Death in Paradise star Shantol Jackson has revealed stalwart cast member Don Warrington gave the show’s new detective star Don Gilet a rather ominous warning.
His DI Mervin Wilson burst onto the scene in the 2024 Christmas Special and will lead the series going forward, replacing Neville Parker (played by Ralf Little).
This Friday, The One Show hosts Alex Jones and Roman Kemp rang in the weekend by chatting to Shantol, best known for portraying Detective Sergeant Naomi Thomas since season 11.
She recalled a conversation between the two Dons during the new leading man’s first days on set and revealed Warrington warned Gilet about the fans: “They won’t like you”.
Alex led Shantol in: “He had some interesting advice, didn’t he, for Don Gilet when he started. They won’t like you at the beginning, but…”
Death in Paradise’s Don Warrington issued four-word warning to new detective (Image: BBC)
The Death in Paradise favourite left the hosts in stitches as she adopted a flawless impression of the Commissioner Selwyn Patterson legend.
“Don has an interesting aura,” she said. “And he would go, ‘They won’t like you, but it’s fine.
“‘They will like you eventually. But they won’t like you in the beginning’.”
“That’s a very good impression,” Alex said as their other guests, Olly Alexander and Angela Rippon, burst into giggles.
“Don Warrington is like that,” Shantol continued. “He’s very blunt, and he’s very honest, which I enjoy having conversations with Don.
“But I’m very excited for the audience to see Don Gilet as the new inspector, to see the relationships and the stories that develop over the series.”
The beloved murder-mystery drama returned for its 14th outing last week, with the brand new detective leading a new investigation every Friday.
While he’s already caused tension in Saint-Marie, Naomi and her team are shocked when he confirms he’s signed a contract to stay on the island for at least three months.
Tonight’s second episode of the series sees a gameshow contestant stabbed during the filming of the show’s grand finale.
Taking the action up a notch, the victim is killed while hurtling down a zip-line, leading Mervin to investigate the bizarre crime.
The One Show airs weekdays at 7pm on One and iPlayer. Death in Paradise continues Fridays at 9pm on One and iPlayer.