This cuddly and enjoyably low-stakes spin-off of Death in Paradise has trundled along in the slow lane for two series. Though this agreeably hokey Christmas special was a tad more hair-raising than usual.
But if it wasn’t a ghost of Christmas past, what was causing Bob’s visions? The answer was connected to the theft from the local chapel of the Virgin Mary mannequin. That case was being investigated by wet-behind-the-ears newish recruit Kelby (Dylan Llewellyn from Derry Girls), who was understandably stumped as to why someone would raid a nativity scene while leaving the church’s valuables undisturbed.
Chizzy Akulodu as Rev Kate Beccles and Dylan Llewellyn as Kelby Hartford (Photo: BBC/Red Planet Pictures/Joss Barrett)Big Fat Quiz of the Year 2024 - who is taking part and when is it on?
Read MoreBeyond Paradise does an effective job walking that tightrope. Marshall retains the hang-dog quality that charmed viewers during his stint on Death in Paradise. But his new series has found its own groove. The crimes tend to be less grisly than those on the original series, while Humphrey’s relationship with fiancé Martha (Sally Bretton) has a satisfying touch of soapy melodrama.
Teens are always reduced to self-centred clichés in these sorts of programmes, so it came as a pleasant surprise when Beyond Paradise flipped the stereotype by revealing that Jaiden was concerned for his younger brother, who was staying with a different family. Once Martha coaxed him out of his shell, Jaiden talked movingly about the challenge of keeping in contact with a loved one while in the foster system.
Jade Harrison as CS Charlie Woods, Zahra Ahmadi as Esther Williams, Melina Sinadinou as Zoe Williams, Kris Marshall as Humphrey Goodman, Barbara Flynn as Anne Lloyd, Sally Bretton as Martha Lloyd and Austin Taylor as Jaiden (Photo: BBC/Red Planet Pictures/Joss Barrett)Colin was a serial flop at business, and his latest failing enterprise involved flogging mushroom compounds. That gave him access to the hallucinogenic mycelium, which he’d been sprinkling over Bob’s fireplace at night, bringing on the visions.
It was a ridiculous plot that would have been too cartoonish for Death in Paradise. But Beyond Paradise is its own beast and it was entirely on-brand to top off a feel-good Christmas episode with a silly twist. With those cold December nights drawing in, this was the perfect spooky treat pulled off with twinkling good cheer.
Beyond Paradise is streaming on BBC iPlayer
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