DEATH in Paradise fans have been left stunned as the first episode of series fourteen featured a shocking twist.
The series introduced a new officer to the Saint Marie police force, with actor Anthony J Abraham taking on the role of Officer Benjamin Brice.
New Death in Paradise star Anthony J Abraham was killed off within minutes of being introduced as a cast member[/caption]
His murder rocked the policing community in Santa Marie[/caption]
Don Gilet as DI Mervin Wilson[/caption]
However, his time on the show was tragically cut short within minutes of the new season’s premiere.
The episode opens with a monologue from Benjamin, as he reflects on his childhood struggles and his journey toward finding purpose in life.
He recalls feeling out of place in his own family.
His mother wanted him to focus on chores, while his father, a car thief, attempted to involve him in criminal activities.
However, Benjamin found solace in his studies and ultimately discovered his true calling at the Saint Marie police academy.
Speaking directly to the camera in a heartfelt social media post, he tells viewers: “When I completed training, I’d never felt so proud of myself. In the morning, I’ve got my first shift with the team here on Saint Marie – and I can’t wait.
“The reason I’m telling you all of this, making this post which is something I never do, is because I want you to know that if you’re feeling lost, you don’t need to go through what I did.
“You just need to find your purpose in life, like me. Once you do, nobody can take that away from you.”
But the next morning, Sergeant Naomi Thomas is puzzled by Benjamin’s absence.
Her concern quickly escalates when the station receives a distressing phone call from a woman who has discovered a body dressed in a police uniform.
In a devastating twist, Benjamin is found face down in the dirt where his body was discarded in a roadside ditch, still carrying his backpack for his first day on the job.
The brutal and unexpected nature of Benjamin’s death has left viewers reeling, with many taking to social media to express their shock.
Most memorable Death in Paradise episodes
By Conor O’Brien
- Arriving in Paradise: The show’s very first episode, introducing Ben Miller as the straight-laced DI Richard Poole. This episode also introduces Poole’s team and the fictional island location location of Saint Marie.
- Amongst Us: The eighth episode of series one sees Richard uncover a major secret about Aidan (Adrian Dunbar), who has been dating Catherine (Elizabeth Bourgine). Far from his Line of Duty character Ted Hastings, Aidan is revealed to be a murderer.
- Death of a Detective: The first episode of series three marks a major turning point for Death in Paradise. DI Poole is killed off – with his murder being the first case for replacement DI Humphrey Goodman (Kris Marshall). This mirrors two years earlier, when Poole solved his predecessor’s murder.
- Stab in the Dark: This instalment, the first episode of series four, proved memorable for two reasons. It marked the introduction of Florence Cassell (Josephine Jobert) who became a long-running character. Meanwhile, Don Gilet guest-starred as the killer – almost a decade before becoming the show’s latest DI.
- Swimming in Murder: Similarly to above, this episode marks the first appearance of JP Hooper (Tobi Bakare), who starred for seven series.
- Man Overboard (Part One and Two): This two-parter in series six had a lot of different elements involved. Some of the team travelled to London, DI Goodman exited the show – while newcomer DI Jack Mooney (Ardal O’Hanlon) made his first appearance.
- Switcharoo: Airing as the fifth episode of series nine, this was the first intalment following DI Mooney’s departure. In his place came DI Neville Parker (Ralf Little) – who became the show’s longest-serving DI.
- Sins of the Detective: The latter half of a two-parter in series 12, which saw Neville in the frame for murdering smarmy criminologist David Cartwright. Although the team eventually uncover the actual murder, it comes with a big shock.
- A Murder in the Skies: The finale of series 13 marked Neville’s exit from Saint Marie. The unlucky-in-love detective got a happy ending by sailing into the sunset with love interest Florence Cassell – who’d returned a few episodes earlier.
