Viewers often note the beautiful settings in which Death in Paradise is filmed. (Pictures: BBC / Red Planet /Denis Guyenon)
Death in Paradise offers viewers the chance to escape the cold dark nights for an hour each week – and feast their eyes on its sun-soaked locations.
It really would be paradise… if it weren’t for all the grisly murders.
With series 12 of the BBC show now underway, viewers will get yet another chance to see some extraordinary crimes in beautiful locations.
So, where exactly is the fictional island of Saint-Marie? Is it a real island, and can you visit?
Here’s all you need to know.
Where is Death in Paradise filmed?
If you want to visit the Death in Paradise set, you’ll have to pack your bags and head to the airport, as it’s filmed in Guadeloupe.
This Caribbean destination – not too far from Dominica, Antigua and Barbuda and Montserrat – isn’t a country.
It’s technically a department of France and is not a single island but an archipelago.
Town of Bourg des Saintes in Guadeloupe (Picture: Getty)
While it might look like paradise, filming hasn’t been without its challenges in recent years.
The 10th series was filmed in the middle of the Covid-19 pandemic, and the murder mystery show was called to a halt mid-way through series seven back in 2017.
A red alert was sounded before Hurricane Irma crossed the island.
The French local authorities on Guadeloupe warned people at the time to ‘stay confined. Don’t go out under any circumstances’ – after posting a video showing winds of over 209 km/h.
Guadeloupe is where Death in Paradise the BBC drama is filmed (Picture: Google Maps)
Death in Paradise resumed filming once it was deemed safe to do so.
Ardal O’Hanlon spoke to Radio Times about the inclement weather, saying: ‘We were lucky that the worst of the storms missed us.
‘We had Irma, a nasty one called Jose and then Maria, which was the real monster. It wiped out nearby Dominica, which was really sad.
‘But the team is prepared for it: there are people tracking the hurricanes very closely.’
What’s in store for Death In Paradise season 12?
After their Christmas special ‘Ghost story’ aired over the festive season and saw the team investigate the murder of a podcaster, season 12 of Death In Paradise kicked off on Friday, January 6.
In episode one, the team investigated the mysterious death of an astronomer after he fell from a cliff during a rare planetary event. There’s also the potential for a new love interest for Neville in the form of Sophie, who is also from Manchester.
The second episode of the series takes the team to a preppers’ commune to investigate a poisoning, but according to the cast, series 12 has plenty of interesting plot twists in store – including a trip to a new island.
Star of the show, Ralph Little, has said: ‘St Barnabas is such a small island that the only police force they have is one guy who was Naomi’s mentor, so they quickly enlist our help.
‘All Caribbean islands have their own unique tone and vibe, so it was a nice challenge to portray the slightly different vibes of the islands.’
Death in Paradise series 12 continues tonight, January 13 on BBC One at 9pm
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Things aren’t always rosy in paradise.
