Fans of are familiar with Don Warrington as Commissioner Selwyn Patterson, a staple character in the much-loved series.
But with the current season unfolding, concerns have surfaced that this cherished actor might say goodbye to Saint Marie.
The plot thickens as Selwyn faces potential job cuts due to financial strains, and after informing his police squad that his own position might be eliminated, Sebastian, played by Shaquille Ali-Yebuah, devises a scheme to safeguard Selwyn’s job through a petition.
Discussing the precarious situation his character finds himself in, Warrington expressed, “He’s shocked. It’s not what he expected. It comes as a bolt from the blue.
“He has to deal with a situation that he hadn’t expected, and it’s making a big change in his life, in his status. He has to work through a crisis, really. It’s monumental for all the other characters as well. It affects everybody equally.”
As speculation mounts about whether this storyline signals the departure of Warrington from the show, we delve into the actor’s personal world off-screen.
Famous wife
Don Warrington and his wife share two children together (Image: GETTY)
Married for over three decades, Don Warrington shares his life with his partner Mary Maddocks, who herself enjoys a distinguished television career outside of her husband’s spotlight on the fictional tropical locale, reports
Mary Maddocks, acclaimed for her roles in top-notch series like ITV’s iconic , Doctor Who and Midsomer Murders, is not just a screen actress but has also showcased her directorial talents in London’s prestigious West End, including a stint in The Rocky Horror Show musical.
Her family life with Don Warrington is equally illustrious; the couple has two sons, one of whom, Archie, has carved out his own niche as a playwright and stand-up comedian, contributing to works such as the 2023 thriller Gassed Up and the TV series Intergalactic.
Archie has paid homage to his talented parents in the past, stating: “Both my parents are actors. My mum, Mary Maddocks, is an actress: she was in The Rocky Horror Show when it was in the West End and my dad is Don Warrington.”
He further adds: “The main thing I get from both of them is they understand the art of performance and the need to perform.”
Family heartache
Don Warrington came to the UK as a young child (Image: BBC)
Don Warrington himself faced personal loss early on when his father and Trinidadian politician Basil Kydd died at the age of 48, leaving six year old Don and his mother Shirley to rebuild their lives in England.
Reflecting on his father’s influence, Don admitted to the Guardian: “My father is a shadow. He died when I was six; when I think of him, I just see a shape.
“He was a myth to me. I know stuff about his life and death, but I can’t see a full person. When I had children myself, it meant I had to make up what being a father was.”
Don made the arduous three-week journey to England by ship with his siblings after his mother, having worked diligently at a metal factory, managed to save enough funds to send them over.
Confronting life in Britain wasn’t straightforward, as the personality recounted being targeted at school.
In a revealing interview, he expressed: “Occasionally I got called rude names, but I was good at defending myself. ” He also mentioned the sparse kindness found amongst the children compared to the educators, recalling, “And the kids were kinder than the teachers: I’m left-handed, which schools tried to discourage in those days, and I remember my English teacher saying, ‘Did you learn to write up a tree?’.”
At age 12, Don faced another upheaval when his mother departed the UK for America to pursue nursing, leaving him under his Aunt Lena’s care.
Forgotten role
Don was in a sitcom in the 1970s (Image: GETTY)
Despite portraying Commissioner Selwyn Patterson since 2011, Don has been a familiar face in the acting industry since 1975, landing his initial credited role as Henry Voughn in Six Days of Justice.
It was his stint on Rising Damp, however, in the 70s which cemented his path to stardom.
A synopsis for the sitcom, which aired from 1974-1978, reads: “Popular sitcom set in a seedy bedsit lorded over by the mean, vain, boastful, cowardly, racist landlord Rigsby. In each episode, his conceits are debunked by his long-suffering tenants.”
Within that mix, Don became known as Philip, a far cry visually from his current Commissioner character, with archived photographs revealing him sans shirt, donning blue shorts, and ready to spar with boxing gloves in hand.
He candidly shared with The Guardian: “My first job, which was [as Philip Smith] in Rising Damp. I was a bit embarrassed by it, really. I’d been trained to go into theatre and learn my craft, and there I was doing a sitcom. It wasn’t in the script.”
Death in Paradise is available to watch on iPlayer.