An explosive first look at the new BBC series, Return to Paradise, shows Anna Sampson scream in rage after she is kicked out of a taxi and abandoned in the street.

Return to Paradise is an Australian spin-off of the popular crime drama Death in Paradise and will air tonight, Friday 22nd, on BBC One at 8pm.

The highly-anticipated offshoot follows Anna’s character, DI Mackenzie Clarke, an Australian ex-pat who made a name for herself in London’s Met Police solving uncrackable murder cases.

When Mackenzie is accused of tampering with evidence she is forced to return to her hometown of Dolphin Cove, where she is not particularly welcome having fled the town six years ago after leaving her ex-fiancée Glenn at the altar. 

In an exclusive preview clip, Mackenzie attempts to disguise her idenтιтy behind a pair of sunglᴀsses as she makes her return in the back of a cab.

After a few suspicious glances in the rear-view mirror, the taxi driver asks: ‘First time in Dolphin Cove?’ to which Mackenzie replies: ‘Sure.’

The offshoot follows DI Mackenzie Clarke, an Australian ex-pat who made a name for herself in London ‘s Met Police for solving uncrackable murder cases, played by the show’s first female lead, Anna Samson (pictured)

In an exclusive preview clip, Mackenzie attempts to disguise her idenтιтy behind a pair of sunglᴀsses as she makes her return in the back of a cab

However, things get tense when the driver realises who she is and kicks her out of his taxi

He continues press her, saying: ‘I feel like I’ve seen you somewhere before’ but is met with curt denial from the detective.

Mackenzie blows her cover when she answers a phone call with: ‘Hello, it’s DI Clarke’.

The driver’s face drops as he interrupts her and makes a dangerously sharp turn to pull over.

‘Clarke? Mackenzie Clarke? I knew it was you!’ he shouts as he gets out of the car and drags her luggage out of the boot.

‘What? I am a paying customer,’ retorts the confused detective as he opens the door for her to get out.

The driver looks at her in disgust and says: ‘I can’t believe you came back after what you did. Get out. I tried to warn them about you. I told everybody on the day but they wouldn’t listen to me.’

Suddenly revealing that she knows him, Mackenzie snaps back sarcastically: ‘Oh yes, you’re very perceptive Trevor! Smarter than everyone!’

But her snarky jibes quickly turn to panicked pleas as she realises she is being abandoned on the side of the road.

‘You can’t just leave me here! It’s three K [kilometres] into town!’ she cries.

‘Not my problem!’ replies Trevor as she hops back in his car and drives off, sending Mackenzie into a fit of rage.

Despite the frosty welcome, the talented detective has no choice but to join the team at Dolphin Cove Police Station and attempt to win over her colleagues with her tenacity and work ethic.

In the 25-second trailer for the show, which dropped last week, we saw the team pushing back on the idea of Mackenzie joining them and pressing her over why she left the town in the first place.

But a choppy montage of short snippets shows the fiery detective finding her feet as she proves her worth.

The final clip hints at a friendship born from a power struggle between Mackenzie and Detective Senior Constable Colin Cartwright who is played by British actor Lloyd Griffith.

The series also features Glenn Strong played by Home and Away star Tai Hara, Police volunteer Reggie Rocco played by Wentworth actress Celia Ireland and PC Felix Wilkinson played by Gold Diggers actor Aaron McGrath.

When Mackenzie is accused of tampering with evidence she is forced to return to her hometown of Dolphin Cove where she is not particularly welcome having fled the town six years ago after leaving her ex- fiancée Glenn at the altar

Mackenzie with Detective Senior Constable Colin Cartwright who is played by British actor Lloyd Griffith

Police volunteer Reggie Rocco played by Wentworth actress Celia Ireland (right) and PC Felix Wilkinson played by Gold Diggers actor Aaron McGrath (left)

Tai Hara as his character Glen and Lloyd Griffith as Colin in a scene filmed on the beach

The brand new series also features Mackenzie’s ex Glenn Strong played by Home and Away star Tai Hara (left)

When the new spin-off series was announced earlier this year, Sue Deeks, the Head of Programme Acquisition at BBC said: ‘Everything we all love about Death in Paradise, the humour, the beautiful scenery, the likeable characters, the ingenious plots – now in a fabulous Australian setting.

‘I cannot wait for BBC viewers to meet Detective Mack and the good (and not-so-good!) folk of Dolphin Cove. What a treat we have in store!’

The original Death in Paradise series first aired in 2011 and now boasts 13 seasons and shows no signs of ending soon.

Return to Paradise is not the first spin-off to come from the popular series.

Beyond Paradise was released last year and currently has two seasons with the BBC delighting fans when they confirmed a 2024 Christmas special and a third season.

It is set in the sleepy town of Shipton Abbott in Devon and follows DI Humphrey Goodman, played by Kris Marshall, after he moves over from the fictional island of Saint Marie in search of a quieter life.

Return to Paradise airs on Friday at 8pm on BBC One and iPlayer.