A stolen treasure map, a mermaid sighting and the death of a novelist… it could only be the fourth series of beloved detective drama Beyond Paradise! The beloved Death in Paradise spin-off is making its way back to our screens this March with something of a refreshed instalment and it’s set to be the comeback of the year - not least because some of our favourite stars of Sherwood and Downton Abbey are coming together for it.
The next instalment will take us back to the fictional Devon town of Shipton Abbott, where DI Humphrey Goodman (Kris Marshall) is back to doing what he does best - solving some of the most baffling - and quirkiest - crimes around. And he’s far from alone, as series 4 will see the likes of Sherwood’s Andrea Lowe, Downton Abbey’s Rachel Cassidy, and Happy Valley’s Rina Mahoney join the glittering cast of guest stars.
While we patiently wait for its arrival on our screens later this month, here’s everything we know about the fourth series of Beyond Paradise, including the plot, cast and how to watch it.
What is Beyond Paradise about?
As you've probably gathered by now, the series is a spin-off of the long-running detective drama Death in Paradise. Set in the fictional Devon town of Shipton Abbott, the drama follows DI Humphrey Goodman (Kris Marshall) and his fiancée Martha Lloyd (Sally Bretton) and picks up after their will-they-won’t-they romance reached its emotional finale in Death in Paradise in 2017.
The pair are now in Martha’s hometown near the beautiful Devonshire coast, where Martha sets out to pursue her dream of running her own restaurant and Humphrey joins the local police force. And boy, does he have his work cut out, with a series of baffling cases to crack in the not-so-sleepy town. Think an entire family disappearing without a trace, the robbery of a highly prized painting, a serial arsonist with a seeming distaste for local businesses.
At the end of series 3, Humphrey solved the case of a kidnapped nurse and he and Martha said a bittersweet goodbye to their foster child, Rosie, when her mum was ready to take her home. It was an entertaining yet emotional finale that paved the away for another brilliant series.
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What will happen in Beyond Paradise series 4?
According to the BBC, new mysteries and puzzling cases await DI Humphrey Goodman and the team in Shipton Abbott. Our favourite characters, DI Humphrey Goodman (Kris Marshall) and Martha (Sally Bretton) are once again returning, but the series is seemingly being given a bit of a refresh with the arrival of a huge (see below if you don’t believe us) roster of guest stars. As for the crime-solving, the quirky cases are being taken to the next level.
According to the BBC’s official synopsis: “Fact and folklore blur as they investigate the death of a novelist who predicted their demise, a magical night of Dark Morris that soon turns sour, a stolen treasure map that suddenly reappears, and the alleged sighting of a vengeful mermaid lurking out at sea.
“DI Humphrey Goodman (Kris Marshall) and Martha (Sally Bretton) launch into married life as they search for a new home, whilst Humphrey wrestles with an impossible decision that may change the lives of everyone at the station forever.”
Who’s in the cast of Beyond Paradise series 4?
The main cast of Beyond Paradise series 4 includes:
- Kris Marshall
- Sally Bretton
- Zahra Ahmadi
- Dylan Llewellyn
- Barbara Flynn
- Felicity Montagu
- Jamie Bamber
- Melina Sinadinou
- Eva Feiler
- Phil Daniels
Meanwhile, a host of exciting guest stars are joining the cast, including:
- Andrea Lowe (Sherwood)
- Rachel Cassidy (Downton Abbey)
- Susan George (Straw Dogs)
- Colin McFarlane (The War Between the Land and the Sea)
- Michael Cochrane (The Archers)
- Melanie Walters (Gavin & Stacey)
- Vincent Franklin (The War Between the Land and the Sea)
- Alex Macqueen (The Inbetweeners)
- Tristan Sturrock (Poldark)
- Emily Stott (Foundation)
- Rina Mahoney (Happy Valley)
- Susan Penhaligon (A Fine Romance)
- James Clay (MobLand)
- Kenneth Collard (Cuckoo)
- Narinda Samra (Ackley Bridge)
Is Beyond Paradise any good?
Yes, it’s better than good. It’s witty, escapist and very easy to watch… for many, many hours if you’re not careful. Viewers have called the writing and acting “excellent” and described it as a series “that helps switch your brain off”. The only thing it’s missing is cocktails and white sand beaches, but you can always turn to the original series, Death in Paradise, for that.
How can I watch the new series of Beyond Paradise?
Beyond Paradise series 4 will premiere at 8pm on Friday 27th March on BBC One and BBC iPlayer. In the meantime, you can catch up on series 1-3 on BBC iPlayer.
What other good detective dramas can I watch now?
For a series you’ll keep returning to, we’d highly recommend The Brokenwood Mysteries. Detective Senior Sergeant Mike Shepherd (Neill Rea) and Detective Kristin Sims (Fern Sutherland) are the unlikely detectives who team up to investigate everything from vineyard deaths to local scandals and stag party disappearances. It’s entertaining, quirky, and just a little bit addictive. You can watch The Brokenwood Mysteries on U. For another great detective drama, try The Game. The series introduces us to Huw Miller (Jason Watkins), a police detective who’s haunted by the unsolved case of a stalker-serial killer who wreaked havoc in his town, as well as the new neighbour, Patrick Harbottle (Robson Green) who he believes did it. You can watch The Game on Channel 5.
