The festive season has long been a highlight for fans of the hit BBC crime drama Death in Paradise, and this year’s Christmas special, which aired on December 28, 2025, was no exception. With a blend of sun-drenched intrigue, emotional revelations, and a star-studded guest cast, the feature-length episode delivered a murder mystery that left viewers guessing until the very end. The episode, available on both BBC One and BBC iPlayer, marked a significant moment for the show, not just for its plot twists but for the evolving roles of its beloved characters.
At the heart of the special was Don Gilet’s DI Mervin Wilson, who has taken up the mantle as Saint Marie’s lead detective following his debut in the 2024 Christmas special and subsequent starring role in Series 14. According to the BBC, Gilet approached his second Christmas special with renewed energy, saying, “It felt good. Slightly daunting, but in a positive sense because you want to do the same again, if not better.” Fans have watched as DI Wilson, initially a reluctant transplant to the Caribbean, has slowly found his footing, navigating both complex cases and the quirks of island life.
The episode’s plot, as described by Express and iNews, took an unexpected turn right from the opening scenes. Instead of the usual palm-fringed beaches, viewers were transported to a bleak trading estate in Swindon, where a family-run business was preparing for a Christmas getaway. The company’s senior staff, played by an ensemble of guest stars including Kate Ashfield (Shaun of the Dead), James Baxter (Waterloo Road), Billy Harris (Ted Lasso), and Pearl Mackie (Doctor Who), were treated to a holiday in Saint Marie, leaving their receptionist Marjorie (Josie Lawrence) behind.
What should have been a dream vacation soon spiraled into a nightmare when the group awoke to find a local fisherman dead in their villa’s swimming pool. The victim, a stranger to them all, had been shot—a detail that set DI Wilson and his team on a baffling investigation. The mystery deepened when the murder weapon, a revolver, was traced back to Swindon, locked in a drawer belonging to a former employee who had been dismissed for embezzlement. Ballistics confirmed that this very gun had fired the fatal shot, despite being thousands of miles from the scene of the crime.
As BBC and Everything Gossip reported, the suspects all denied any connection to the victim, and the only clue linking the dead man to the group was the peculiar detail that he had the name of one of Santa’s reindeer inked on his palm. The investigation took a series of twists and turns, with DI Wilson and his team—DS Naomi Thomas (Shantol Jackson), Officer Darlene Curtis (Ginny Holder), Officer Sebastian Rose (Shaquille Ali-Yebuah), and Catherine Bordey (Élisabeth Bourgine)—piecing together a web of secrets and criminality. The case was further complicated by the need to call on a familiar face for help: Don Warrington’s Selwyn Patterson, the ex-police commissioner, who had been spending Christmas in the UK.
Selwyn’s return was a highlight for many fans, especially after his surprise appearance at Humphrey and Martha’s wedding in the previous week’s Beyond Paradise Christmas special. The fate of Selwyn had been a matter of speculation after he was laid off and replaced with a younger commissioner. As reported by Radio Times, Selwyn’s superiors eventually offered him his job back, but he refused and chose to retire from police work. Don Warrington teased that viewers were “right to be worried” about Selwyn’s future, adding to the suspense of the Christmas special.
In a sweet, if slightly eerie, subplot, Selwyn missed his train out of Swindon on Christmas Eve and was invited by Marjorie, the receptionist, to spend the holiday at her home. When asked why she extended the invitation, Marjorie simply replied, “Because I didn’t want to spend another Christmas alone.” This moment, as detailed by iNews, provided a touch of humanity and vulnerability amid the high-stakes investigation, showing that even the most formidable characters have their softer sides.
Meanwhile, back on Saint Marie, DI Wilson was grappling with personal issues of his own. Having reached out months earlier to a newly discovered brother in Antigua, Wilson was still waiting for a response. This subplot added emotional depth to the episode, as Wilson struggled to get into the festive spirit for the sake of his team and the island’s annual celebrations. In a rare moment of levity, Wilson was seen talking to Harry, the CGI lizard that shares his beach house, and even managed a genuine smile when his brother Solomon finally called from Antigua to arrange a meeting.
Selwyn, too, revealed a more personal side during a conversation with DS Naomi Thomas. He confessed that the only thing he truly enjoyed about Christmas was watching The Great Escape, explaining that it was the only seasonal constant during his years moving between care and foster homes. This small but poignant detail, as reported by iNews, resonated with viewers and added layers to Selwyn’s character beyond his usual stoic demeanor.
The murder mystery itself reached a satisfying conclusion, with the revelation that Marjorie, the seemingly harmless receptionist, was the one who pulled the trigger. Her motives and the convoluted circumstances surrounding the murder were unraveled in classic Death in Paradise fashion, showcasing the show’s knack for blending intricate plotting with character-driven storytelling. As one reviewer from iNews put it, the episode was “ingenious” in its construction, keeping audiences guessing until the very end.
The Christmas special also set the stage for the future of the franchise. With Don Gilet’s DI Wilson growing into his role, the possibility of Selwyn returning to a more permanent position, and a new season on the horizon, fans have much to look forward to in 2026. The guest cast—including Josie Lawrence, Oriana Charles, and Alix Serman—brought fresh energy to the series, while the regular ensemble continued to deliver the warmth and wit that have made Death in Paradise a perennial favorite.
As the credits rolled on another sun-soaked Christmas in Saint Marie, viewers were left with the comforting sense that, no matter how complex the mysteries or how stormy the personal lives of its detectives, the spirit of Death in Paradise endures—equal parts heart, humor, and holiday cheer.
