The latest festive special of BBC One's long-running detective drama, Death In Paradise, took a surprising detour from its sun-drenched Caribbean setting, opening not on the fictional island of Saint Marie but within a prefabricated office unit on a Swindon industrial estate.
A Chilly Start in Wiltshire
For a series synonymous with brilliant sunshine and lapping waves, the initial scenes offered a stark contrast. Viewers were plunged into a mundane office meeting under flickering ceiling lights, with the only hint of tropical ambiance coming from the sound of a water cooler. The show's former commissioner, Selwyn Patterson (Don Warrington), even appeared clad in an overcoat and scarf, a far cry from his usual bemedalled police uniform.
This Swindon-set premise, while a novel twist, prompted questions about whether a light-hearted crime series dubbed 'Death In Swindon' would find a substantial audience. However, the plot quickly pivoted back to more familiar territory when a body was discovered floating in a villa pool 5,000 miles away on Saint Marie.
A Transatlantic Puzzle Unfolds
The 90-minute special presented a classic Death In Paradise conundrum, made more complex by its geographical split. The victim was one of four executives from the Swindon office enjoying a holiday at the villa. The intrigue deepened with the revelation that no gunshot was heard, and the ultimate twist was that while the corpse was in the Caribbean, the murder weapon remained in Wiltshire.
The investigation became a simultaneous effort, solved on opposite sides of the Atlantic by Selwyn Patterson in the UK and the show's newest lead, Inspector Mervin Wilson (Don Gilet), in the West Indies. This dual-resolution format provided a fresh dynamic for the series.
Familiar Faces and Festive Spirit
Seasoned viewers may have suspected the culprit early on. When office receptionist Marjorie removed her bobble hat to reveal herself as actress Josie Lawrence, it followed the show's convention where the best-known guest star often turns out to be the killer. The solution—that the lonely staff member who didn't join the office trip was the perpetrator—was satisfyingly improbable.
The episode also delved into Inspector Wilson's character, a neurotic British detective still adjusting to island life. His self-obsessed melancholy peaked when he abruptly left a nativity service for a non-urgent phone call. However, Officer Seb Rose (Shaquille Ali-Yebuah) saved the festive mood with a joyful display of Christmas spirit, including a humorous song-and-dance TikTok appeal for a missing person.
The special concluded on a high note with Commissioner Patterson reinstated to his former role, a development sure to please long-term fans and serving as a genuine Christmas treat. This ambitious, location-hopping episode proved that even when it starts in Swindon, Death In Paradise knows how to deliver a puzzling murder with a heartwarming conclusion.
