The Death in Paradise cast(Image: BBC)

Death in Paradise-style spin-off series announces lead detective and fans will be thrilled

by · Wales Online

A new spin-off series, reminiscent of Death in Paradise and titled Death in Benidorm, has revealed its lead detective will be played by a well-known face - John Hannah.

John will portray Dennis Crown, an ex-detective attempting to flee his past, only to discover that trouble continues to pursue him. Despite the idyllic setting, he finds little peace, especially with an unlikely partner at his side.

The BAFTA-nominated actor stars as Dennis, who has traded the turmoil of the UK for a more tranquil existence running a bar in Benidorm.

However, when tourists begin to turn up dead, he's reluctantly pulled back into the world of detective work, spurred on by his barmaid, Rosa, a crime drama enthusiast.

With Dennis's real-world experience and Rosa's extensive knowledge of TV crime dramas, each episode sees the pair solving a fresh murder in paradise, whilst trying to stay in the good graces of the local Spanish police, reports the Express.

Additional cast members include Carolina Bécquer as Rosa, Ariadna Cabrol as Maria, and Damian Schedler Cruz as Jesús.

John Hannah has been cast as the lead detective(Image: BBC)

The series was commissioned by Greg Barnett, Commissioning Editor at 5, and is a co-production between Blackbox Multimedia and Clapperboard, with ZDF Studios acting as the international distributor for the title.

Executive Producers for Blackbox Multimedia are Chiara Cardoso and Camilla Hammer, with Mike Benson and Andy Morgan for Clapperboard. Robert Franke, VP Drama for ZDF Studios, and Viviane Richard, Executive Drama in Robert's team, serve as Associate Producer.

The series was conceived by Ian Jarvis, with Simon Delaney stepping in as Director.

Don Gilet plays Death in Paradise's Detective Inspector Mervin Wilson(Image: BBC)

Greg Barnett, Commissioning Editor at 5, expressed his excitement about the casting news, stating: "I am thrilled to have John Hannah on board. He's absolutely perfect for the role of Dennis - a character with sharp intellect, dry wit, and life experience - and from what I've seen already, viewers will fall in love with him."

Viviane Richard, Associate Producer of the series at ZDF Studios, also shared her enthusiasm: "Death in Benidorm is such a witty and charming addition to the cosy crime genre, and John Hannah truly encapsulates this.

"We're thrilled to be working with Blackbox to bring these sharply written scripts to life, and we can't wait to share them with audiences around the world."

Filming for Death in Benidorm is currently underway in Spain, with the show set to premiere on 5 in 2026.