TROUBLE in paradise

DON WARRINGTON on why Selwyn's determined to build bridges, being at the centre of a secret storyline and his Beyond Paradise namesake!

- WORDS: STEVEN PERKINS

DEATH IN PARADISE

FRIDAY, 9PM, BBC1 DRAMA

Since the very first episode of BBC1's whodunnit Death in Paradise in 2011, Commissioner Selwyn Patterson has been the backbone of the police force on the fictional Caribbean island of Saint Marie.

It’s virtually impossible to imagine the place without him, but that idea almost became a reality last year when the fan favourite - played by Don Warrington - learnt his position was being phased out in a restructuring. Mayor Catherine Bordey (Élizabeth Bourgine) roused the locals in a campaign to save his job, but although the decision was eventually reversed, Selwyn decided to take an extended break to visit his daughter Andrina in the UK.

Happily, he’s now back in sun-soaked Saint Marie and has resumed his duties. But as the new 15th series continues its eight-episode run this week, the Commissioner discovers that his absence has damaged his reputation, and he attempts to make amends.

Here, in an exclusive interview, Don, 74, tells TV Times why he is relishing this latest chapter for his character...

What did you make of the storyline last season that saw Selwyn at risk of losing his beloved job?

It was fun! It's very good to see a bit of the character's emotional life and his personal journey, not just being a policeman. I think it interests the audience quite a lot to learn about the person behind the uniform, as it were.

Did Death in Paradise devotees ask you if you were really leaving the show?

All the time! People were very concerned, but I was under strict instructions not to tell because we wanted the suspense to last as long as we could make it. It's out of the bag now, but until very recently, I was saying, 'I really can't tell you, I don't know...'