Beyond Paradise’s Christmas special crossover had a hidden detail you might have missed

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Following a humorous, failed attempt at getting married at the end of last season, Martha (Sally Bretton) and Humphrey (Kris Marshall) from Beyond Paradise have officially wed – in typical, delightfully chaotic fashion, and secretly, no less!

Humphrey was kept in the dark, but most viewers probably guessed Martha’s plan as soon as she urged him to leave work promptly at five, claiming they were going Christmas shopping – which clearly meant they were actually going to get married.

Fans had a bit of a head start thanks to some preview photos released before the Christmas special aired. One photo, in particular, featured the couple dressed in incredibly fancy outfits – much more formal than their usual Sunday best. It’s not every day someone gets to wear a floor-length ivory gown, after all.

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Although their wedding wasn’t as exciting for fans as it was for Humphrey himself, a delightful surprise arrived with a special Christmas crossover event.

Commissioner Selwyn (Don Warrington) from Death in Paradise traveled to the UK from Saint Marie, Guadeloupe, to briefly attend Humphrey’s wedding before visiting his daughter.

We always love seeing characters from different Paraverse shows meet, and we’re still hoping for a Return to Paradise crossover! But Selwyn’s recent appearance is particularly interesting – it connects back to the very first season of the spin-off series, something even dedicated fans might have missed.

When Martha’s former boyfriend, Archie, caused problems for her relationship with Humphrey, it seemed very unlikely they would ever get married.

Archie’s intense infatuation with Martha, combined with their struggles to have a child, caused them to break up.

Things were rough after my breakup, so I, Detective Inspector Humphrey Goodman, hopped on a plane back to Saint Marie, hoping some sun and relaxation would help me clear my head. I was lucky enough to get some really solid advice from Commissioner Selwyn right on the beach – he’s a straight shooter, but always cares. Little did I know I needed that pep talk, because that’s when Martha showed up. It was… unexpected, to say the least.

After their painful split, the two realized just how much they missed having each other in their lives.

Martha hesitantly asked Humphrey if he truly meant their conversation about not being able to have children. He responded, “You are my whole family; I wouldn’t be who I am without you.”

These lines and the way they resolve mirror a conversation Martha had in the recent Christmas episode. When her mother questioned her decision to have a secret wedding, Martha explained: “It’s always been our pattern – through IVF and fostering, we’ve always worried we needed something more to be happy. We’ve doubted if we were enough for each other, and this is how I want to show him that he’s all I need, just being by my side.”

It was really sweet seeing her try to comfort Humphrey. It reminded me of that time on Saint Marie’s beach when he was the one looking out for her. They’ve both been through a lot, and it was just a nice moment to see them finally trusting each other and deciding to really give their relationship a shot.

Selwyn could have appeared at any point this season, but his arrival now—particularly with the writers hinting at a separate storyline for him in this special episode—strongly suggests this is a planned return to where things began.

Their connection deepens with shared promises and sweet gestures, creating another cherished memory. These moments build upon the already strong bond between Martha and Humphrey, solidifying their status as the most adored couple in the Paraverse.

You can watch Beyond Paradise, Death in Paradise, and Return to Paradise on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.

Read more Beyond Paradise news on our dedicated homepage

Okay, so I’m already planning my Christmas TV marathon, and I just found the Good Housekeeping Christmas TV Guide. It’s got listings for 14 whole days of festive shows – perfect for getting everything sorted! It’s only £4.75 and I grabbed mine at Morrisons, but you can find it at most magazine shops.

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2025-12-22 01:20