Death In Paradise season 15: Major cast update for upcoming series as fan-favourite character hints at return in Christmas special
Death In Paradise fans were left with hope that a fan-favourite character would be returning to the show after a bombshell in the 2025 Christmas special episode.
*Warning - spoilers ahead for the Death In Paradise Christmas special 2025*
The hit BBC detective drama returned to screens for a festive mystery on Sunday, December 28.
Don Gilet’s DI Mervin Wilson led an investigation with his team as a dead body was found in a pool in picturesque Saint Marie, but the murder weapon was found thousands of miles away...
There were plenty of twists and turns in the episode, including the reappearance of Selwyn Patterson, as played by Don Warrington. Selwyn had been a key part of Death In Paradise since its launch in 2011, but the end of season 14 earlier this year indicated that the fan-favourite character may have been planning to depart Saint Marie after 14 years on screen.
The season 14 finale saw Selwyn appear to be replaced as commission by Sterling Fox, but after his higher-ups realised they had made a mistake they offer Selwyn his job back. However, Selwyn rejected the offer, telling Catherine: “It felt wrong to say yes, too much has happened. And right now, I can't see a way to get back to how things were.”
Fans were shocked at the revelation, with Selwyn seemingly moving on from his long-standing role in Saint Marie.
Therefore, viewers were understandably shocked when Warrington made a shock return as Selwynto the role in the latest Christmas special. Selwyn, who was in the UK to attend the wedding of Humphrey and Martha (as seen in the spin-off series Beyond Paradise’s Christmas special!), was asked to step in and help with the investigation after the murder weapon turned up in Swindon.
A reluctant Selwyn agreed to help and he helped to foil the mystery of the festive murder as Marjorie (Josie Lawrence) took him in for Christmas Day after train-related transport hiccups stopped him from spending the day with his daughter in the Yorkshire Dales. Selwyn helped the Saint Marie team to piece together the mystery and reveal that Marjorie was in fact the killer!
Selwyn appeared to get a taste for his old job again, as he opened up on a possible return to Saint Marie sooner rather than later...
In the final moments of the Christmas special episode, Selwyn could be seen ringing the chief commissioner asking about his old job, saying: “Apologies for calling you during the holidays, but I wanted to know if you've found my replacement as yet? I've been doing some thinking, and I wondered if there was any chance of my returning to the role, if it's still vacant?”
Fans were overjoyed at the hint that Selwyn will be returning to his role for season 15 of Death In Paradise. One viewer said on social media: “Selwyn's back! Hoorah! I can sleep easy tonight.” Another joked: “The crapness of the British rail system has been partly responsible for Selwyn coming back to be commissioner, amazing.”
Don Warrington’s surprise return comes as fan eagerly await season 15 of the show to hit screens. Death In Paradise is set to return in early 2026, although a release date is yet to be confirmed by the BBC.