Death in Paradise actor Shaquille Ali-Yebuah has shared a chilling behind-the-scenes story that nearly brought his time on the beloved BBC drama to a premature end. The 30-year-old star, who plays Officer Sebastian 'Seb' Rose, appeared on BBC Morning Live with presenters Greg Rutherford and Janette Manrara to discuss the show's milestone 15th series, which premiered on Friday 30th January.
A Shocking Shower Incident on a Tropical Island
During the interview, Shaquille recounted a terrifying encounter with a dangerous creature while filming on location in Guadeloupe, the French Caribbean island where Death in Paradise is shot. The actor described the moment he came face-to-face with a Scolopendra gigantea, a giant poisonous centipede known for its potentially lethal bite.
"I was getting ready to go to the wrap party and I was in the shower, you know, playing some good old jazz music, having the time of my life," Shaquille explained. "And I felt like this sharp knife thing, like I got cut and I looked down, it's a big Scolopendra just on my leg."
"My Legacy Was Nearly Over"
The actor expressed genuine fear about the incident's potential consequences. "I don't know how I didn't feel it crawling up and it was nearly the end, my legacy was nearly over, you know, if it kept crawling, who knows..." he told the visibly concerned presenters. Shaquille emphasised the creature's dangerous reputation, noting that bites can send victims into shock and require hospital treatment.
When Janette Manrara asked what he did next, Shaquille described a frantic response: "So I looked at it, obviously slapped it off, tried to stamp it out, you can't do that because they survive all of that, you actually, you have to cut it in half, they say. And then even then it still moves."
An Unusual First Aid Solution
The actor's ordeal didn't end with removing the creature. He detailed how he sought immediate advice from his colleagues through the Death in Paradise group chat. "I jumped out fully soaked up looking for scissors, caught myself in the mirror 'I look good', continue to get the scissors, but they apparently have to pour rum on the wound in order for it to go down because I went straight to the Death in Paradise group chat, 'Guys, they got me. What do I do?'"
Following this unconventional first aid advice, Shaquille confirmed: "Yeah, pour rum on it and then it goes down after a while, but it was very painful, man!" The incident highlights the unexpected dangers actors face while filming in tropical locations, even during routine moments like preparing for a wrap party.
The frightening encounter serves as a reminder of the real risks behind the glamour of television production in exotic locations. Despite the scare, Shaquille Ali-Yebuah continues his role in the popular drama, with series 15 now airing on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.
