Death in Paradise season 12 potential release date, plot and cast

Death in Paradise season 11 enjoyed a bit of a shakeup to the detective team fans have come to know and love. The departure of Joséphine Jobert's DS Florence Cassell put an end to the will-they-won't-they saga between her and Neville Parker (Ralf Little).

Now, the newest recruit Sergeant Naomi Thomas (Shantol Jackson) has taken on the role of DS after proving that she is exactly what Neville and the team need.

We've also seen the return of Darlene Curtis (played by Ginny Holder) who joins the team as a voluntary police officer. Holder's character was last seen on the show in 2018.

naomi thomas, marlon pryce, death in paradise, season 11

BBC

Fans seem to have welcomed the changes with some taking to Twitter to express their delight.

"Aw yeah! Darlene will be a great fit with the team, love that for her and for us. #DeathInParadise," said one viewer.

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Another added:

"Wow....best series ever....love the new team. Great team and love Darlene."

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And…

"First @deathinparadise without Josie which was a bit weird but another great episode solving crimes with Ralf Little, Tahj D Miles, Jackson Shantol, Don Warrington, Liz Bourgine, DIP Harry Lizard, Ginny Holder."

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But what other changes are in store for season 12? Here's everything we know.

ralf little as di neville parker, naomi thomas, marlon pryce, death in paradise, season 11

BBC

Death in Paradise season 12 potential release date: When will it air on BBC?

Fans will be pleased to learn that the BBC has already given the green light for season 12 of Death in Paradise. The series was commissioned back in 2021 alongside the 11th.

In a press release, the 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."

BBC Commissioning Editor Tommy Bulfin also added: "We're really proud of Death in Paradise and know how popular it is with viewers, offering some much-needed escapism as well as compelling whodunnits and deeply satisfying plot twists. We hope audiences enjoy the tenth-anniversary series starting tonight, and they have lots to look forward to with series 11 and 12."

The show usually films for several months out of the year, but it hasn't started filming again just yet. Don Warrington, who plays Commissioner Selwyn Patterson in the series, opened up about when they might be going back.

He told Radio Times: "We're still in England, we haven't started yet. I think we start sometime in May. So I don't know what we will do when we get out there."

Of course, May is well underway now, but there is still no news about whether filming for season 12 has started. If production begins soon, then we'd hope to see the next season by early 2023.

Fingers crossed.

Death in Paradise season 12 cast: Who's coming back?

Sadly, we know season 11 was the last for Josephine's Florence. In a Twitter post, Josephine said goodbye to fans and her character, writing: "Well, that's it. Here we are. It's the big departure for Florence. Some of you had already felt for a long time that this was going to happen. So congratulations. You are the real detectives. You should come to Saint Marie to take my place. You would do an amazing job for sure."

She added: "When I left at the end of series eight I thought it would be for good. And then I was asked if I would like to come back and I said yes but I knew deep down that it wouldn't be forever.

"It was important to me to accompany Florence to the end of her journey and make sure she would be ok. And now it's done. I know it's weird to say but I know she's fine and she's really going to move on so I can say goodbye to her and let her go. It's a beautiful page that is turned."

ralf little as di neville parker, ds florence cassell, death in paradise, season 11

BBC

Addressing her fans, cast and crew alike, she said: "I have learnt a lot over the past few years and I've met wonderful people. I will never forget the great adventure that it was. So thanks to everyone that trusted me and gave me the chance to be on the show and thank you.

"Thank you for all the love and support you [have given] me since the very, very first day. It means a lot. I love you. Take care. Long live Death in Paradise."

Those hoping for her return might be sad at the finality of her words, but hey, she may make a guest appearance or two later on down the road. Here's to holding on to hope.

Little certainly wants that to happen.

"Josie’s a touch of class, a wonderful actor, charming, wonderful in the character and generally people have liked my stint at the helm of this show, I hope, but I think I was very very lucky to have Josie and for Neville to have that relationship with Florence," the actor said (via Hello!).

"I think together, the audience really responded well to them and it made my job easier to try and become someone the audiences took to. Obviously, I was devastated to see her go and if she wants to come back for a reunion episode, that would be fantastic."

Jobert is up for a reunion, though maybe not in season 12 (via Hello!o).

"Production was so nice! They told me, 'We're not going to kill you off, just in case one day you want to come back and say hello, not as a ghost but as a living person! […] Why not! Maybe not next year because it'd be too soon," she said. "People are going to be like, 'What is she doing? Leaving, coming back, leaving, coming back. Like, girl!' But maybe in a few years, yeah, why not."

