Ardal O’Hanlon will return to head up the team as lead detective DI Jack Mooney in the popular sun-soaked crime series. Since launching in 2011, Death In Paradise has cemented its position as one of BBC One’s highest rating dramas. Series seven got off to a fantastic start on Thursday 4 January, with episode one pulling in over 8.2 million consolidated viewers and a slot-winning 31 per cent share of the audience.

Filmed on the French-Caribbean island of Guadeloupe, the eighth series of the award-winning drama will continue to keep audiences guessing with intriguing mysteries, cunning plot twists and a star-studded array of guest cast.

The eighth series was commissioned for BBC One by Charlotte Moore, Director of Content, and Piers Wenger, Controller of Drama Commissioning. Tim Key will continue to executive produce for Red Planet Pictures and Tommy Bulfin for the BBC. Death In Paradise is a Red Planet Pictures production, produced with the support of the region of Guadeloupe.

Tim Key, Executive Producer, Red Planet Pictures, says: “We’re delighted to be returning to Saint Marie for more fun and intrigue - as well as some big surprises. It’s a joy to work on a show that is so loved by its audience and we can’t wait to head back to Guadeloupe and start filming later this year.”

Tommy Bulfin, BBC Executive Producer and Drama Commissioning Editor for Northern Ireland, adds: “Death in Paradise is a much loved gem in the BBC One schedules and we are so delighted to announce that it will be returning in 2019 for its eighth series.”

The current series is every Thursday at 9pm on BBC One.