Detective FRICTION!

SHANTOL JACKSON and DON GILET on the troubled times ahead for their top cops Naomi and Mervin I

- 

DEATH IN PARADISE NEW FRIDAY, 9PM, BBC1 DRAMA

It's traditional for a new detective inspector in Death in Paradise to struggle with adjusting to life on the fictional Caribbean island of Saint Marie. But prickly Mervin Wilson, played by former EastEnders star Don Gilet, may be having the bumpiest start so far... As BBC1's sun-soaked crime drama returns for a 14th series this week, Mervin is preparing to return to London following his brief secondment to the island's police force to solve a single case at Christmas.

He's glad to be going home, and dedicated DS Naomi Thomas (Shantol Jackson) and the team won't miss his condescending big-city attitude. But when the murder of a cyclist grabs his attention, Mervin decides to stick around for a few more days - much to Naomi's dismay! TV Times brought Don, 58, and Shantol, 32, in for questioning to find out more...

Mervin has made it clear he doesn't intend to stay in Saint Marie. Is there much chance of him changing his mind?

DON At the start, he's heading out of there, and that's it - it's a done deal! But there is something quite profound that keeps him there, and, over time, you'll find that out. Of course, he's going to lock horns with the others because he works at a different tempo, and things don't happen to his preferred pace in Saint Marie! Until he gets to a point where he's relaxed about that, there's always going to be some kickback from his colleagues. We'll see how long they put up with him for, because he is quite annoying! But it's only because he's brusque and he wants to do his job quickly.