Sally Bretton, known for her role in the hit BBC series Death in Paradise, has opened up about her departure from the show in 2017, admitting she wasn't ready to leave the sun-soaked detective drama. As Martha Lloyd, Sally captured viewers' hearts as the love interest of detective Humphrey Goodman, portrayed by Kris Marshall. She became a part of the Saint Marie story in 2017 when her character stumbled upon her former friend Humphrey. The on-screen romance blossomed when Humphrey decided to move back to London to be with Martha, a plot twist that fans adored.
Despite leaving the tropical setting behind, Sally revealed her reluctance to exit the series, firmly denying contentment with finishing her Caribbean stint by stating: "No!" Elaborating on her experience, she reminisced: "I was only out there for four or five weeks. I didn't get any of the hurricanes, I got it at just the perfect time. I had an amazing time," reports Devon Live.
Beyond Paradise takes viewers to Martha's hometown of Shipton Abbott in Devon where she and Humphrey imagine a new start, setting the stage for the spin-off where the pair tackle fostering after an IVF journey proves unsuccessful, according to the Express. Sally shared that when the chance came to return to her role for Beyond Paradise, she leapt at it without hesitation. In a previous chat on This Morning with Alison Hammond and Dermot O'Leary, she recounted the unexpected phone call during the lockdown that hinted at her comeback: "I was part of Kris' exit storyline from the Caribbean and then we were in the first lockdown and the phone rang," she said, adding to the excitement about a possible return. "I was like, 'Oh my God!'. Even if it doesn't happen, it was just three weeks of thinking about that while the world had stopped. It was to have something to sink my teeth into."
Adding to the show's stellar cast, Barbara Flynn of Open All Hours fame stars as Martha's mother, Anne, with Zahra Ahmadi portraying DS Esther Williams, another of Humphrey's colleagues at Shipton Abbott police station. The dynamic duo Dylan Llewellyn and Felicity Montagu are also featured as part of Humphrey's professional circle. The third series of Beyond Paradise is unfurling on our screens, and the narrative arc has Humphrey and Martha navigating their fostering journey, seemingly in a more settled phase of their relationship. This stability even withstands the return of Martha's former beau, Archie (played by Jamie Bamber), indicating their bond is now robust.
Nevertheless, Martha's mother, Anne, is experiencing turmoil of her own after discovering a worrying mole on her back in last Friday's episode. Having confided in Zoe, Anne takes the decisive step to seek medical guidance, leaving audiences in suspense about what will unfold.
In Death in Paradise, DI Humphrey Goodman – played by Kris Marshall – shared his Caribbean bungalow with his beloved pet lizard Harry. His four-legged friend has since appeared in almost every episode since he made his debut in 2011. So when the detective relocated to Devon for the BBC spin-off series Beyond Paradise, there was room for a feathered friend to join him on his adventures. When Goodman bought a houseboat, he quickly learnt that it came with a duck, which he fondly named Selwyn after his former boss, Commissioner Selwyn Patterson (Don Warrington).
But while Harry was a computer-generated lizard, Selwyn is very much a real duck who has continued to steal the limelight in every episode. Anthony Bloom, who works for Birds for Film near Colchester in Essex explained that while male ducks are far more colourful, the moult and start looking for females. This meant that for continuity, Selwyn had to be a female. His cheeky friend is played by three different ducks – usually five-year-old Mek Mek, who was given the unusual name due to her unusual call. Speaking to Radio Times, Bloom revealed: “Rather than ‘Quack, quack’, she goes ‘Mek Mek’.” And it’s fair to say she’s been a hit with the cast and crew, as Kris admitted: “She’s an utter joy to work with.”
Meanwhile, Mini-Me – who is slightly smaller, is a “very good back-up”, followed closely by Nelly, who’s “not such a good back-up”. Bloom trains and looks after around 200 birds, including pigeons, flamingos, ravens, and 10 ducks. When he transports the Selwyn trio to film Beyond Paradise, they travel in individual dog carriers in what has come to be known as the “duck truck”. He gushed: “Everyone likes ducks, don’t they? There’s no doubt they’re cute. Mek Mek is generally the calmest and the tamest; she’s a natural. She’s not afraid of much. But it hasn’t been entirely plain sailing with the ducks on set, who are known for being quite vocal when they want to be. Bloom admitted: “In a scene in series two with Sally [Bretton as Martha Lloyd] and Zahra [Ahmadi, as DS Esther Williams], Mek Mek didn’t stop quacking, and then she started pecking one of them. I was nervous thinking, ‘You’re not going to bite her on the cheek, are you?’” Luckily, the cast are very forgiving, with Mek Mek becoming a firm staple in the Beyond Paradise team.
Sally Bretton's journey from Death in Paradise to Beyond Paradise showcases not only her talent but also the evolving narrative of love, family, and unexpected adventures. As the third series unfolds, viewers are left eagerly anticipating how the characters will navigate their challenges, both personal and professional, in a world that continues to surprise.
