Prepare to be beach ready as a new murder mystery series takes off from the stunning setting of Australia’s east coast.
Return to Paradise is the Australian spin-off of the popular BBC murder mystery franchise Death in Paradise, following the story of DI Mackenzie Clarke.
The Aussie officer who goes back to her hometown after time spent with the Met Police in London but there is no warm welcome awaiting her.
Co-created and produced by Peter Mattessi, James Hall and Robert Thorogood, the latter was also behind Death in Paradise.
This is the second spin-off series after Beyond Paradise, which is set in the West Country and stars Kris Marshall.
We take a look at what viewers can expect from the new series.
What is Return to Paradise about?
Australian ex-pat Mackenzie Clarke has made a name for herself in the Metropolitan Police in London for solving difficult murder cases.
But when she is accused of tampering with evidence, she returns to her native Australia and her hometown of Dolphin Cove.
She fled the town six years ago, after infamously leaving her ex- fiancée Glenn at the altar. So she is not welcomed back with open arms.
However, with no other job options she joins the team at Dolphin Cove Police Station.
And when local real estate agent Stuart Granger washes ashore with a knife in his back in the middle of a surf carnival, Mackenzie must turn to the residents to help her.
Who is in the Return to Paradise cast?
Anna Samson
Anna Samson leads the cast as Detective Inspector Mackenzie Clarke, who has returned to Australia after making a name for herself with the Met Police in London.
Samson, 34, said: “Mackenzie Clark really appeals to me because she is unlike many women I’ve played before.
“She thinks quickly, and that’s always fun to play on camera.”
The British-born actress, who grew up in Australia, has previously appeared in Home and Away, Dead Lucky and Jack Irish.
Lloyd Griffith
Lloyd Griffith plays Detective senior Constable Colin Cartwright in Return to Paradise.
Speaking about his role, he said: “The character is very similar to who I am – a tubby bloke from England who gets very excited about living in Australia.”
Griffith, 41, is a British actor, comedian, singer and sports presenter.
He has presented the The Premier League Show, and Soccer Am and appeared in Drunk History, Ted Lasso, Bad Education and Nolly.
As a comedian he has supported Rob Beckett and Jack Whitehall on tours and sings as a deputy in the choirs of St George’s Chapel Windsor Castle and Westminster Abbey.
Tai Hara
Tai Hara stars as Dr Glenn Strong, a forensic pathologist in Dolphin Cove and Mackenzie Clarke’s former fiancé.
Hara described his character as “solid, reliable, methodical, he’s an outdoors man, good with his hands.
“He’s a bit of a jack of all trades, but he’s also wildly passionate about that his job.”
The 35-year-old Australian actor is a veteran of Home and Away, like Samson, and has also appeared in Colin From Accounts.
Catherine McClements
Catherine McClements stars as Senior Sergeant Philomena Strong, the mother of Glenn Strong.
The Australian actress rose to fame on the Australian police drama Water Rats and starred in the TV series Tangle, for which she won an Australian Film Institute Award.
She has also appeared in Wentworth, Sisters, the Netflix series Pieces of Her and Total Control
The remaining cast are:
- Celia Ireland as Reggie Rocco (Wentworth, Total Control)
- Aaron McGrath as PC Felix Wilkinson (Gold Diggers, Preppers)
- Andrea Demetriades as Daisy Dixon (Mother and Son, The Artful Dodger)
- Ardal O’Hanlon as Detective Inspector Jack Mooney (Father Ted, Death in Paradise)
- Ron Smyck as Trevor Bongiovanni (Spiderhead, Troppo)
Where is Return to Paradise filmed?
Return to Paradise was filmed on location across Sydney and the Illawarra coastal region in New South Wales.
Set in the beachside town of Dolphin Cove, the coastal region south east of Sydney which includes Wollongong and Shellharbour was used for much of the filming.
Speaking about the filming locations, Samson said: “Regional small towns have a specific vibe – and where we’re shooting on the south coast of New South Wales has a vibe.
“Shooting there gives an authentic quality to the show.”
Sea Cliff Bridge, Thirroul Village, Wombarra Bowlo, Stanwell Park Beach Reserve and Coledale Beach are just some of the locations which viewers may recognise.
Griffith said: “These locations are unbelievable.
“The beaches in Australia are just out of this world.”
How many episodes are there?
Return to Paradise has already aired in Australia in September this year.
Now the six-episode series is about to start on the BBC.
The first episode will be broadcast on BBC One at 8pm on Friday 22 November, with the remaining five episodes broadcast on successive Fridays.
The entire series is also available to stream BBC iPlayer from Friday 22 November.
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