'Beyond Paradise' Is Officially Renewed for Season 2 & A Festive Special
DI Humphrey Goodman (Kris Marshall) in the Gothic revival splendor of the police station.
Courtesy of BritBox
The Death In Paradise spinoff Beyond Paradise officially got the sign the BBC considers it a significant success. The series, which stars Kris Marshall and Sally Bretton reprising their DIP characters DI Humphrey Goodman and Martha Lloyd, moved the action from the Island Paradise of St. Marie to the hometown version in Devon, but audiences are still tuning in. The BBC and BritBox did day-and-date premieres on both sides of the pond, and though streaming numbers are hard to come by, the premiere did solid ratings in the U.K. The BBC has rewarded the show with a second-season renewal and a Christmas special right out of the gate.
Beyond Paradise has the benefit of Death In Paradise's slowly built popularity and rotating cast to thank for its out-of-the-box success. Though the parent series peaked in season-high ratings during Seasons 3 to 6 (the Kris Marshall years from 2014-2017), the series streaming on iPlayer and syndication in the U.S. built word of mouth. Death In Paradise was finally awarded yearly "Festive Specials," which air on Boxing Day, December 26, since 2021, when it was renewed for an 11th season. Whether or not Beyond Paradise's "Festive Special" will also be a Boxing Day airing remains to be seen.
Beyond Paradise is a co-production between BritBox International and the BBC. However, the press release is from the BBC; American viewers can expect the Festive Special and the new season to debut at some point on BritBox. Like with the BBC, it remains to be seen when the Festive Special will arrive, but Season 2 won't be available until 2024.
Here's the synopsis for the Season 1 finale that will set up the Festive special and the new season.
With series one reaching its emotional conclusion, fans were treated to some exotic sunshine as Humphrey Goodman visited his old stomping ground in Saint Marie. While taking in the blue-skied vista of the Caribbean coastline, the Detective Inspector took some time away to clear his mind and consider his future in Shipton Abbott.
Marshall and Bretton will be back for the next season, along with Zahra Ahmadi as DS Esther Williams, Dylan Llewellyn as PC Kelby Hartford, Felicity Montagu as office support Margo Martins, and Barbara Flynn as Martha's mother, Anne Lloyd. Tony Jordan will return as showrunner, leading the same team of writers from Season 1 (Kat Rose-Martin, Ian Jarvis, Rebecca Wojciechowski). Season 2 will run six episodes.
Beyond Paradise's Festive Special is expected to premiere in December 2023 on the BBC and hopefully soon follow on BritBox. Season 2 will arrive sometime in the first half of 2024.
