Death In Paradise actor Don Gilet from Walsall on ‘terrifying’ aspects of leading role

The new lead actor of Death In Paradise Don Gilet says that getting to grips with the role has been “exciting and terrifying in equal measure”, and compared the experience to a theme park.

In the Christmas special, the former EastEnders star from Walsall will play the mysterious detective inspector Mervin Wilson, taking over from Ralf Little in the main role.

Don Gilet's character arrives on the fictional island of Saint Marie from London as a detective on holiday, who is asked to help solve the mystery of Stuart Fullwell (Marcus Brigstocke) being found dead with a Santa suit on a beach.

When asked about stepping into the role for the first time, Gilet said: “I’m sure it won’t be a surprise to say that it was both exciting and terrifying in equal measure.

“I liken it to one of those scary rides at a theme park. I’m going on it, and I know it’s going to be scary, but I’m going to do it. You’re daring yourself. Then you sit in the seat going, ‘What have I just let myself in for?’. But it was exciting because I knew I was embarking on this new journey.”

He also said that he “felt this great sense of relief” when he got the part as “it was a great reminder to me that, yeah, you can still do this, it felt like a little personal air-punch-without-anyone-looking moment”.

However, Gilet admitted he has struggled with the temperature levels of the area, which is filmed on the French Caribbean island of Guadeloupe.

He said: “It’s intense because you’ve got that heat from the start to the end of the day. It does get to a point where you are used to it, but it takes that extra layer of concentration.

“You can’t turn the temperature down, but it’s a beautiful backdrop to shoot against. Sometimes you have to pinch yourself and go look at where you are and what you’re doing.

“It’s a beautiful place. I haven’t had much of a chance to venture out to see just how beautiful it is yet. Once you get used to the temperature, it’s a great job.”

The festive special will also see DI Wilson get to grips with other people shot while dressed as Santa, and revealing the real reason he is on Saint Marie after local woman Brianna Clemetson (Joy Richardson) accuses him of being the killer.

The 57-year-old, known for his role as the villainous Lucas Johnson in the soap EastEnders as well as starring in Sherwood, The Beekeeper, Shetland, Holby City and 55 Degrees North, was previously in Death In Paradise as a guest star in series four as a different character.

My Family actor Kris Marshall, Bridgerton actor Ben Miller and Father Ted star Ardal O’Hanlon have also played the DI lead role.

Marshall has gone on to front spin-off Beyond Paradise, set in the UK.

Gilet will continue starring in the role, which it was announced he would be playing in May.

Returning for the special and 2025 series is also Don Warrington as commissioner Selwyn Patterson, Shantol Jackson as DS Naomi Thomas, Ginny Holder as Darlene Curtis, Elizabeth Bourgine as Catherine Bordey and Danny John-Jules as officer Dwayne Myers.

Jackson says Gilet is “lovely” to work with, while explaining her character finds DI Wilson “rude, insensitive and impatient”.

She adds: “During the Christmas special, Naomi and Darlene want Mervin to leave but they understand that the team need a detective inspector.

“He complains about the island a lot and is offensive, and that doesn’t sit well with her, or Darlene. She makes these feelings known to him, but she does realise that he is very capable and intuitive.”

The Death In Paradise Christmas special will air on December 22 at 8.30pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.

Gilet was brought up in Caldmore in Walsall with two older sisters. He attended Whitehall Junior School before Blue Coat Church of England Academy and Sunday School at Caldmore Gospel Hall in Caldmore and the Mountview Academy of Arts.