BBC Death in Paradise fans overjoyed as show legend confirmed to make shock return to drama despite exit
Death in Paradise fans have been left overjoyed with the news that Tobi Bakare is reprising his role as Sergeant JP Hooper.
Bakare joined the show as JP back in 2015 and played the beloved Sergeant for seven seasons, working as right-hand man to three detective inspectors.
He worked alongside Kris Marshall as DI Humphrey Goodman, Ardal O’Hanlon as DI Jack Mooney and Ralf Little as DI Neville Parker.
Bakare decided to leave the series in 2021 after his character wasn’t sure what to do when the job of Head of the Police Training Programme came up.
The promotion would have meant leaving Saint Marie behind but after discussing it with his wife Rosey (played by his real-life spouse, Prisca Bakare), he decided it was finally the right time to go.
However, as loyal fans have been desperately waiting for the show to return, they were delighted with the news that Bakare would be in the new series.
His return comes alongside new lead Detective Inspector Mervin Wilson, played by Don Gilet, who was announced last year and made his debut in the 2024 Christmas special.
Bakare’s comeback was announced on the Death in Paradise official Instagram page, with a montage of images of returning and new characters.
The caption read: “Take a good look at these faces. You’ll be seeing them very soon… in #DeathInParadise series 14, starting Friday 31 January in @bbciplayer and @bbcone!”
It has not yet been revealed exactly when JP, who had a close friendship with Dwayne Myers (Danny John-Jules), will make his return.
Fans of the series were quick to share their delight at the news, as one penned: “OMG I hope we get JP for more than one episode!!”
“What a great late birthday present can’t wait,” someone else said as another pleaded: “Just please do not hurt our sweet JP!”
“Yayyy!!! JP!!!! Would LOVE to have JP back for several episodes,” a fifth added before another theorised: “I wonder if Naomi is leaving and JP is the new DS…” (sic)
The BBC recently teased the plot of the new series, as the synopsis read: “We’re transported back to the tropical island of Saint Marie, and this time with a new Detective Inspector in place — but will DI Mervin Wilson remain in the job for long?
“Following the recently cracked case of ‘Who shot the Santas?’, along with the revelation that his estranged mother has passed away, Mervin is ready to get back home and leave the island for good.
“But when a case close to the hearts of those at the station presents itself, is he tempted to extend his stay?”
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Back when leaving the show, Bakare admitted: “I had three more years left. It was three more years until it would be seven years, but it just hit me so hard…
“At this time, my wife was in the UK, and I told her that I know when it’s going to be time for me to leave the show.
“But I wanted her to go away, pray about it, and think about it. She’d done so, and called me up the next day, and said, ‘2020’.
“So the exact time of the seven years. So we were like, ‘Yeah, that’s the time.’ That’s the actual reason.”