Actor's Best Role? Playing Dead in Paradise!

The creator of the beloved BBC One series Death in Paradise has humorously declared that playing a corpse is the ultimate role on television. He suggested that aspiring actors should aim to play dead, promising a Caribbean getaway and leisure time after minimal on-screen work.

The popular murder mystery series, which began in 2011, has secured a renewal for at least two additional seasons, extending its broadcast through season 17. This renewal also includes two more Christmas specials.

Writing for the show, however, presents significant challenges. The creator explained that structuring the one-hour format requires killing someone at the beginning and catching the murderer by the end, consuming a substantial portion of the script before the main narrative can unfold.

He noted the difficulty in balancing the mystery's complexity, the characters' warmth, and ensuring detectives are both likeable and competent. While he remains an executive producer, he stepped back from scriptwriting after 11 series to focus on adapting his Marlow Murder Club books.

Discussing the "cosy crime" genre, he finds it a welcome escape from real-world chaos, offering vicarious thrills in beautiful, contained settings. He highlighted the genre's unique tone, where deaths are handled delicately, and the world is heightened for entertainment, keeping the overall feel frothy and fun.