Death in Paradise fans were left gobsmacked by Don Gilet’s youthful appearance as he steps into Ralf Little’s shoes for the beloved series. The seasoned actor, famed for his role as the menacing Lucas Johnson on EastEnders, has a rich history of television roles including stints on Holby City, The Loch, Sherwood, and even Doctor Who, with a previous guest spot on Death in Paradise back in 2015.
This year’s Christmas special will introduce viewers to his new character, Detective Inspector Mervin Wilson, who finds himself less than thrilled with his relocation from London to the sunny climes of Saint Marie.
Don Gilet, the soap star, who couldn’t hide his excitement about snagging the coveted part and at 57 years old, has already begun shooting in Guadeloupe with stars like Don Warrington and Shantol Jackson. While many fans celebrated the casting news, others couldn’t help but express their astonishment at Gilet’s age.
A Twitter user reposted an image of the actor on set, captioning it: “There’s a new detective in Saint Marie! Please give a very warm welcome to Don Gilet who will play DI Mervin Wilson! ” Prompting a fan to retweet with the revelation: “Don Gilet is 57, folks.”
Social media buzzed with comments praising his age-defying looks, with one fan exclaiming: “Flipping heck! ” while another lamented: “I think it’s called GOOD GENES *cries*.”
“Alright for some, innit? ” quipped one fan upon hearing the news of his casting.
Don couldn’t hide his excitement about becoming part of the Death in Paradise family, expressing: “Being offered the new lead role in Death in Paradise feels like a deeply loved and incredibly precious jewel has been placed in my hands.”
He continued with passion, “This is a big show, with a big heart and the love continually grows for it. It is my intention to never lose sight of that and to remain grateful, humbled and dedicated. Even during those testing times when every sinew is screaming at me to run off the set and dive into the sea, swimming pool or an ice-cold beer whichever happens to be closer at the time.”
Tim Key, the show’s executive producer, couldn’t contain his enthusiasm about Don joining the hit series, which has captivated viewers since its 2011 debut and consistently draws an audience of 8 million.
“Don is an amazing actor and we’re delighted that he’s joining us as the show enters another exciting new era,” he remarked.
“We’ve got huge plans for the new series and beyond, and I can’t wait for the audience to meet Mervin and to see what we’ve got in store.”
Death in Paradise episodes are available to watch on BBC iPlayer.
