ABC expands ‘Death In Paradise’ crime drama franchise with Australian spin-off

Death In Paradise (Source: BBC Studios)

Australian broadcaster ABC has commissioned Return To Paradise, a spin-off from long-running British-French crime comedy series Death In Paradise.

Set to launch on ABC in 2024, the series is being produced by BBC Studios Productions Australia with Red Planet Pictures, in association with UK pubcaster the BBC, which will screen the series on BBC One and VOD service iPlayer in the UK. It will be distributed globally by BBC Studios.

Set in the idyllic, beachside hamlet of Dolphin Cove, Return To Paradise is a six-part murder mystery series set against the backdrop of the Australian coastal landscape.

Australian ex-pat Mackenzie Clarke is the seemingly golden girl of the London Metropolitan police force. However, she’s suddenly forced to up sticks and move back to her childhood home of Dolphin Cove, a beautiful, coastal paradise – and Mackenzie’s worst nightmare.

Having escaped her hometown at the earliest opportunity six years ago, Mackenzie vowed she’d never come back, leaving a lot of unfinished business and unanswered questions. But when a murder takes place in Dolphin Cove, Mackenzie can’t help but put her inspired detective brilliance to good use and determines, despite her reservations, that she needs to make the best of it, including tying up the loose ends with the man she left at the altar six years ago.

Created and executive produced by Peter Mattessi, James Hall and Robert Thorogood, Return To Paradise is written by Mattessi alongside Elizabeth Coleman, Alexandra Collier and Kodie Bedford.

ABC head of screen Rachel Okine said: “Return To Paradise promises to be whip smart, intriguing and entertaining – audiences of all ages are invited to play along to figure out whodunit, all while feeling as if they’ve been transported to the perfect summer holiday”.

This is the second spin-off from the popular Death In Paradise, following Beyond Paradise, which debuted on BBC One and BritBox earlier this year, and has been recommissioned for a second season.

The original show, which is set on the fictional Caribbean island of Saint Marie, launched in 2011 and aired its 12^th season at the start of this year. It has also been recommissioned for a further two seasons.