Beyond Paradise is a spinoff show of Death In Paradise and stars Kris as Detective Inspector Humphrey Goodman(Image: BBC/Red Planet Pictures/Joss Barratt)

Beyond Paradise star Kris Marshall declares love for beauty spot 12 miles from Plymouth

by · PlymouthLive

Beyond Paradise, the popular spinoff of BBC's Death In Paradise, is set to return for a third series, much to the delight of its star Kris Marshall. The actor is reprising his role as Detective Inspector Humphrey Goodman.

However, he has expressed his fondness for filming in Devon and Cornwall. Speaking to Best Magazine, he said: "I absolutely love filming by the coast." And he revealed that a particular Cornish beauty spot just a few miles from Plymouth has captured his heart.

The series is set in the fictional town of Shipton Abbott, near the Devon coast, but most of the filming occurs in and around the Cornish town of Looe. The University of Plymouth's Portland Square and Nancy Astor buildings also feature as the South West Police Headquarters.

The popular BBC series is set in the fictional town of Shipton Abbott, near the Devon coast(Image: BBC / Red Planet Pictures / Mark Harrison)

Kris appreciates Cornwall's expansive skies and rugged coastal landscape, saying: "I'm a big fan of getting my 'vitamin sea.' Whether it's surfing or swimming, being by the water makes me happy."

He added that one specific location holds a special place in his heart: "One of my favourite filming locations is Rame Head in Cornwall. It offers stunning views, and has a fascinating abandoned military site. It's a great spot for filming, and after work you can head down to a secret cove for a swim."

He added that South East Cornwall was chosen as a primary filming location, despite the show's Devon setting, partly because it tends to be less "touristy" in the summer months. The Tamar Valley and Looe are just a stone's throw away from Plymouth.

The scenic marvel of these areas has not gone unnoticed by the makers of the show. Tim Key, the show's executive producer, said that location was a priority.

Looe is just a stone's throw away from Plymouth and a stunning location(Image: Greg Martin / Cornwall Live)

In particular, the destination needed excellent transport links that could hold their own against the backdrop of Death In Paradise's Caribbean charm. "Being a Death in Paradise show," he mentioned, "we knew it had to be set somewhere beautiful, and, in the UK, we are spoilt for choice."

He added: "There were lots of conversations about where we take it but we settled quite quickly on the West Country as we felt that Devon hadn't had a huge amount of exposure in TV drama, Cornwall often nabs the glory." While the picturesque setting captures viewers' imaginations, Kris believes the heartbeat of Beyond Paradise’s success lies in its complex and dense storylines.

He said: "Each episode is packed with content. There's a real sense of magic in how much is crammed into just one hour."

The anticipated Beyond Paradise will grace the screens tonight (Friday, April 11) at the prime time slot of 8pm on BBC One.