Death in Paradise legend Don Warrington shares fears for future on beloved BBC show

Death In Paradise is set to return to BBC for a new series this month (Image: BBC)

Death In Paradise stalwart Don Warrington has opened up about his future on the BBC show as the first episode of the new series sees the Honoré police team facing cutbacks.

Beloved fans of the long-running police drama will know the 73-year-old has starred on the show since it's first episode back in 2011.

He has quickly become a fan favourite in his loveable role as the firm but fair Commissioner Selwyn Patterson. As the show returns for it's 14th series, the dad-of-two has opened up about what this exciting new storyline could mean for his character.

Speaking to Radio Times, he confessed: "It’s very distressing. His life is being turned upside down, but he has to deal with the reality, it’s beyond his control."

When asked if this could mark the end of the road for his character, he teased: “Well, who knows? Anything can happen in this life." The show is set to return with a bang on January 31st and for the first time every has an entirely black key cast.

Don Warrington has played Commissioner Selwyn Patterson since the first episode (Image: BBC)

As one of the first high profile black faces on British TV, playing medical student Phillip Smith in 1970s sitcom Rising Damp, Don pondered on whether or not this was a sign of positive change.

He said: “Well, one hopes so. One is tentative about these things, because if we look at it in a broader political spectrum, the world is in a strange place at the moment.

"There’s a lot of reactionary stuff going on. I think this kind of thing acts as an antidote to that. Whatever the intentions were in this, it’s having a wholly positive reaction – and that can’t be celebrated enough."

This will mark the first full season for newcomer Don Gilet as detective inspector Mervin Wilson, who stepped into the role for the first time in the 2024 Christmas special.

Don Warrington and Don Gilet appear on the cover of the latest edition of Radio Times (Image: Radio Times)

Over seven million viewers tuned in to see his debut, making it the second highest-viewed drama over the festive period. However this wasn't the first time the former EastEnders star has worked with the TV icon.

The pair previously appeared together in a 2017 BBC4 radio drama titled Deacon. Seemingly Don Warrington didn't recall their previous encounter though, which has been a source of amusement for Don Gilet since joining the BBC show.

Death in Paradise returns to BBC On on January 31.