BBC Death in Paradise’s Shantol Jackson pays tribute to Don Gilet with sweet statement ahead of debut
Death in Paradise fans are eagerly awaiting the debut of new protagonist, Don Gilet, as Detective Inspector Mervin Wilson.
Viewers of the BBC crime drama bid farewell to Ralf Little in the latest series, with the actor having cemented his role as leading detective Neville Parker in an almost five-year stint on the series.
Earlier this year, Gilet, 57, was announced as the new lead actor as a new Detective Inspector arrives on the exotic Caribbean island.
Gilet has starred is several roles but is best-known for playing serial killer Lucas Johnson on BBC soap EastEnders, a role he has portrayed on and off since 2008.
Shantol Jackson plays Naomi Thomas in the drama, and has paid tribute to the actor as she reflected on how Gilet had settled into the role.
“He’s lovely!” she commented, adding: “He’s a jokester. I really enjoyed working with him.
“He comes to set every morning always ready to jump in and cares a lot about the other actors.
“Having people who come in and set the tone for the day like that, it really helps you, as well as the chemistry between the cast.
“He also plays just as hard as he works. He likes to have fun and he’s very aware that he’s coming into a system that’s been running for a long time, so he must come in and try to fit into something that’s already existed, and I think he did very well.”
Discussing her character’s first impression of the new DI, Jackson admitted: “Rude, insensitive and impatient!”
“During the Christmas special, Naomi and Darlene want Mervin to leave but they understand that the team need a Detective Inspector,” she continued.
“He complains about the island a lot and is offensive, and that doesn’t sit well with her, or Darlene!
“She makes these feelings known to him, but she does realise that he is very capable and intuitive…”
Spilling details on the upcoming Christmas Special, Jackson revealed: “The Christmas special is Santarific!
“It’s filled with Santas, surprises and lovely guest cast.
“It’s one of the biggest cases we’ve had thus far. We have three different murders and attempted murders to solve, which all happened, seemingly, at the same time, and we have to do it without an Inspector initially.
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“It was a big task. And on top of all that, Naomi is then trying to understand this man that she’s being forced to work with…”
Speaking in a recent interview, Gilet admitted he had barred his father, sister and his grown-up son from visiting the island paradise of Guadeloupe’s, where the show is filmed, despite expectations of an invitation.
The actor has eliminated anything from his day-to-day that could distract from the “time you study the script so that you know it inside out,” he told Radio Times.
Gilet is adamant about proving that the decision-makers who said yes to casting him won’t “regret the choice they made”.