Return to Paradise is a new Death in Paradise spin-off starring former Home and Away actress Anna Samson as London Metropolitan police officer DI Mackenzie Clarke who's forced to return home to Australia. And we now finally have a UK release date!
It's the second Death in Paradise spin-off, following on from the success of Beyond Paradise, which sees Kris Marshall returning to his role as DI Humphrey Goodman as he enjoys a new life in Devon with partner Martha.
The new show is six parts and was filmed across Sydney and the idyllic Illawarra coastal region.
In the trailer, we see DI Mackenzie Clarke returning home to Australia and getting stick from a taxi driver for coming back after what she did. Then in a scene very similar to what you might see on Death in Paradise, there's a body on a beach with a knife in it. "A new Aussie take on Death in Paradise," the trailer declares. We even see a chase on a beach, just like Death in Paradise.
We also know that Ardal O'Hanlon makes a guest appearance as DI Jack Mooney, former lead detective on Death in Paradise.
Anna Samson tells us: "Yes, this is a wonderful nod to the original show. There's a phone ringing and a shot of London that reels you in — then we see it's DI Jack Mooney calling. He is Mackenzie's boss at the Metropolitan Police, which she left under a cloud of suspicion. Mooney's overseeing the 'trouble', but he can only tell Mackenzie so much, as it's all very secret.
"I didn’t actually get to meet Ardal as he was filming in London while I was shooting in Australia, but I would love to."
Here's everything we know...
Return to Paradise release date
Return to Paradise will start on BBC One on Friday, November 22 at 8 pm and it will be available as a boxset from November 22 on BBC iPlayer.
Return to Paradise went out on ABC in Australia with all episodes having aired. That means they can now all be streamed for free on its ABC iview streaming service.
What's the plot?
Meet Mackenzie Clarke, a high-ranking officer in the London Metropolitan Police. She's of course known for being brilliant at solving tricky cases. But she's forced to return home to Australia after being accused of tampering with evidence.
The main twist here on Death in Paradise and Beyond Paradise is we are following the adventures of a female detective, rather than a male cop. Mack returns to her childhood home of Dolphin Cove, which is stunningly beautiful and a place that she loathes!
The makers tease: "Having fled the town six years ago, infamously leaving her ex- fiancée Glenn (Tai Hara) at the altar, Mackenzie is not welcome here.
"But with no other job options, and a unique talent for solving a mystery, no matter how challenging, a reluctant Mack joins the team at Dolphin Cove Police Station. Once a case lands on her desk, she can't rest until she’s figured it out, and the killer is in handcuffs. It’s that tenacity and work ethic that might just, over time, help Mackenzie win over her new colleagues, and the people of Dolphin Cove."
Return to Paradise cast
Anna Samson (Dead Lucky, Wake in Fright, Home and Away) stars as Mackenzie Clarke. Other key cast includes Lloyd Griffith (Ted Lasso, Nolly), Tai Hara (Home and Away, Colin From Accounts, Austin), Catherine McClements (Total Control, Ms Fisher’s Modern Murder Mysteries), Celia Ireland (Wentworth, Total Control), Andrea Demetriades (Mother and Son, The Artful Dodger) and Aaron McGrath (Gold Diggers, Preppers).
As mentioned Ardal O'Hanlon guests as DI Jack Mooney.
Is Dolphin Cove a real place?
Yes, there’s a place called Dolphin Cove in Australia. Dolphin Cove though isn't a town but rather a beautiful beach which is a tourist attraction in the Cape Arid National Park in Western Australia. There was also an American TV series called Dolphin Cove, which ran for one series in 1989, and was also set in Australia.
Is there a trailer?
Yes, see above.
Return to Paradise behind the scenes and more
Return to Paradise is produced by BBC Studios Productions Australia and Red Planet Pictures. The series is co-created and executive-produced by Peter Mattessi, James Hall and Robert Thorogood. Di Haddon is producer. Executive producers for BBC Studios Productions Australia are Kylie Washington and Warren Clarke, for Red Planet Pictures are Belinda Campbell and Tim Key and for ABC are Rachel Okine and Brett Sleigh.
