Death in Paradise fan-favourite breaks silence over “emotional” exit on the BBC crime series

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Ginny Holder, known for her role in Death in Paradise, has shared her feelings about leaving the show shortly after the announcement was made.

Following the announcement of her exit from the show on Wednesday, January 21st, actress Darlene Curtis shared a heartfelt message on Instagram reflecting on her time with the series.

Holder expressed her gratitude to the BBC and Red Planet Pictures for the opportunity to play Darlene. She shared that she had grown very fond of the character and found saying goodbye surprisingly emotional, admitting she truly misses playing her.

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The popular actor also shared heartfelt thanks to her colleagues, calling the cast and crew of Death in Paradise a wonderfully talented, kind, and happy team. She said working with them was a true honor and that she’ll always treasure the experience.

I want to give a huge thank you to James Hall for creating such a wonderful character. Darlene felt incredibly real, and I’m so thankful I got to bring her to life with my voice.

Holder exits the BBC crime series after seven years on the show leaving fans broken hearted.

One viewer expressed their disappointment about Ginny leaving, writing, “I can’t believe you won’t be back!” They praised her performance, especially recalling the moment when Selwyn asked Darlene to become part of the Saint Marie police team, saying Ginny was their biggest supporter.

I was so bummed to read she won’t be joining! Seriously, she’s gorgeous, hilarious, and just brings amazing energy to everything she does. I’m really hoping this just means she’s moving on to a new project I can follow – I can’t wait to see what she does next!

Holder also expressed her thanks to her fans for their continued support and affection for Darlene.

I’m incredibly grateful to all the fans – your support for Darlene has meant everything to me. Being nominated for Best Supporting Actress at the TV Times Awards was a truly humbling experience, and I’m so thankful. Thank you all for making this such an amazing journey!

It’s still unknown how the show will conclude Darlene’s storyline in the next season, or if she’ll have a proper farewell scene. However, her departure creates space for a new character, Sergeant Mattie Fletcher (played by Catherine Garton), whose difficult history will make her adjustment to the Saint Marie police force challenging.

Garton’s casting was revealed through a joint post on Instagram, shared by both her and the official Death in Paradise account, with the message: “Get ready to head back to Saint Marie!”

The cast is returning with familiar faces like Don Gilet, Don Warrington, Shantol Jackson, Shaquille Ali-Yebuah, and Élizabeth Bourgine, and we’re excited to introduce Catherine Garton as the new character, Sergeant Mattie Fletcher!

The new season of Death in Paradise begins on BBC One on Friday, January 30th. You can also stream all episodes of Death in Paradise, as well as its spin-offs Beyond Paradise and Return to Paradise, on BBC iPlayer right now.

Read more Death in Paradise news on our dedicated homepage

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2026-01-26 21:20