Now and again TV channels come-out with heart-warming programmes that would keep winter blues at bay! ITV gave us “Heart Beat” and “Peak Practice”. Latest such programme, a joint BBC-French production is “Death in Paradise” in its’ third series. It took off slowly but now viewing figure has rocketed to 8 million, even though both main characters have changed.
Original eccentric DI was played by Ben Miller and glamour, beauty provided by Sara Martins, now replaced by Kris Marshall and upcoming French actress Josephine Jobert with light-hearted humour by ever present Danny John-Jules. The Commissioner Selwyn Patterson expertly played by Don Warrington provides upper-lip British haughtiness by black actor!
But winner undoubtedly is the location, the fictional island of San Marie, alias French Guadeloupe, with stunning scenery, sandy beaches, lush tropical forest with coconut palms, tropical flowers, fast flowing streams and muddy roads with pot-holes and traffic chaos in tiny lanes passing through settlements with goats and chicken running wild!
All such glamorous series could not be continued indefinitely, as they obviously run out of plots, story-lines and the latest series show such shortfalls. But who cares, as long as sun is shining, temperature in 80s and blue sea too tempting not to take plunge, even from your armchair! Perfect antidote to counter my addiction to Indian soaps!
Kumudini Valambia
By email
