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Rhianna Benson

Death In Paradise: All the famous stars you forgot had made an appearance in the BBC drama

Tropical crime-drama series Death in Paradise has accumulated a base of loyal fans since it first aired in 2011, partially due to its scenic Island location, partially due to its quick-thinking murder mysteries.

Another factor which seems to keep keen viewers constantly coming back for more are the famous guest stars that make an appearance with each new series.

Read more: Big Brother: Where are all the stars from series one?

Although the main detective changes every few seasons - having been played by Ben Miller, Kris Marshall, Ardal O'Hanlon and Ralf Little - the BBC hit is famed for its celebrity cameos.

But who can you remember having starred in the show?

Mathew Horne

Gavin Shipman himself made an appearance on the island as Leo Downs in the second series of the show back in 2013 before he was killed off at the hands of co-star Stephen Boxer.

Mathew Horne and Ben Miller in Death in Paradise (BBC)

The sketch show star - who first made his name in 2004 as a regular on The Catherine Tate Show - has also starred in the likes of Doc Martin, Bad Education and Dad's Army: The Last Episodes.

Most notably, he featured alongside Joanna Page, James Corden and Ruth Jones in the double-BAFTA-winning series Gavin & Stacey, which ran from 2007-2010.

Helen Baxendale

Friends fans out there will more than familiar with Helen Baxendale, as she played the possibly the most-hated character on the show, Ross's wife Emily - do you remember? She wouldn't let him hang out with Rachel!

Helen Baxendale as a guest star in the third series of BBC One's drama Death in Paradise (Handout/PA Wire)

Anyway, though she might not have intended to play such a villainous character in the US sitcom, she certainly did a fabulous job of playing the murderous Helen Reid in the smash hit BBC episode Death of a Detective, which saw her brutally killing DI Richard Poole with an icepick!

Those of you who might not recognise her from Friends may have spotted her in the likes of Cold Feet - for which she was cast as one of the original stars - Truth or Dare, The Investigator and Cuckoo. In recent years, she's also appeared in Channel 5's Agatha and the Midnight Murders as the crime writer herself.

Adrian Dunbar

Line Of Duty legend Adrian Dunbar made a guest appearance in the tropical detective series all the way back in 2011 for two episodes, which saw him play murder suspect Aidan Miles in Among Us and Music of Murder.

The Northern Irish actor is known for co-writing and starring in the 1991 film Hear My Song, which bagged him a BAFTA nomination, as well as for playing Ted Hastings in the BBC cop drama, Line Of Duty.

He's also made appearances in blockbusters such as psychological thriller The Snowman, crime-comedy Triggermen and Irish mystery movie Widows' Peak.

Gemma Chan

Fans of the Marvel Universe will be more than familiar with our next Death in Paradise guest star.

Marvel Cinematic Universe's star, Gemma Chan on the BBC crime drama (BBC)

Best known for playing Minn-Erva in Captain Marvel and as Sersi in Eternals, actress Gemma Chan previously landed a 2013 role in the St. Marie drama as Jennifer Cheung, who coincidentally featured opposite Mathew Horne in his episodes.

She's also starred in her fair share of popular TV shows, such as Doctor Who, Sherlock, Secret Diary of a Call Girl and Fresh Meat.

Neil Morrisey

ANOTHER Line of Duty star that starred as a big-name guest is Neil Morrisey, who played Duncan Roberts in an episode ominously named Swimming in Murder, which also happened to feature Sally Phillips and Francis Magee.

Neil Morrisey in Death in Paradise (Rex)

He might be best known however, for having played womanising, well-meaning Tony in '90s sitcom Men Behaving Badly, as well as having appeared in school-drama Waterloo Road as Deputy Head Eddie Lawson.

You might also be surprised to discover that Morrissey provides the voice of many Bob the Builder cartoon characters, including Bob, Roley, Lofty, Mr. Angelo Sabatini, Mr. Fothergill, Farmer Pickles and Scrufty. Who knew?!

Samantha Bond

Back in 2019, former lover of 007 - coincidentally named Samantha Bond - appeared in Season 9 of Death in Paradise as Steve Pemberton's on-screen wife Joanne Henderson.

Samantha Bond has starred in both James Bond and Downton Abbey (Nick Ansell/PA Wire)

The ex-Miss Moneypenny, 59, starred opposite Pierce Brosnan’s 007 in four movies, GoldenEye, Tomorrow Never Dies, The World Is Not Enough and Die Another Day.

She can also be spotted in Downton Abbey as wealthy widow Lady Rosamund Painswick, as well as in the Rumpole of the Bailey series as "Miz Liz" Probert.

Martin Compston

I promise this is the last Line of Duty star I'll go on about. But would you believe it? Another one! Martin Compston, best known for his role as Anti-Corruption Unit Detective Inspector Steve Arnott, also starred in Death in Paradise five years ago when DI Humphrey Goodman (played by Kris Marshall) was in charge of the Island.

Line of Duty legend Martin Compston (BBC)

The Scottish actor - who also happens to be a former professional footballer - bagged a regular role in the BBC series Monarch of the Glen before bagging the blockbuster parts of Mike O'Shea alongside Robert Downey Jr in A Guide to Recognising Your Saints, for which he was awarded a Best Supporting Actor BAFTA, as well as of Joe McCain in Soulboy.

In recent years, he's appeared in BBC drama series The Nest and ITV miniseries The Ice Cream Girls.

Tamzin Outhwaite

EastEnders actress Tamzin Outhwaite has been starring on the brand new series of Death in Paradise as Holly Faircroft, a role which she referred to as a "bucket list job".

Death In Paradise - Desreta King (playd by Faith Alabi), Marlon Pryce (Tahj Miles), Naomi Thomas (Shantol Jackson), Jake Faircroft (Oscar Morgan), Holly Faircroft (Tamzin Outhwaite), Connor Faircroft (Jason Done) (BBC/Red Planet - Photographer: Denis Guyenon)

Outhwaite, who took a "permanent break" from playing Mel Owen in the London soap in a blaze of glory two years ago, is seemingly hoping for a less brutal end for her Island character when the series concludes.

The actress has also starred in numerous theatre and television productions, including army series Red Cap where she played Sgt. Jo McDonagh, crime drama New Tricks where she landed the role of DCI Sasha Miller and ITV series The Fixer, where she appeared as lead Rose Chamberlain.

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