The BBC has announced ‘Return to Paradise‘, the Australia-based original spin-off to the global smash-hit murder mystery franchise ‘Death in Paradise’, has begun filming, with Anna Samson as the first lead female detective for the franchise.
Filming in various locations across Sydney and the idyllic Illawarra coastal region, the intriguing and entertaining whodunit 6-part drama follows Anna Samson (Dead Lucky, Wake in Fright, Home and Away) as DI Mackenzie Clarke, an Australian ex-pat who’s made a name for herself in London’s Metropolitan Police for cracking uncrackable murder cases. When she is accused of tampering with evidence, Mackenzie returns to Australia, back to the last place she ever wanted to be – her hometown of Dolphin Cove. 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.
Joining Samson in the series are 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).
Produced by BBC Studios Productions Australia, Red Planet Pictures. Co-Created and Executive Produced by Peter Mattessi, James Hall and Robert Thorogood. Producer: Di Haddon. 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.
“I’m beyond excited to welcome Producer Di Haddon and our two fabulous directors Mat King and Tenika Smith who are coming together with our amazing cast to bring the world of Return to Paradise to life,” said Co-Creator and Executive Producer Peter Mattessi. “We are having so much fun creating this brand-new mystery series that brings an Australian twist to one of the globe’s most successful television franchises. We think audiences in Australia, UK and around the world are going to fall in love with our wonderful characters, our delicious whodunits, and our gorgeous coastal Australian locations.”
The series will have a distinctively Australian flare, while playing homage to the “Paraverse” which fans love. It is produced by BBC Studios Productions Australia with Red Planet Pictures for the ABC in association with the BBC, who will screen the series on BBC One and iPlayer in the UK. It will be distributed globally by BBC Studios.
‘Return to Paradise‘ Season 1 does not yet have a premiere date, but will air on BBC One and BBC iPlayer in the UK, and ABC and ABC iview later in 2024 in Australia. If you want to keep track of this or any other show, you can add them via our Never Miss system, and you’ll be notified when it gets a UK premiere date.
