Beyond Paradise: Everything we know about series 5 after emotional S4 ending
There were highs and lows in the season finale
Beyond Paradise series 4 has come to a bittersweet ending, with highs and lows for the Shipton Abbott crew, but will there be a series 5?
This Friday (May 01, 2026), fans waited with trepidation to find out who – if anyone – would be leaving the police force. But, as we’d hoped, a secret plan was put into action. And although there was a happy ending for most, there were some tears as one popular character left the Devon village.
Here’s the emotional ending of Beyond Paradise series 4 unpacked, and news on the upcoming series 5.
***Warning: spoilers from the Beyond Paradise series 4 finale ahead***
What happened in the Beyond Paradise series 4 ending?
It was touch and go for a while, but no one was forced to leave the Shipton Abbott police department in Beyond Paradise series 4. Fans of the show were appalled when slimy James Smith, Humphrey’s superior officer, announced that the team needed to make some staff cutbacks… And it was down to poor Humphrey to choose one person to axe.
Of course, the always lovely Humphrey decided to give up his job to save his colleagues from unemployment. In the final episode of series 4, the DI prepared himself for his departure.
However, his mother-in-law Anne had other ideas and turned detective herself, with a little help from her daughter Martha. Having smelt a fish about James Smith’s behaviour, she started snooping into the police files and even followed him.
She discovered that the corrupt official was having an affair with DI Janet Wilson from Heston Morley police station. In short, Mr Smith’s budget decisions had been driven by his willy. He’d effectively stolen money from the Shipton Abbott budget to gift to DI Janet Wilson’s station.
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With her armful of evidence, Anne called an emergency meeting with the police and crime panel. Little toerag James didn’t stand a chance. He was dismissed, and Humphrey was reinstated with immediate effect – along with the ‘missing’ budget.
Did Esther and Archie get together?
Elsewhere, Zoe went travelling for eight months, leaving mum Esther feeling pretty low. That was until Zoe left her mum one parting gift – a meeting place and a time marked on a map. When she arrived at the spot at the appointed time, Archie turned up shortly afterwards. Zoe’s message was loud and clear. They belonged together. In very sweet scenes, Esther admitted how she really felt about Archie.
Of course, he was mad about her, too. And they sealed their reignited relationship with a kiss. FINALLY!
Meanwhile, Humphrey sold the Lily Bond boat to Marvelous Harris. With the money, Humphrey planned to fix the roof on their new house, and truly commit to living there.
Is there a series 5 of Beyond Paradise?
Although BBC One hasn’t yet confirmed a series 5 of Beyond Paradise, lead actor Kris Marshall has!
The 53-year-old actor revealed that cast and crew are about to start filming the next set of episodes. Appearing on Chris Evans’ TFI Friday Unplugged, Kris let slip: “We’re about to start shooting season five.”
This followed host Chris’ comments that the character of Humphrey Goodman is a “square peg in a round hole”, which makes the show “fun”.
When Chris probed for more intel, the Beyond Paradise star insisted he wouldn’t be giving away any “any spoilers”, as they “haven’t even written it yet”.
Read more: Who was Lionel Lepage? BBC One honours him in touching Death in Paradise end-of-credits tribute
