Former Death in Paradise star Ardal O’Hanlon has issued a stark warning to new lead actor Don Gilet about the “gruelling” nature of filming the hit BBC drama.
O’Hanlon, who played DI Jack Mooney from 2017 to 2020, revealed that the demanding production schedule makes it “impossible to do for more than a few years”.
Speaking while promoting his upcoming stand-up tour, the 59-year-old actor described working up to 12 hours a day, six days a week in the challenging Caribbean conditions.
“God, that was tough. Like, people don’t believe you when you tell them how tough it was,” O’Hanlon said.
The Irish comedian admitted that while he was “grateful for that part”, the role required a complete lifestyle transformation, describing it as a “life-changing experience”.
O’Hanlon detailed the intense filming schedule in Guadeloupe, expressing particular envy towards guest actors who had a more relaxed experience.
BBC Death in Paradise: Ardal O’Hanlon used to be the show’s lead detective
BBC
“I used to be so jealous of the guest actors! The suspects and the victim, you know, there’d be five or six guest actors every couple of weeks, and they would come over and they’d have such an amazing time,” he said.
He revealed that producers even gave him a warning talk before filming began, painting “a very bleak picture” of what lay ahead.
“They kind of tell you that at the beginning, like they said, ‘You know, you might last two years or three years, but you know, you probably won’t last four!'” O’Hanlon recalled, according to Mirror.
The actor explained that the role involved dealing with hurricanes, an isolating environment, and even wildlife hazards.
BBC Death in Paradise: Don Gilet makes his debut as the show’s new lead soon
BBC
O’Hanlon played DI Jack Mooney on Death in Paradise for three years, taking over from Kris Marshall in 2017 before departing in 2020.
The role saw him portray a widowed detective inspector who initially assisted the team on a case in London before relocating to Saint Marie.
His eventual departure from the series came after four summers of filming had taken their toll on his family life.
“My family stopped coming out to visit me, that was really the decider,” O’Hanlon explained.
After O’Hanlon’s exit, Ralf Little took over as DI Neville Parker, who remained with the show until the end of series 13 earlier this year.
Little’s departure paved the way for Gilet to join as the new lead detective, DI Mervin Wilson.
Death in Paradise will return this Christmas with Gilet making his debut as DI Mervin Wilson in the festive special, set to air on December 22.
The show continues to be one of the UK’s most successful dramas, with the 2024 series attracting over eight million viewers.
The series has maintained its popularity across multiple lead actor changes, with each new detective bringing their own interpretation to the Caribbean-set crime drama.
The Christmas special will mark a new chapter for the series, following Little’s departure alongside former DS Florence Cassell in the Series 13 finale.
Gilet will become the sixth lead detective to take on the challenging role, following in the footsteps of Ben Miller, Marshall, O’Hanlon, and Little.
