Death in Paradise series 15: Final episode sees Claudie Blakley and Nicholas Burns guest star in the cast
An eccentric monster hunter is found dead, while Merv adapts to his new visitor
Death in Paradise series 15 comes to a bittersweet end with episode 8 this week, and the finale of the detective drama welcomes some familiar faces to the cast.
Tonight (Friday, March 27, 2026), both Claudie Blakley and Nicholas Burns guest star as DI Mervin Wilson tackles a new mystery on Saint Marie. The body of Giles, an eccentric monster hunter, is recovered from the sea. Weirdly, his body bears injuries that are oddly suggestive of the legendary creature he’s spent years chasing – the Lusca.
Meanwhile, the unexpected visit from his niece Eloise turns Mervin’s life upside down. Here’s who plays who in the cast of the Death in Paradise series 15 finale.
Death in Paradise series 15 episode 8 cast: Claudie Blakley as Cara Smart
Berkshire-born Claudie Blakley, 52, guest stars as Cara Smart in the cast of Death in Paradise this week. She’s from famous stock, too – her mum is EastEnders actress Lin Blakley (aka Pam Coker), while her late dad was Tremeloes member Alan.
On TV, Claudie is probably most famous for playing Mrs Devine and later Mrs Sullivan in Father Brown, a role she’s played since 2023. Period drama fans will also know her as Emma Timmins in the 2008 to 2011 Lark Rise to Candleford.
The actress has been on our screens since the 90s, when she appeared in No Bananas, and Touching Evil. In the early 200os, Claudie played Abi in Mr Charity, Kelly Powell in Playing the Field, Kate Carter in Ed Stone is Dead, and Jules Chapman in Vital Signs. She dabbled with costume dramas again in 2007’s Cranford, and its second series in 2009.
Other notable roles include Agatha Redmond in Grantchester, Louise Sutton in Martin Clunes drama Manhunt, and Jess in 2022’s Man vs. Bee and the 2025 sequel Man vs. Baby. She’s been in multiple films, too, including Pride & Prejudice, Gosford Park, and the 2010 TV movie Lennon Naked in which she played John Lennon’s first wife Cynthia.
Nicholas Burns as Rory Lyons
Derby-born actor Nicholas Burns, 48, stars as Rory Lyons in the cast of Death in Paradise series 15 episode 8. Comedy fans will probably know him best for his funny roles in Absolute Power, No Heroics, and the 2005 Channel 4 show Nathan Barley. Nicholas starred as the leading character in the off-the-wall comedy series by Chris Morris and Charlie Brooker. Set in Hosegate, it focused on the “twits, buffoons, imbeciles, gufftraps and fools” living in the metropolitan borough.
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Other well known TV comedy appearances include Man Stroke Woman, Roman’s Empire, and Marley’s Ghosts. Between 2007 and 2014, Nicholas starred as Martin Weedon in the Solana Resort sitcom Benidorm, before he moved on to play Ben in Uncle.
More recently, he’s proved himself in serious dramas, too. Nicholas portrayed Anthony Nutting in The Crown, DI Richard Ambrose in Manhunt, Lord Leadsom in Harlots, Victor Kugler in A Small Light, and Antoine de Bourbon in The Serpent Queen. In 2024, he portrayed Emily Maitlis’ husband Mark Gwynne in A Very Royal Scandal, and this year he starred as Elliot in The Girlfriend. He will soon appear in Unforgotten series 7.
Nicholas has been in plenty of films, too, including Paddington in Peru, The Lady in the Van, Ghost Stories, and The Little Stranger.
Toby Williams stars as Giles Parry
Comic actor Toby Williams guest stars Giles Parry, an eccentric monster hunter in the Death in Paradise series 15 finale. Sadly he turns up dead.
Stand-up comedian Toby performs as both himself and his alter-ego Dr George Ryegold on stage. Although he has popped up in multiple TV shows, we’d be surprised if you didn’t recognise him as the vet in the Specsavers advert. He famously gave CPR to a cat called Phoebe before calling his colleague Karen to help with a “cat with no pulse”. Actually it was Karen’s furry hat which she’d accidentally left on the counter. As ads go, it was very well done.
Over his 25 TV career, Toby has appeared in Agatha Raisin, Bull, Raised by Wolves, Holby City, The Agency, and Benidorm. Between 2017 and 2019, he played Hicks in the mini-series Vanity Fair, before portraying Terry in Porters, and Tim in Sex Education. Toby also starred as Matthew in The Emily Atack Show.
More recently, he’s played Dr Saunders in We Are Lady Parts, and Dr Geoffrey Fleming in Father Brown.
Alexis Rodney stars as Kelvin Mason
Actor Alexis Rodney portrays Kelvin Mason in Death in Paradise. He’s probably most famous for playing Stevens in The Netflix crime drama The Gentlemen in 2024.
Just last year, Alexis starred as Duncan in the musical romance Mix Tape. Other notable roles include Lachlan in Willow, Darren Thompson in Pennyworth, Tebbe in Outlander, Matt Furlong in Street Fighter: Resurrection, Aris in Halo: Nightfall, and Agent Fuller in 24: Live Another Day.
His film roles have included Shaka in Young Gun, Philip in The Piper, and Moloka Dar in Guardians of the Galaxy.
Full cast list of Death in Paradise series 15 episode 8:
Don Gilet stars as DI Mervin Wilson.
Don Warrington is Commissioner Selwyn Patterson.
Shantol Jackson returns as DS Naomi Thomas.
Shaquille Ali-Yebuah is back as Officer Sebastian Rose.
Catherine Garton plays Sgt Mattie Fletcher.
Elizabeth Bourgine portrays Catherine Bordey.
Avah Cotterell stars as Eloise Clarke.
Daniel Ward returns as Merv’s brother Solomon Clarke.
Guest cast of Death in Paradise series 15 episode 8 includes:
Toby Williams as Giles Parry.
Alexis Rodney as Kelvin Mason.
Claudie Blakley as Cara Smart.
Nicholas Burns as Rory Lyons.
Where is Death in Paradise filmed?
Part of the detective drama's lasting appeal is its beautiful filming locations. Although it is set on the fictional Antilles island of Saint Marie, it's actually filmed on the island of Guadeloupe.
Guadeloupe is an archipelago of six inhabited islands in the southern Caribbean. Death in Paradise's main seaside setting, St Honoré, is actually the picturesque fishing village of Deshaies in the north eastern corner of Guadeloupe. Honoré Police station, where much of the action takes place, is filmed at Church of St Peter and St Paul in Deshaies.
Catherine's bar is actually a beachfront bar called Le Madras on Rue de La Vague Bleue in Deshaies.
You can actually visit these locations. Catch a flight to Guadeloupe's Pointe-à-Pitre International Airport and the pretty fishing village of Deshaies is just an hour's cab ride to the west. There's a few unofficial Death in Paradise tours on offer, too.
Read more: It’s Not What You Think is a ‘sinister’ new thriller from Death in Paradise producers
