Death in Paradise Christmas Special 2025: Festive Mystery Returns to Saint Marie

27 December 2025 Television Specials

A New Festive Case for DI Mervin Wilson

Death in Paradise will be airing another Christmas Special on the BBC in 2025, starring Don Gilet among the cast, marking another chapter in the beloved crime drama’s festive tradition. The special brings viewers back to the fictional Caribbean island of Saint Marie for a perplexing Christmas mystery that promises to challenge even the most seasoned detectives.

The Murder Mystery

After an office Christmas party on Saint Marie, a group of co-workers discovers a stranger dead in the pool of their villa. However, any hope of an easy wrap-up is foiled when the murder weapon is found to have been locked away in a drawer thousands of miles away from where the event happened. Adding to the festive mystery is one particularly mind-boggling clue: the killer has inked the name of one of Santa’s reindeer onto the victim’s palm. The four suspects all claim never to have met the victim, leaving DI Wilson and his team to uncover the truth behind this seemingly impossible crime.

A Notable Absence

The 2025 Christmas Special will also mark the first episode in which Commissioner Selwyn Patterson (played by Don Warington) is not involved, after he decided not to take his job back. This significant change adds an emotional layer to the episode, as DI Wilson navigates the case without his mentor figure. The episode may feature help from a familiar face to crack the baffling case, though the identity remains a closely guarded secret.

When and Where to Watch

Death in Paradise’s 2025 Christmas Special will air at 8.30pm on BBC One on Sunday, December 28. It will also be available to stream FREE on BBC iPlayer as it airs and on-demand. International viewers can watch the special on BritBox, with availability varying by region. The episode continues the show’s tradition of combining cosy crime storytelling with stunning Caribbean scenery, offering viewers the perfect festive television experience as the year draws to a close.