Death in Paradise fans panic as fan-favourite character appears to be missing from next season

by

BBC revealed the cast for season 15 of Death in Paradise, and viewers are quickly asking about the whereabouts of Sergeant Darlene Curtis, played by Ginny Holder.

Don Gilet will return as DI Mervin Wilson for another season of the BBC crime drama. He’ll be joined by series regulars Don Warrington, who plays Commissioner Selwyn Pattison, Shantol Jackson as Detective Sergeant Naomi Thomas, Shaquille Ali-Yebuah as Officer Sebastian Rose, and Elizabeth Bourgine as Catherine Bordey.

The show announced Catherine Garton will join the cast as Sergeant Mattie Fletcher, but didn’t say anything about whether Holder would be returning.

What to Read Next

When Garton’s Mattie announced their arrival on Instagram, many followers immediately wondered where Darlene was.

Fans are wondering what happened to Darlene, with one posting, “What has happened to Darlene? Fan favourite!!!!” Another fan expressed their love for the character and actress, saying, “Where has our Darlene gone? I loved her character; Ginny Holder is a terrific actress.”

Others even tagged the actor to ask: “@ginny.holder Are you not coming back?”

Despite sharing photos from the set starting December 2nd, Ralf Little, known for his role in Death in Paradise, hasn’t yet announced details about the new fifteenth season, which premieres on January 30th.

Digital Spy contacted the BBC to find out if Holder had left the show, but they haven’t received a reply yet.

Holder last appeared in the 2025 Christmas special, making a quick video call to scold Mervin for not wanting to take part in the church’s school nativity play.

It’s currently unclear if Holder will be back for the next season, but the BBC has announced the guest stars who will be joining the crime drama.

Several actors will be appearing in individual episodes, including Siobhan Finneran from Happy Valley, Steffan Rhodri of Gavin & Stacey, Scarlett Alice Johnson from Eastenders, Ace Bhatti known for Malpractice, and Sandra James-Young from Wild Cherry.

Next season on Gilet, Mervin will delve deeper into the complexities of family as he reconnects with his brother, Solomon, played by Daniel Ward.

I’m really getting into this new season of the show! It’s fascinating watching DI Mervin Wilson settle into life on Saint Marie, and of course, he and the team are dealing with all sorts of complicated and mysterious cases. It’s keeping me on the edge of my seat!

I was so excited for Mervin when he found out he had a half-brother, Solomon! It seemed like things were finally looking up for him. But honestly, it didn’t take long for that happiness to fade. They just didn’t really click, and it was disappointing to see they weren’t as alike as Mervin had hoped.

When Commissioner Selwyn Patterson returns, he faces the consequences of being away. Encouraged by his friend Catherine Bordey, he’s committed to regaining the islanders’ trust.

Detective Sergeant Naomi Thomas and Officer Sebastian Rose are showing new recruit Sergeant Mattie Fletcher the ropes, but her adjustment won’t be simple. Secrets from her past are starting to surface, creating complications.

Season 15 of Death in Paradise begins on BBC One on Friday, January 30th. You can also stream Death in Paradise along with its spin-offs, Beyond Paradise and Return to Paradise, on BBC iPlayer right now.

Read more Death in Paradise news on our dedicated homepage

Read More

2026-01-20 15:21