Death in Paradise Christmas special 2022: release date, plot

Death in Paradise Christmas special 2022 Neville (Ralf Little) and Catherine (Élizabeth Bourgine) sit in church for a Christmas carol service, surrounded by fellow residents

Death in Paradise Christmas special 2022 sees Neville and Catherine going to a Christmas carol service. (Image credit: BBC)

The Death in Paradise Christmas special 2022 is one for all the family to enjoy.

The festive episode, starring Ralf Little as DI Neville Parker, will go out on BBC One on Boxing Day and you can also watch it via iPlayer.

Death in Paradise got its first-ever seasonal special last Christmas and it was such a success the BBC has ordered another.

Ralf reveals the second festive special has a "spooky theme"! He adds: "The special has a Ghost story Christmas feel to it. I think people are going to really like it. It's not designed to scare the kids, but it's unsettling, like Charles Dickens' "A Christmas Carol".

We will also see Neville finding love... in an airport car park! "It feels special, being on TV at Christmas. I've been lucky to do it a few times with The Royle Family, and I'm very happy to be doing it all over again," says Ralf.

Here's everything you need to know including when it's on and who's starring...

Death in Paradise Christmas special 2022 release date

The Death in Paradise 2022 Christmas episode is on BBC One on Boxing Day at 9 pm, the BBC has now revealed. They've also announced when Death in Paradise season 12 will start!

If you miss it you can catch up on it on BBC iPlayer. A US release date is still to be announced.

Death in Paradise Christmas special 2022 plot

Nevile (Ralf Little) lifts a suitcase into the back of his car, but accidentally hits Sophie (Chelsea Edge) on the leg in the process. She is reacting in pain. — Nevile (Ralf Little) lifts a suitcase into the back of his car, but accidentally hits Sophie (Chelsea Edge) on the leg in the process. (Image credit: BBC)

Neville has an unexpected encounter in that most romantic of places — an airport car park — with holidaymaker Sophie (Chelsea Edge), and despite a characteristically awkward start when Neville accidentally heads home with her suitcase, it seems like the unlucky-in-love detective might finally be turning things around...

"Love is possibly in the air for Neville, but it's complicated!" Ralf tells What To Watch. "There's a character, Sophie, played by Chelsea Edge who is absolutely brilliant. She arrives on the island like a bombshell, and Neville is immediately smitten."

Meanwhile, the BBC also teases about the plot: "Christmas in Saint Marie takes a spooky turn this year when an old case of Selwyn’s comes back to haunt him following the murder of a true crime podcaster on the hunt for a missing child. Marlon is forced to spend the night in a haunted house and Darlene takes a hard look at her life choices."

Cast

Danny Sheridan (Les Dennis) sits in an armchair, looking uncomfortable, with a bandage on his forehead — Danny Sheridan (Les Dennis) (Image credit: BBC)

Ralf Little is back as DI Neville Parker. Also returning is Shantol Jackson as DS Naomi Thomas, Tahj Miles as Officer Marlon Pryce, Elizabeth Bourgine as Catherine and Don Warrington as Commissioner Selwyn Patterson.

Guest stars include Les Dennis (Coronation Street) and Siobhan McSweeney (Derry Girls). Plus Sophie Edge as Neville's love interest.

Is there a trailer?

Sadly not yet. Watch this space!

David is the What To Watch Editor and has over 20 years of experience in television journalism. He is currently writing about the latest television and film news for What To Watch.

Before working for What To Watch, David spent many years working for TV Times magazine, interviewing some of television's most famous stars including Hollywood actor Kiefer Sutherland, singer Lionel Richie and wildlife legend Sir David Attenborough.

David started out as a writer for TV Times before becoming the title's deputy features editor and then features editor. During his time on TV Times, David also helped run the annual TV Times Awards. David is a huge Death in Paradise fan, although he's still failed to solve a case before the show's detective! He also loves James Bond and controversially thinks that Timothy Dalton was an excellent 007.

Other than watching and writing about telly, David loves playing cricket, going to the cinema, trying to improve his tennis and chasing about after his kids!