A DEATH in Paradise favourite made a shock appearance in the Beyond Paradise Christmas Special tonight.
The spin-off from the original BBC series first aired in 2023 and saw Kris Marshall reprise his role as Detective Inspector Humphrey Goodman.
Kris, 52, had played the clumsy DI in Death in Paradise for three years until 2017, when Humphrey decided to leave Saint Marie to be with love interest Martha Lloyd.
Beyond Paradise follows their lives back in the UK in Martha’s hometown of Shipton Abbott on the Devon coast.
It has proven to be as popular as the original series, so fans of Death in Paradise were delighted to see a character from Saint Marie pop up after Martha planned a surprise wedding for her and Humphrey.
Fans will know the couple had previously called off a wedding amid their struggles to have a child.
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But in the Christmas Special, Martha wanted to prove to Humphrey that the two of them together was more than enough for her, and set about surprising her oblivious fiance.
A mystery guest was mentioned throughout the episode, but they weren’t seen until Humphrey finally found out what Martha had been up to.
After agreeing to get married there and then, Martha told him she had even found him a best man.
It was only then that viewers saw Commissioner Patterson step forward, looking dapper in a dark red tuxedo jacket.
Jumping back in shock, Humphrey cried: “Oh crikey! Commissioner!”
The Commissioner replied in his typically droll manner: “Nice of you to join us Inspector.”
It marked eight years since the pair were last on screen together.
The Commissioner even did a reading about love before Humphrey and Martha finally tied the knot and became husband and wife.
Afterwards, Humphrey thanked his former boss for coming before they were interrupted by the Commissioner’s phone ringing.
After taking the call, he revealed to Humphrey that it had been the new detective in Saint Marie, and he needed his help while he was in the UK.
The moment sets up the Death in Paradise Christmas Special, which airs on December 28.
Fans were thrilled by the scenes, with one writing on X: “Absolutely wonderful to have him back.”
Another added: “What a special great crossover. I’m crying.”
A third tweeted: “THE COMMISSIONER IS HUMPHREYS BEST MAN. SCREAMING, CRYING, THROWING UP.”
Beyond Paradise and Death in Paradise air on BBC One and are available on BBC iPlayer.
