Don Gilet, star of Death in Paradise, has expressed his views on the criticisms levelled at the show's predominantly white leading roles, saying such commentary "belittles" the popular crime series.
The 57-year-old actor made his debut as DI Mervin Wilson, taking to the stunning location of Guadeloupe, which stands in for the fictional Saint Marie in the BBC show. He joins an esteemed list of actors including Ben Miller, Kris Marshall, Ardal O'Hanlon, and Ralf Little, all of whom have been at the helm of the hit show.
Despite the acclaim for its charismatic ensembles and picturesque setting, Death in Paradise hasn't been free from reproach. Metro TV critic Keith Watson remarked on the perceivably colonial dynamic saying: "The idea of parachuting a policeman into a colonial setting because the locals weren't up to the job left a slightly sour taste."
Sirin Kale, writing for The Guardian, pointed out how the show featured "mostly Black" supporting characters deferring to the white lead, calling him "Sir", and depending on him to unravel crimes they cant seem to solve themselves. However, Don opts to distance himself from these critical viewpoints.
In response to the show's critiques during an interview with The I, he explained: "I've never got involved in that. I've been very lucky to get parts that an actor would want," reports the Express.
He continued, discussing the limitations of being categorized by race: "I don't put myself out there as a Black actor trying to get black parts or being given black parts because that would be very limiting. As far as I'm concerned, they wanted an actor who was best for the show."
Gilet underlined his focus away from racial identity in his career, stating: "I don't get caught up in the shade of my skin ... it belittles the show. It belittles me."
DI Wilson, portrayed by Don, isn't a novel face in the Death In Paradise universehe had previously graced the show in 2015 on the opposite side of the law.
Reflecting on his earlier stint, he recalled Kris Marshall's exceptional performance under the heat of the Caribbean sun, yet at that time, Don couldn't envisage himself returning to fill such a role.
The Sunday night feature-length episode marked the debut of Don as DI Wilson amidst a dramatic double murder on the island of Saint Marie, giving fans their first glimpse of the new detective awaiting the series ahead.
Prior to this, Don had opened up about his trepidation regarding how viewers would perceive DI Wilson, confessing he nearly backed out on his inaugural day of shooting. Some audience members were even vocal about their preference for Ralf Little's Nevilla Parker to make a comeback.
A fan posted online: "Bring back Neville! Not sure I like this new DI!"
Another expressed difficulty adjusting to the change: "Can't take to this new DI. I wish they'd kept the usual kind of DI character #DeathInParadise."
Yet, another fan compared it to a well-known TV moment: "The change over of DI in Death in Paradise is a bit like the change over of The Doctor in Doctor Who. Weird at first and you keep expecting to see the face you know and love, but you're sure before long it will feel like the new guy's always been there."
English (US) ·