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As mentioned, we know that Don Warrington will be returning as Commissioner Selwyn Patterson since he talked to Radio Times about when filming might begin.

Ralf Little also confirmed his return as DI Neville Parke following the season-11 finale, tweeting: "Thanks to everyone for watching @DeathInParadise series 11. It is a privilege to play Neville and lead this fantastic show, and it gives me great pleasure to confirm I'll be returning to Saint Marie for series 12."

He recently opened up about where his character might go in season 12, telling Hello!: "Be wary of the detectives being too happy, if they’re too happy there’s nowhere else for them to go… but it would be really lovely. One thing Tim Key, our exec, loves winds me up about is that he never ever wants Neville to look too cool.

"And I’m like, 'Come on man!' At the weekends I’m an adrenaline junkie, I scuba dive, snorkelling and jet skiing, all this great stuff you can do in the Caribbean. So I’d suggest, 'Maybe Neville could be on a jet ski?' And Tim’s like, 'NOT a chance,' it’s now a running joke where he is obsessed with never letting me look cool."

Ginny Holder's Darlene Curtis and Shantol Jackson's Naomi Thomas are highly likely to make it to season 12 given their recent return and promotion respectively. As are Elizabeth Bourgine as Catherine Bordey and Tahj Miles as Officer Marlon Pryce.

Death in Paradise season 12 plot: What will happen?

Well, not a 'JoseVille' romance, that's for sure, but maybe love could be in the air for Neville Parker? Fans can also look forward to the usual jaw-dropping twist the show is known for. Neville's sister Izzy has arrived in Saint Marie after unanswered messages prompted her to drop in and surprise Neville.

ralf little as di neville parker, izzy parker, death in paradise, season 11

BBC

While it's not been confirmed how long she will be staying, Elizabeth has revealed (via Hello!) that her character (Mayoress Catherine Bordey) and Izzy will have "an important storyline together this season".

It's possible that this juicy storyline could spill over into season 12!

Whatever happens, don’t expect season 12 to go easy on Neville.

"Be wary of the detectives being too happy, if they’re too happy there’s nowhere else for them to go… but it would be really lovely. One thing Tim Key, our exec, loves winds me up about is that he never ever wants Neville to look too cool," Little said (via Hello).

"And I’m like, 'Come on man!' At the weekends I’m an adrenaline junkie, I scuba dive, snorkeling and jet skiing, all this great stuff you can do in the Caribbean. So I’d suggest, 'Maybe Neville could be on a jet ski?' And Tim’s like, 'NOT a chance,' it’s now a running joke where he is obsessed with never letting me look cool."

"We’re already talking about this guy lucky enough to be living in paradise, he needs some hardship! He’s not conquered them, they still exist, but he’s on a subtle and lovely journey and once he had that sort, to find love with this charming, charismatic, intelligent and beautiful woman it’d be like, oh come on."

Death in Paradise season 12 trailer: When can I watch it?

While fans can revel in the confirmation of a 12th season, it'll be a while before a trailer will be made available. However, make sure you stay tuned to Digital Spy as we'll update you as soon as one lands.

Death in Paradise series 11 airs on BBC One on Friday at 9pm. It's also available to stream on BBC iPlayer.

BBC Death In Paradise - Series 11 [DVD] [2022]

£10 at Amazon

Memmo Request a personalised video message from Ralf Little

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Credit: Memmo/Ralf Little

BBC Death In Paradise - Series 10 (Includes 4 Exclusive Postcards) [DVD] [2021]

£10 at Amazon

2 Entertain Death In Paradise - Series 9 (Includes 6 Exclusive Postcards) [DVD] [2019]

£9 at Amazon

TV writer, Digital Spy Janet completed her Masters degree in Magazine Journalism in 2013 and has continued to grow professionally within the industry ever since. For six years she honed her analytical reviewing skills at the Good Housekeeping institute eventually becoming Acting Head of Food testing. She also freelanced in the field of film and TV journalism from 2013-2020, when she interviewed A-List stars such as Samuel L Jackson, Colin Firth and Scarlett Johansson. In 2021 she joined Digital Spy as TV writer where she gets to delve into more of what she loves, watching copious amounts of telly all in the name of work. Since taking on the role she has conducted red carpet interviews with the cast of Bridgerton, covered the BAFTAs and been interviewed by BBC Radio and London Live. In her spare time she also moonlights as a published author, the book Gothic Angel.