The festive season in Shipton Abbott is set to take an emotional turn as the Beyond Paradise Christmas special airs this Sunday on BBC One. Detective Humphrey Goodman, played by Kris Marshall, will be confronted by a haunting figure from his past, promising a heartwarming and mysterious holiday tale.
A Mysterious Visitor with a Photograph
The plot kicks off when DS Esther Williams, portrayed by Zahra Ahmadi, discovers an elderly man on the steps of the local police station. The man, suffering from memory loss, is clutching a single, poignant clue: a photograph of Humphrey Goodman. This mysterious individual is David Haleton, played by acclaimed actor Adrian Edmondson.
Discussing the deeply personal nature of the case, Kris Marshall revealed the storyline's impact. "It's such a personal story for Humphrey," he said. "A man turns up on his doorstep with a picture, and we're not sure why, but it soon becomes a deeply touching story." Marshall added that the eventual reason the man has the photograph makes the narrative "especially personal" and results in a "very Christmassy story that warms the cockles."
Familiar Faces and Festive Cheer
Adrian Edmondson is no stranger to the Death in Paradise universe, having previously appeared in the first episode of series nine as Charles Crabtree, a witness to an attack alongside Detective Jack Mooney (Ardal O'Hanlon). His return marks a clever nod for long-time fans.
The guest cast for this year's festive special has been widely praised. Zahra Ahmadi highlighted the joy of working with them, saying, "Every one of our festive special guest cast this year, Adrian Edmondson, James Lance too, has really felt like a natural extension of the series - it was a joy to work with them all." She also gave a special mention to Johnny Weldon, who plays Margo's nephew, for bringing great humour to the set.
Martha's Secret Plan and a Potential Wedding
Meanwhile, Humphrey's personal life is also in the spotlight. Martha, played by Sally Bretton, is orchestrating a major surprise for him with the help of Anne, Zoe, and a mystery guest. Preview images have tantalisingly shown the pair dressed in wedding attire, leaving viewers to wonder: will Humphrey and Martha finally tie the knot?
The official synopsis sets the scene for a busy Christmas in Shipton Abbott. As the team works to uncover David Haleton's identity, they must also balance "a flurry of festive cases." At the same time, Kelby finds himself trying to help a man trapped inside a snowman costume.
With an influx of unexpected visitors, holiday crimes to solve, and a potential life-changing event on the horizon, the team faces the ultimate festive juggling act. The Beyond Paradise Christmas special airs on Sunday at 9pm on BBC One.
