Death in Paradise newcomer Don Gilet makes his debut on the show this week (Image: BBC)
will return to viewers’ screens in early 2025, following a Christmas special – but minus the hugely popular .
Newcomer Don Gilet, formerly famous for his roles in and , already seems nervous about following in Ralf’s footsteps. Ahead of his debut on the show in just a few days, he admitted that his character DI Mervin Wilson is set to “rub his colleagues up the wrong way”.
He revealed in an interview on that the DI “is not really liked to start with”. “He doesn’t wanna be there, doesn’t like the place, the pace of the place,” Don explained, adding that the idyllic Caribbean island setting is “working against him”.
Yet just as he’s heading to the plane to make a longed for return to London, a criminal case stops him in his tracks. Although the plot sounds promising, some fans have been unsure whether Don can fill the shoes of Ralf Little, after he achieved such huge popularity in his four years in the lead role.
While Don himself has admitted he’s “terrified”, fans on X are also questioning whether he fits the bill. One agonised: “I like #DonGilet, he is a good actor BUT he usually plays a villain, serial killer, murderer… he was Donna’s ex in #DoctorWho. Not sure about him being the lead detective in #DeathinParadise.”
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Death in Paradise’s Don Gilet says ‘he isn’t really liked’ (Image: BBC)
However, another quipped: “He’s come a long way since befriending a giant spider and pushing his ex wife onto a rake…”
Others recalled him “never” smiling in , when he played sinister serial killer Lucas.
Don has also appeared in Sherwood, Shetland and The Beekeeper to name just a few – and despite the scepticism, some fans remain confident about his versatility.
One wrote: “Great actor, watched him recently in #TheBeekeeper #TheStranger on @ – never forget him in #DoctorWho The Runaway Bride.
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Ralf Little is moving on to new creative projects after Death in Paradise (Image: BBC)
“For all the @facebook naysayers,” the fan challenged, before declaring there is no reason why Don “can’t be the ‘fish out of water’ DIP character in the Caribbean”.
While Don is facing new challenges and hoping to win public favour, the same is true of Ralf – and earlier this year the latter’s appearance in the dystopian thriller The Flaw was announced.
The casting will see him reunited with another huge Death in Paradise star – Danny John-Jules, who played policeman Dwayne Myers before going on to perform on .
The Death in Paradise Christmas special, featuring Don’s debut, airs on December 22 at 8:30pm on One and iPlayer.