Death in Paradise series 16: Everything we know about new episodes coming in 2027 after bittersweet S15 ending
Mervin's niece Eloise will become a permanent fixture
Death in Paradise series 15 has come to a sad end, leaving its millions of fans desperately hoping for a series 16 – and BBC One won’t disappoint.
Unlike Call the Midwife – which has taken a hiatus after series 15 – the BBC One detective drama Death in Paradise shows no signs of slowing down.
Not only has it launched two spin-offs, including Beyond Paradise, and Return to Paradise, it’s also a staple of the Christmas schedules. We predict it will run for years and years to come. After all, Silent Witness is currently filming its 30th season!
So here’s what we know about Death in Paradise series 16, including the upcoming 2026 Christmas special.
Is there a Death in Paradise series 16?
Paraverse fans can rest easy, as there will be a series 16 of Death in Paradise. In fact, there’s no signs at all of the BBC One crime drama being axed anytime soon. And a new detective is always on hand to spruce up the format if and when it’s necessary.
Filming is scheduled to begin in Guadeloupe in April 2026. Don Gilet will once again take on the role of DI Mervin Wilson.
Although it’s way too early to know specifics about the plot, we do know that Merv’s niece Eloise will be more of a permanent fixture, bringing out a lovely warmth to the detective’s nature we hadn’t seen before.
What happened in the Death in Paradise series 15 ending?
A lot has changed in a year. At the end of Death in Paradise series 14, Commissioner Selwyn was leaving after being pushed out of his job. Meanwhile, Merv was still dreaming of returning to London, until a mysterious note from his half-brother Solomon convinced him to stay.
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By the end of series 15, Mervin had met his brother and realised he was a petty criminal. With Solomon now in prison for his crimes, Merv was left in charge of his niece Eloise. At the police station, Selwyn was back for good, and Merv had no plans to leave Saint Marie.
It was a happy ending of sorts, with plenty to chew on in the upcoming series 16. Of course, there was also the mysterious past of new team member Sergeant Mattie Fletcher. In the closing moments of the series 15 finale, she received a message from someone called Damone. But she was clearly dismayed, and promptly threw the note in the bin. Something tells us he’ll appear in series 16.
Who will be in the cast?
Of course, former EastEnders villain Don Gilet will be back as DI Mervin Wilson in the cast of Death in Paradise series 16. Don Warrington will also return as Commissioner Selwyn Patterson, alongside Shantol Jackson as DS Naomi Thomas and Shaquille Ali-Yebuah as Officer Sebastian Rose.
Catherine Garton will also reprise her role as Sgt Mattie Fletcher, with Elizabeth Bourgine back as Catherine Bordey. Although we know Avah Cotterell will return as Mervin’s niece Eloise Clarke, it’s not yet known if Daniel Ward will be back as Solomon Clarke.
Like every year, there will be a revolving door of – as yet unannounced – guest stars in the cast.
Is there a Christmas special of Death in Paradise in 2026?
Yes, there will be the annual Christmas special of Death in Paradise in December 2026. But it might not air on Christmas Day.
Breaking with tradition, the Death in Paradise 2025 Christmas special went out on Sunday, December 28, 2025, at 8.30pm on BBC One. The 90-minute episode saw Mervin investigate the death of a man at a raucous office Christmas party – and the murder weapon was locked in a drawer thousands of miles away from the crime scene.
Although the festive episode historically went out on Christmas Day, 2025’s feature-length film broke with tradition to “align with the BBC’s festive scheduling strategy, which often spreads major drama releases across the holidays rather than concentrating them on December 25th”.
This may well be the case with the 2026 Christmas special, too.
When is the start date of Death in Paradise series 16?
Cast and crew will begin filming Death in Paradise series 16 in April 2026. After the Christmas special in 2026, we can expect series 16 to land on BBC One in January or February 2027.
Watch this space for more details when we get them.
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
