“The best series yet”: Inside Death in Paradise’s “modified” 16th series with “big surprise”

When a detective drama has been going for more than a decade, you often wonder if it’s already reached its peak, but it seems Death in Paradise certainly hasn’t. The beloved Caribbean-set series is on its way back for a slightly modified series 16, which is set to be its best yet - and, according to insiders, there’s a pretty big surprise in store.

You might remember that in series 15, DI Mervin Wilson (Don Gilet) was officially left in charge of his niece, Eloise (Avah Cotterell), and we’re set to see a slightly different side of our lead detective thanks to her increased presence in the new instalment. And while many other cast favourites are set to return (see the full list below) alongside them, we’re also anticipating some very special new arrivals - but more of that later.

While we patiently wait for Death in Paradise series 16 to arrive on our screens, here’s everything you need to know about the next instalment, including the plot details, cast and release date.

What is Death in Paradise about?

The long-running series, which made its debut on BBC One in 2011, takes us to the palm-fringed beaches and turquoise seas of the fictional Caribbean island of Saint Marie, a British Oversea Territory with a French colonial history. Over the course of 15 series, we’ve seen several stars take on the role of the show’s lead British detective, who, along with the local police team, solves a myriad of baffling murder cases. The stars have included Ben Miller (series 1-2), Kris Marshall (series 3-6), Ardal O’Hanlon (series 6-9), Ralf Little (series 9-13) and Don Gilet (series 10-15).

Interestingly, the series was inspired by the real-life murder area Bob Woolmer, the coach of the Pakistan national cricket team, in Saint Lucia. When creator Robert Thorogood heard about the suspicious events, which prompted the British police to send an officer to the Caribbean to help the local authorities with the investigation, it seemed like the perfect basis for a show. His theory has clearly proved correct, with the series still going strong more than a decade later.

What will happen in Death in Paradise series 16?

The new series will take us back to the sun-drenched shores of Saint Marie where DI Mervin Wilson (Don Gilet) has more compelling murder mysteries to solve. While specific plot details are yet to be revealed by the BBC, fans will remember that in series 15, Mervin met his brother and discovered he was a petty criminal and he was left in charge of his niece, Eloise (Avah Cotterell), when Solomon (Daniel Ward) went to prison.

According to TV Guide, Eloise is set to become more of a permanent fixture in the new series and bring out a side of the detective we haven’t seen before, suggesting we’re in for a slightly different series to usual. You might also remember that we were introduced to the newest member of the team Sergeant Mattie Flether who came with plenty of baggage and, in the series finale, received an ominous message from someone called Damone. Though we don’t know what it said, she wasn’t happy, and she threw it in the bin – and something tells us there’s more to that story.

Tim Key, Executive Producer at production company Red Planet Pictures, has also revealed that “something very special” is lined up for series 16, and that a "big surprise” will be set up in the Christmas special, which will air in December. What that surprise will be, we don’t know – but our guess would be that it's either the addition of a big-name guest star or the departure of one, though the latter might be a little traumatic for a Christmas special!

Lindsay Salt, Director of BBC Drama, says of the new series: "Death in Paradise is a global phenomenon and we are incredibly proud to have it on the BBC, where it goes from strength to strength. It's with great pleasure that we share the news that we'll be returning to Saint Marie for two more sun-soaked series and Christmas specials."

Tim added: “We remain incredibly proud of the show and the team that makes it, and delighted that the audience continue to love it as much as we do. The response to our latest series has been wonderful and we can't wait to get started again - we've got something very special lined up to kick off our 16th season.”

Who’s in the cast of Death in Paradise series 16?

The cast of Death in Paradise series 16 includes:

• Don Gilet (The Loch) as DI Mervin Wilson
• Don Warrington (Rising Damp)as Commissioner Selwyn Patterson
• Shantol Jackson (Yardie) as DS Naomi Thomas
• Shaquille Ali-Yebuah (Save Me)as Officer Sebastian Rose
• Catherine Garton (The War Between the Land and the Sea) as Sergeant Mattie Fletcher
• Élizabeth Bourgine (Widow’s Walk)as Catherine Bordey

Further guest stars are expected to be announced soon, so watch this space for more details as we have them.

How can I watch Death in Paradise series 16?

Death in Paradise series 16 will premiere on BBC One and BBC iPlayer in January 2027, following a Christmas special, which will air in December 2026. In the meantime, you can catch up on Death in Paradise series 1-15 on BBC iPlayer.

What other detective dramas can I watch now?

If you’re a Shetland fan, you’ll enjoy one of Douglas Henshall’s earlier detective dramas, Collision. The series takes us to the scene of a tragic road accident, and DI John Tolin (played by Douglas) is given the task of investigating, despite having only recently returned to work following a tragedy of his own. You can watch Collision now on ITVX. If you fancy something a little lighter, we’d recommend Murder in Provence, which whisks us off to the historic Aix-en-Provence in the South of France. Investigating judge Antoine Verlaque (Roger Allam) solves murder cases with his criminal psychologist girlfriend Marine Bonnet (Nancy Caroll) and we follow the pair as they interview suspects in quaint cafés and chase villains through lavish vineyards. Murder in Provence is available to watch on ITVX.