Who's leaving Death in Paradise in 2026? The rumours circle one star, but nothing's confirmed
Death in Paradise has a long history of rotating its cast.
Lead detectives have come and gone — Ben Miller, Kris Marshall, Ardal O'Hanlon, Ralf Little — and supporting characters regularly cycle out. So when series 15 premiered on January 30, 2026, fans were already watching for signs of who might be next.
What actually happened
The confirmed departure in series 15 was Ginny Holder, who played Officer Darlene Curtis since series 7 in 2018. Her exit was announced on the show's social media shortly before the new season began, following a near-total absence from the 2025 Christmas special (she was only heard briefly via phone). The official statement thanked Holder and left the door open for a possible return.
Don Gilet continues as DI Mervin Wilson, having replaced Ralf Little's DI Neville Parker at the end of series 13. Shantol Jackson (DS Naomi Thomas), Don Warrington (Commissioner Selwyn Patterson), Élizabeth Bourgine (Catherine Bordey), and Shaquille Ali-Yebuah (Officer Sebastian Rose) all returned for series 15. A new addition, Catherine Garton, joined as Sergeant Mattie Fletcher.
The rumours
Don Warrington's return actually surprised many fans, as his character was written out mid-series 14 for a family crisis. Some viewers assumed the departure was permanent, but Warrington confirmed it was always a temporary storyline — there was no behind-the-scenes drama.
As of now, no further cast exits have been announced for the upcoming series 16 or the 2026 Christmas special. The show has been recommissioned, and the core team appears stable.