Return to Paradise is a new Death in Paradise spin-off starring former Home and Away actress Anna Samson as London Metropolitan police officer DI Mackenzie Clarke who's forced to return home to Australia. And the whole series is now available in the UK via BBC iPlayer!
It's the second Death in Paradise spin-off, following on from the success of Beyond Paradise, which sees Kris Marshall returning to his role as DI Humphrey Goodman as he enjoys a new life in Devon with partner Martha.
The series is six parts and it was filmed across Sydney and the idyllic Illawarra coastal region.
In the trailer, we see DI Mackenzie Clarke returning home to Australia and getting stick from a taxi driver for coming back after what she did. Then in a scene very similar to what you might see on Death in Paradise, there's a body on a beach with a knife in it. "A new Aussie take on Death in Paradise," the trailer declares. We even see a chase on a beach, just like Death in Paradise.
Ardal O'Hanlon makes a guest appearance as DI Jack Mooney, the former lead detective on Death in Paradise.
Anna Samson tells us: "Yes, this is a wonderful nod to the original show. There's a phone ringing and a shot of London that reels you in — then we see it's DI Jack Mooney calling. He is Mackenzie's boss at the Metropolitan Police, which she left under a cloud of suspicion. Mooney's overseeing the 'trouble', but he can only tell Mackenzie so much, as it's all very secret.
"I didn’t actually get to meet Ardal as he was filming in London while I was shooting in Australia, but I would love to."
Here's everything we know...
Return to Paradise release date
Return to Paradise started on BBC One on Friday, November 22 at 8 pm. The second episode airs Friday, November 29 at 8 pm. The whole series is available as a boxset on BBC iPlayer.
Return to Paradise went out on ABC in Australia with all episodes having aired. That means they can now all be streamed for free on its ABC iview streaming service.
What's the plot?
Meet Mackenzie Clarke, a high-ranking officer in the London Metropolitan Police. She's of course known for being brilliant at solving tricky cases. But she's forced to return home to Australia after being accused of tampering with evidence.
The main twist here on Death in Paradise and Beyond Paradise is we are following the adventures of a female detective, rather than a male cop. Mack returns to her childhood home of Dolphin Cove, which is stunningly beautiful and a place that she loathes!
The makers tease: "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."
What happens in episode 1?
Return to Paradise opens on the beach in Dolphin Cove. Stuart Grainger, the president of the local surf club, introduces himself and shows off the trophy they will be competing for. He declares the surf carnival open. In the bar, Stuart smugly kisses his partner and dismissively tells waitress Becky to get cleaning. Becky gives him a look.
We see a property for sale board with husband and wife estate agents Susan and Stuart's pictures on. Stuart shows someone around the property while someone on a motorbike looks on. Back at the beach, the surfers pull a body out of the water. And it’s Stuart! He has a knife plunged in his back. And the theme tune starts...
Soon, Mackenzie Clarke, a high-ranking officer in the London Metropolitan Police, reluctantly arrives back in Dolphin Cove. But despite just wanting to apparently enjoy her time away from London, she quickly finds herself helping the local police try to solve Stuart's murder...
What happens in episode 2?
Just before participating in the Dolphin Cove fun run, entrepreneur Curtis Faleafar calls Mackenzie to warn her that many lives are in danger. He later collapses, apparently poisoned, and Mackenzie is convinced his warning had some connection to his death. Away from matters of work, she also has to work out a way to stop local bathers from taking shortcuts through her property.
Return to Paradise cast
Anna Samson (Dead Lucky, Wake in Fright, Home and Away) stars as Mackenzie Clarke. Other key cast includes 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).
As mentioned Ardal O'Hanlon guests as DI Jack Mooney.
Is Dolphin Cove a real place?
Yes, there’s a place called Dolphin Cove in Australia. Dolphin Cove though isn't a town but rather a beautiful beach which is a tourist attraction in the Cape Arid National Park in Western Australia. There was also an American TV series called Dolphin Cove, which ran for one series in 1989, and was also set in Australia.
Is there a trailer?
Yes, see above.
Return to Paradise behind the scenes and more
Return to Paradise is produced by BBC Studios Productions Australia and Red Planet Pictures. The series is co-created and executive-produced by Peter Mattessi, James Hall and Robert Thorogood. Di Haddon is producer. 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.
