family, everyone will come to someone’s house with their food and music, it will be a great time.