Death in Paradise confirmed a major cast change ahead of series 15: Ginny Holder, who plays Officer Darlene Curtis, would not be returning. The new series was scheduled to premiere on BBC One and BBC iPlayer on January 30, 2026, at 9pm, with Catherine Garton joining the team as Sergeant Mattie Fletcher.
What is the season 15 update?
The British detective drama Death in Paradise is entering its fifteenth series without Ginny Holder as Darlene Curtis. A January 25, 2026 report said the show had announced Holder’s departure on its social media. The report quoted the announcement as saying: “Sadly, we’re saying goodbye to Darlene this series. Ginny Holder has been a much-loved cast member, and we’re hugely grateful to her for bringing her talent to Officer Darlene Curtis,” followed by “We wish her all the best…” The report did not provide the rest of that final sentence.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
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Death in Paradise: Season Fifteen | $26.49 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
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Death in Paradise: Season Fourteen (DVD) | $25.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
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Death in Paradise: Season 3 (DVD) | $12.97 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
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Death in Paradise: Season 1 | $16.24 | Buy on Amazon |
| 5 |
|
Death in Paradise: Season Six (DVD) | $12.99 | Buy on Amazon |
The available announcement establishes that Darlene would be absent from series 15; it does not give a reason for Holder’s departure or report a statement from the actor. Read the report.
When did series 15 begin?
Production company Red Planet Pictures announced on January 20, 2026 that series 15 would start on BBC One and BBC iPlayer on Friday, January 30, at 9pm. This was the announced UK broadcast and streaming schedule. See Red Planet Pictures’ announcement.
#1 Best Overall
- Runtime: 440 minutes
Who joined the cast, and who returned?
New sergeant
Catherine Garton joined the police team as Sergeant Mattie Fletcher.
Returning cast named in the announcement
- Don Gilet as DI Mervin Wilson
- Don Warrington as Commissioner Selwyn Patterson
- Shantol Jackson as DS Naomi Thomas
- Shaquille Ali-Yebuah as Officer Sebastian Rose
- Elizabeth Bourgine as Catherine Bordey
What this means for viewers
The central change is the departure of Darlene, alongside the addition of Mattie Fletcher to the police team. Red Planet Pictures’ announcement provides the UK launch details and names returning cast, but it does not establish where series 15 is streaming outside the UK. A search result identified BritBox as a U.S. destination for the show, but did not confirm that season 15 is included there.
Quick Recap
Best Value
Rank #4
- Factory sealed DVD
Rank #3
Rank #2
- Runtime: 440 minutes
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