The stellar line-up of artists set to appear in the new series includes highly-acclaimed British actors Neil Morrissey (Line of Duty), Sally Phillips (Miranda) and Harry Potter star Matthew Lewis, as well as rising star Tobi Bakare (The Tunnel, The Shadow Line) who will join the main cast as Saint Marie’s newest Police Officer.
Filmed on the Caribbean island of Guadeloupe and well-known for attracting some of the UK’s finest acting talent, the sun-soaked drama starring Kris Marshall has gone from strength to strength over the past three series, pulling in an average consolidated figure of almost 8.5 million viewers to cement its position as one of BBC One’s highest rating midweek dramas.
Other high-profile names revealed to feature in the winter-warmer include Michelle Collins (Coronation Street), James Fox (Downton Abbey), Francis Magee (Game of Thrones), Nick Moran (Mr Selfridge), Colin McFarlane (Torchwood), Jo Absolom (Doc Martin), Gary Lewis (Billy Elliot) and Jason Merrells (Emmerdale).
Following the announcement that popular French actress Josephine Jobert (Sous Le Soleil de Saint-Tropez) will be joining the cast as Sergeant Florence Cassell earlier this year, Honoré Police Station will also be welcoming another new recruit this season as Tobi Bakare heads to paradise to become part of the team as playful and enthusiastic Police Officer, JP Hooper. Arriving on the idyllic island mid-series, the new PC will help the team uncover the truth behind more dastardly deeds and mysterious murders.
Commenting on his role in the series, Tobi Bakare said: “I feel absolutely blessed to be a member of Death in Paradise! It’s great to be in a hugely successful drama that brings me back to the good old stuff like Columbo. Guadeloupe is beautiful and the cast and crew are now an extended family. We've had bags of fun, and I can't wait for the viewers to see the fruits of our labour."
Tim Key, Executive Producer of Death In Paradise said: “We are delighted to debut two new faces for the fourth series of Death In Paradise. Tobi Bakare and Josephine Jobert have both been brilliant additions to the team, both on and off screen, and we hope viewers enjoy the new energies they bring to the show.
“It’s also a great honour to welcome more talented and popular faces as guest stars for the new series and I am thrilled with the calibre of talent we have this year.”
Polly Hill, BBC Head of Independent Drama, added: “It is great to see Death in Paradise attracting such a wonderful guest cast. We are also thrilled that Josephine and Tobi are joining the cast, and look forward to revealing these new characters to the audience next year.”
Set to hit screens in early 2015, the fourth series of Death In Paradise is a Red Planet Pictures production in association with BBC Worldwide, produced with the support of the region of Guadeloupe. It is created by Robert Thorogood, produced by Louise Sutton and executive produced by Tony Jordan and Tim Key for Red Planet Pictures and Head of Independent Drama, Polly Hill for BBC One.
