Death in Paradise: Why detective drama isn't on tonight and when you can watch episode 3
Fans will have to wait a while for the missing episode
Death in Paradise fans will be feeling particularly unlucky this Friday the 13th as the detective drama will not air as usual – but why isn’t it on tonight?
BBC One has made the unpopular decision to pull the detective drama from the schedules this week, depriving its loyal viewers of their weekly visit to Saint Marie.
And it’s not the only shake up this week with both ITV and BBC One frustrating viewers with major schedule changes. Both Grantchester and Silent Witness have been affected by the changes, too.
So why isn’t Death in Paradise on tonight? And when can fans expect to see the next episode? Here’s everything you need to know.
Why isn’t Death in Paradise on tonight?
Fans of Death in Paradise will know the detective drama always airs on a Friday night. In fact, the 9pm visits to the gorgeous destination of Saint Marie are what millions of people look forward to all week during the depressing grey months of January and February.
However, BBC One will NOT be airing episode 3 of series 15 this week. It’s bad news for devotees of the crime drama who will have to find something else to watch instead. Unless you like football, that is.
Instead of Death in Paradise tonight, the Beeb will be showing Match of the Day Live: The FA Cup. The match will run from 7.30pm to 10pm, wiping out anything without a ball for two and a half hours. The Hull City v Chelsea game kicks-off at 7.45pm and takes place at the MKM Stadium. We’re told Hull City’s manager Sergej Jakirovic “will be looking to cause a major upset”.
But the major upset lies firmly with the BBC, for the unpopular move of replacing Death in Paradise in the schedules. We predict fans of the show will riot! Who needs football hooilgans when you have disgruntled Death in Paradise fans?!
When is the next episode?
Instead of the usual Friday episode, fans will have to wait until next week to get their fix of Death in Paradise. Monday, February 16, 2026 to be exact. Episode 3 will air at 9pm on that Monday – pushing Silent Witness off its usual perch. And you don’t want to mess with Silent Witness fans either (lethal bunch)!
However, episode 3 WILL be on BBC iPlayer on Friday from 8.45pm.
In episode 3, Merv investigates when a reclusive pensioner is shot dead in his home. A figure matching the description of an unassuming accountant was witnessed fleeing the crime scene… but the suspect has a rock-solid alibi. Meanwhile, the commissioner is determined to get the islanders back on side with a community-focused initiative, but tensions rise when Mervin goes rogue during the launch event.
As well as the Monday night episode, fans will get their usual Friday night episode as well. So there is a silver lining here. There will be TWO episodes of Death in Paradise next week, on Monday, February 16, and on Friday, February 20, 2026.
Some news: so, next Friday, there’s football, so we’re not on BBC One that night – but don’t worry, the new episode will be on BBC iPlayer from 8.45pm on Friday.
Or you can watch it on BBC One on Monday 16th February instead. Or both! pic.twitter.com/knHoHNMTXs
— Death in Paradise (@deathinparadise) February 6, 2026
Fans demand to know why Death in Paradise isn’t on tonight!
Understandably, fans were pretty miffed about sport interfering with Death in Paradise.
One spoke for many when they said: “They should stick the football on iPlayer.”
Another seethed: “That’s just plain rude.”
And a third added: “Bleddy football ruining my Friday evenings!”
“BBC One scheduling be damned,” said another.
Death in Paradise detectives ranked (by superfan writer David Hollingsworth)
5. Ralf Little as DI Neville Parker
Sorry, Ralf but there's a strong argument that Neville outstayed his welcome on Saint Marie. Neville was the longest serving detective, joining in series 9 before finally leaving at the end of series 13. And it got to the point where the character was going around in circles.
With his long list of neuroses, Neville was probably the most gentle of the cops, and developed great relationships with all his team. However, the problem then became there wasn't much tension between the cops. Eventually Neville sailed off into the sunset with Florence at the end of series 13.
4. Ardal O'Hanlon as DI Jack Mooney
A few eyebrows were raised when Ardal O'Hanlon was cast as the lead detective. After all, could anyone imagine the man who played Father Ted's dimwitted Father Dougal solving anything?
However, Ardal was great as DI Jack Mooney. Jack is arguably the most complex of all the lead detectives. Struggling with the death of his wife, he heads to the Caribbean for a new start. He provided plenty of laughs, and Jack remains a popular character. So much so in fact that Ardal has reprised his role as Jack in Aussie spin off Return to Paradise.
3. Don Gilet as DI Mervin Wilson
Don Gilet joined the show as DI Mervin Wilson in the 2024 Christmas special and immediately made an impact. Ralf Little's tenure had rather run out of steam and the show needed a bit more of an edge.
Cue Mervin, who arrived on Saint Marie seemingly set on annoying everyone. Mervin hated everything about the island and even Naomi, who seems to like everyone, started to lose her temper with him. However, he comes with his own story, and there's a lot more of Mervin's story to tell.
2. Kris Marshall as DI Humphrey Goodman
The makers had a massive headache when Ben Miller revealed he wanted to quit the show. They knew that the wrong pick could doom the series. Luckily, they chose Kris Marshall, who proved brilliant as Humphrey.
Kris Marshall brought a lot of laughs to the show, particularly in Humphrey's relationship with his boss, Commissioner Selwyn Patterson. The Commissioner initially saw Humphrey as a bumbling buffoon. He was especially unimpressed when Humphrey bought a battered old boat in an attempt to join his swanky yacht club. However, the Commissioner eventually came to respect Humphrey for his crime-solving talent.
The writers also gave Humphrey a lovely romantic storyline with Martha (Sally Bretton). Indeed, the plot was so successful it became the foundation for spin-off Beyond Paradise.
1. Death in Paradise detectives ranked: Ben Miller as DI Richard Poole
The original and the best. Ben Miller was perfect as DI Richard Poole. The character was pompous, annoying but everyone ended up loving him anyway. Richard was never comfortable in the heat. Funnily, Ben Miller admitted he once got so hot during filming he ripped off all his clothes and ran into the sea!
Richard complained about everything and spent much of his time trying to source an English cup of tea. But the original team of Detective Sergeant Camille Bordey, Officer Dwayne Myers and Officer Fidel Best were soon impressed with his sleuthing.
There was a beautiful chemistry between Richard and Camille. Fans hoped that the pair would become an item. But sadly Richard's time on Saint Marie was cut short when he was murdered. Ben Miller was helped that the plots were also generally sharper at the start of Death in Paradise. Richard was the most complex, infuriating, and engrossing of all the detectives. That's why for me he's the greatest of them all.
