Death in Paradise Christmas Special 2025: Release Date Announced

Last Updated on April 22, 2026

As someone who looks forward to a festive murder mystery every year, I am very pleased to say that Death in Paradise will return once again with a Christmas Special in 2025.

It has become part of my own seasonal viewing, and from the messages I get from readers, I know many of you feel the same.

The BBC has now confirmed the date, the cast, and a few early story details, and there is even news about the next season in 2026.

So here is everything I know so far, gathered in one place for easy reading.

For anyone who may be new to the series, Death in Paradise is a gentle crime drama set on the fictional Caribbean island of Saint Marie.

Each episode follows the local police team as they solve a murder case using steady detective work, close study of clues, and the classic set-piece explanation scene.

It has a simple rhythm that fans treasure. The warm setting, the bright colors, the light humor, and the familiar structure make the show easy to enjoy, even when the plot involves dark deeds.

The series is now well past its tenth year on air, which in itself says a lot about how fond viewers are of it.

Every detective who has stepped into the lead role has brought something slightly different. Some have been more awkward, some more relaxed, and some more confident, yet the core of the show has stayed the same.

The regular cast has changed many times over the years, but the blend of police work, small island life, friendships, visiting characters, and gentle comedy has remained steady.

This is exactly what helps it work so well at Christmas, when people want something light to watch with the family.

The 2025 Christmas Special

The BBC has confirmed that the 2025 Christmas Special will air on BBC One on Sunday, 28 December 2025, which places it nicely between Christmas and New Year, when many of us are still winding down.

The special is said to run longer than a normal episode, which has become the standard format for the festive outing.

While the full plot is being kept secret for now, the BBC has shared enough to give a good flavor of what to expect.

This year’s special sees DI Mervin Wilson and the team investigating after four co-workers wake up from the office Christmas party of a lifetime to find a stranger dead in the pool of their luxury Caribbean villa.

The twist? The murder weapon appears to have been locked in a drawer thousands of miles away in Swindon when the killing took place, forcing the team to call on a familiar face to help crack the impossible case.​

While Mervin is juggling the investigation, he’s also anxiously waiting to hear from his newly discovered brother, leaving him struggling to get into the Saint Marie Christmas spirit.

I always find that the festive specials allow the writers to stretch the story slightly further than usual, and this one seems set to follow that pattern.

The mystery is said to be a little more layered, but still light enough for holiday viewing.

Cast For Christmas 2025

The Christmas Special brings back the full Saint Marie team led by DI Mervin Wilson, played by Don Gilet, who took over the reins in 2024 and has settled into the role with a style that fans now recognise at once.

He is joined again by DS Naomi Thomas, played by Shantol Jackson, whose steady approach often keeps the investigations on track.

Marlon Pryce, played by Tahj Miles, returns as the lively officer who brings both energy and honest reactions to the strange cases that land on the team’s desk.

Catherine Bordey, played by Élizabeth Bourgine, appears once more as the heart of the island’s social life, but a big question remains over whether we will see Commissioner Selwyn Patterson, played by Don Warrington.

For those who are bang up to date with the show, you will remember that Selwyn was forced out of his job last season and even though the powers that be did a u-turn, he decided to call it a day.

Does that mean he is gone for good? We will just have to wait and see!

The special will also welcome a set of guest stars, which is always part of the fun.

The BBC has shared the full festive line-up that includes Josie Lawrence, Kate Ashfield, Pearl Mackie, James Baxter, Billy Harris, Oriana Charles, and Alix Serman.

When And Where You Can Watch It

The British broadcast is clear. The Death in Paradise Christmas Special 2025 will air on BBC One at 9pm on Sunday 28 December 2025.

As usual, it will also be available on BBC iPlayer shortly after the live broadcast.

For viewers outside the UK, things are a little slower. At the moment, there is no confirmed US air date for the 2025 special.

Based on past years, the most likely home for it will be BritBox, which carries the series in the United States and usually adds the festive episode a few weeks after the UK screening.

Until the platform confirms it, fans in the US will have to wait for an official announcement.

Viewers in Australia and Canada normally receive the special not too long after the UK as well, often through local broadcasters or streaming services linked to the BBC.

The 2026 Season

Alongside the Christmas news, the BBC has already said that Death in Paradise will return for a full new season in 2026, as will its spin-off series, Beyond Paradise, which also has its own Special in 2025.

So far, there is no set release date for the new season, but looking at the show’s usual pattern, it should appear in January and February of 2026.

The new season will continue with the same detective and main cast, and early signs suggest another run of sun-filled murder cases mixed with the show’s gentle humour.

The writers have also hinted that the new season may explore a small shift in team dynamics, although no firm details have been made public.

Fun For All The Family

I always look forward to these Christmas specials, and the 2025 one looks set to give us everything we expect from a festive visit to Saint Marie.

A warm setting, a puzzling case, plenty of suspects, and the friendly faces of the island police.

Whether you watch it live on BBC One or catch up on iPlayer, it promises to be a pleasant addition to the quiet days after Christmas.

I will be watching, and I hope many of you will be as well.