An epic cast shake up for Death In Paradise has been revealed as familiar faces from Happy Valley, Ghost and The Wives join the hit BBC show just in time for Christmas.

The hit crime drama’s Christmas special will be set in the Caribbean this year and feature brand new Detective Inspector Mervin Wilson, played by Don Gilet from Sherwood and Eastenders.

He will be joined by series regulars such as Don Warrington as Commissioner Selwyn Patterson, Shantol Jackson as DS Naomi Thomas and Ginny Holder as Officer Darlene Curtis, Danny John-Jules as Officer Dwayne Myers and Elizabeth Bourgine as Catherine Bordey.

The special episode will also see Dwayne joined by his father, Nelson, played by Ram John Holder.

It has now been announced that a host of stars from other shows will be making their Death In Paradise debuts, including Happy Valley’s Steven Hartley, Jim Howick from Ghosts and Angela Griffin from The Wives.

The hit crime drama’s Christmas special will be set in the Caribbean this year and will feature brand new Detective Inspector Mervin Wilson played by Don Gilet from Sherwood and Eastenders

From left to right: Elizabeth Bourgine as Catherine Bordey, Don Warrington as Commissioner Selwyn Patterson, Shantol Jackson as DS Naomi Thomas, Don Gilet as Detective Inspector Mervin Wilson, Ginny Holder as Officer Darlene Curtis and Danny John-Jules as Officer Dwayne Myers

Jim Howick who starred as Pat in BBC One’s Ghosts will join the cast of Death In Paradise

Steven Hartley who played Marcus Gascoigne in hit BBC crime drama Happy Valley is also joining the cast

Also joining the show is Marcus Brigstocke from The Unbelievable Truth, Elizabeth Carling from H๏τel Portofino, Michael Salami from Supacell and Dex Lee from Doctors.

The star-studded cast will return to Saint Marie with brand new detective inspector Mervin Wilson in tow, who ruffles some feathers when he clashes with the way of life on the fictional island.

Marvin quickly gets stuck into one of the team’s most puzzling murder cases yet: three men, all unconnected apart from the fact that they’re dressed as Father Christmas, and seemingly all sH๏τ with the same gun at the same time.

As Mervin pours over this impossible murder, his colleagues struggle with their new boss’ unusual working methods. 

Meanwhile, Dwayne’s Christmas with his father doesn’t exactly go to plan.

Angela Griffin who plays Natasha Morgan in Channel 5’s mystery drama The Wives will join the Return To Paradise cast for the Christmas special

Also joining the show is Marcus Brigstocke from The Unbelievable Truth seen here dressed as Father Christmas for the festive special

Elizabeth Carling who played Betty Scanlon in drama series H๏τel Portofino is also joining the cast

The Death In Paradise Christmas Special will be followed by a brand-new 14th series in 2025.

It comes after the BBC confirmed the release date and dropped the first trailer for the Death In Paradise Australian spin-off show Return To Paradise.

The highly anticipated 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.

The series arrives in full on BBC iPlayer on Friday 22 November, and will air on BBC One from 8pm that night.

All series of Death In Paradise are available to stream on BBC iPlayer.