Raising the BAR!

ÉLIZABETH BOURGINE on why Catherine is the beating heart of the sun-soaked whodunnit

- 

DEATH IN PARADISE FRIDAY, 9PM, BBC1 DRAMA

Detective inspectors come and go in BBC1's Caribbean-set crime drama Death in Paradise. However, there's one constant we can always rely on: local mayor and bar owner Catherine Bordey (Élizabeth Bourgine) dispensing delicious cocktails and good advice in equal measure.

Her wisdom is required once again as the 14th run continues this week and her close friend Police Commissioner Selwyn Patterson (Don Warrington) struggles with the news that his job is being phased out due to cutbacks, and takes his frustrations out on his officers. Realising that he is behaving unkindly, Catherine decides to have a stern word with the dedicated cop, but will she be able to get through to him? In an exclusive video interview with TV Times from her home in Paris, Élizabeth, 67, who has been a firm favourite with fans since the first series in 2011, reveals why playing the character still brings her so much joy...

So, how does Catherine approach Selwyn about his behaviour, Élizabeth?

I don’t think she’s ever been more angry than she is here – even Selwyn is surprised! He doesn’t want to listen to anyone, but he has to listen to Catherine because she knows him so well. She’s his best friend, so she is always trying to help him. It’s a lovely moment, and you will see in later episodes this series that she will be the one who will have to push him to react to different things.

Was it exciting to have the chance to work with Don Warrington on this storyline?