Death in Paradise series 15 welcomes 'sassy' new recruit Sergeant Mattie Fletcher, played by Catherine Garton
'There's definitely something of a rebel in Mattie'
Death in Paradise series 15 will be bittersweet for fans as one Saint Marie police officer will be missing, albeit replaced with refreshing new recruit Sergeant Mattie Fletcher, played by Catherine Garton.
This month, BBC One confirmed that long-standing cast member Ginny Holder would not be returning as Officer Darlene Curtis.
Instead, fans of the detective drama will be introduced to a “sassy” and “passionate” new officer. Detective Sergeant Naomi Thomas and Officer Sebastian Rose help new recruit Sergeant Mattie Fletcher settle into the fold… Which might be easier said than done as “shadows from her past” begin to reveal themselves.
Here’s everything you need to know about Death in Paradise’s Sergeant Mattie Fletcher, played by Catherine Garton.
Who is Sergeant Mattie Fletcher in Death in Paradise series 15?
Viewers are introduced to a new member of the team in episode one of Death in Paradise series 15. Talking about her character, Don Gilet – who plays DI Mervin Wilson – describes her as “rebellious”.
He said: “There’s definitely something of a rebel in Mattie. We haven’t had that rebellious element, really. She’s a bit younger, probably a similar age, give or take, to Officer Seb Rose. But she’s seen a lot more. Mattie is a sergeant and she’s more experienced and is always on the front foot. Whereas Seb is going through his rookie stripes. It’s great seeing how the two of them connect. There’s a nurturing side as well as a rebellious side. She’s a great addition to the team.”
Meanwhile, Officer Sebastian Rose actor Shaquille Ali-Yebuah added: “Seb and Mattie have a certain understanding and a bit of a big sister, little brother relationship. She’s very confident and knows what she wants. Seb is similar in that respect, so it’s great to see that duo together, that mixture of personalities. They have a lot of fun together.”
Mattie Fletcher is ‘tenacious’ and really fun to play in Death in Paradise
Talking about joining the cast of popular crime drama Death in Paradise, actress Catherine Garton described her first experiences on set.
She said: “I loved it. Everyone was really welcoming. Before going to Guadeloupe, I didn’t quite know what to anticipate, then it exceeded any expectations I could have had. I love the island. Guadeloupe is like a postcard. It’s quite unreal. Every time I walked out I was like ‘this exists, wow!’. It’s absolutely stunning. Everyone’s nice. I love the culture. The food’s great. Everyone I work with is great. I don’t have any complaints!”
Talking about her character Sergeant Mattie Fletcher, she added: “She’s tenacious, and really fun to play. She’s sassy, but she’s like your big sister who will tell you what’s what. But you can also come to her if you need to. You can have a laugh with her. She’s very passionate about things, about her work and about the people that she grows to love, especially in the team. She’s also very determined, almost too determined sometimes…”
Although she found meeting the cast and crew “intimidating at first”, she said “everyone was just so nice and so welcoming”.
Who is actress Catherine Garton and what has she been in before?
The role of Mattie is easily Catherine Garton’s biggest role to date. The London-born actress has been on our screens since 2022, when she played Kelly Devine in the comedy film Three Day Millionaire.
Since then, she’s portrayed Talulah in The Gray House, Kelly in Ibiza Narcos, and Corporal Jane Hart in The War Between the Land and the Sea.
Catherine said: “It was intimidating at first, because this is the biggest kind of role I’ve ever had. But everyone was just so nice and so welcoming. I remember the first time I saw Shantol and the biggest smile ever. I feel like I have family there now.”
Meanwhile, Detective Sergeant Naomi Thomas actress Shantol Jackson added: “I love Catherine Garton who plays Mattie. She’s a lovely addition to the team, and I’m sure the fun we had on set will reflect on camera. But I think Mattie is what Naomi would have liked to be – this fearless go-getter, unafraid to take risks.”
Hilariously, Catherine was shopping when she found out she’d got the role. She revealed: “I was in TK Maxx! I was in the shoe section, one shoe off, sliding another one on and my agent called me and told me. It was a moment!”
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