Is Don Warrington officially leaving Death in Paradise as The Commissioner?

Don Warrington has played Commissioner Selwyn Patterson since the very first season of Death in Paradise.

Indeed, The Commissioner is the only character in Death in Paradise season 14, who appeared in the first ever episode, "Arriving in Paradise", in 2011. Catherine Bordey (Élizabeth Bourgine) didn't show up until the second episode of season 1.

However, one of the main plots of series 14 was the news that The Commissioner's job is being phased out. In Death in Paradise season 14 episode 5, The Commissioner got "narky", as DI Mervin Wilson (Don Gilet) put it, as it was revealed that it was his final week on the job. Despite Catherine raising a massive petition to keep him, the bosses were determined to end The Commissioner's role in Saint Marie.

Then in episode six, The Commissioner packed up his office, and his "replacement", Sterling Fox arrived. Then, in episodes seven and eight the story concluded. Here's everything we know...

Is Don Warrington officially leaving Death in Paradise as The Commissioner? (spoilers if you've not seen the final episode)

Don Warrington hasn't officially left Death in Paradise as Commissioner Selwyn Patterson. Neither the actor nor the show has said we've seen the last of the character. However, in the final episode of season 14, Selwyn revealed he'd been offered his job back and refused. He mentioned that he would go and visit his daughter, Andrina. The door is then open for Don Warrington to appear in Death in Paradise season 15. However, it appears likely that the character won't be in every episode and instead might make guest appearances.

As background to all of this, in episode six of series 14, Sterling Fox arrived. He was not a direct replacement as he's managing several islands including Saint Marie. In his introduction episode, it's clear Sterling is rather smug and dismissive of what Selwyn does. He's soon annoying the team, especially with his talk of cost-cutting.

Indeed, in episode 7, new boss Sterling (Trieve Blackwood-Cambridge) attempts to shut down Mervin’s investigation into the death of his mother, Dorna Bray (EastEnders' Judith Jacob). But this backfires on Sterling as Mervin catches the killer, with Selwyn's help, and shows that Sterling almost let a murderer roam free on the island.

In episode 8, a newspaper headline makes it clear Sterling is in disgrace, and the bosses offer Selwyn his job back. However, he refuses.

What medals does Selwyn have?

According to an official fan site among Selwyn's many medals are the Queen Elizabeth II Silver Jubilee Medal, the Queen's Golden Jubilee Medal, the Police Long Service and Good Conduct Medal, Saint Marie's Lifetime Award for Services to the Island Medal and the Queen's Gallantry Medal.

What does The Commissioner actually do in Death in Paradise?

This is the question that many of his DIs have asked over the years! Well, one thing he does is recruit the team, and fair play to him he has a real talent for finding brilliant DIs who are from the UK. He's also good at mentoring members of the team and trying to get the best out of them.

After this quite how he fills his days is something of a mystery, although he does deal with the big bosses. He loves yachting and we wonder if he sometimes sneaks off for a quick sail around Saint Marie harbour on quieter days. In terms of actually solving cases, he doesn't do a lot. It seemed a bit much in episode 5 of the most recent series when he started barking at the team for failing to solve the case in record time and then offered nothing in the way of any help. Indeed, it's amazing how loyal his team is given how narky he gets.

Death in Paradise season 14 is available on BBC iPlayer in the UK and BritBox in the US. Every episode screened to date on the BBC is available on BBC iPlayer. We also have a rundown of the best-ever Death in Paradise episodes.