Guadeloupe locations bring ‘Death in Paradise’ alive

Guadeloupe has become an unlikely television star through its starring role as the fictional Caribbean island of Saint Marie in the long running BBC series Death in Paradise.

For viewers around the world, the island’s beaches, harbours and coastal villages provide the setting for a succession of murder investigations. In reality, Saint Marie is Guadeloupe, the French archipelago whose landscapes have featured in the programme since its first series in 2011.

The series began with Detective Inspector Richard Poole, played by Ben Miller, arriving on Saint Marie to investigate the killing of a British police officer. After solving the case, he remained on the island to investigate further crimes.

Fifteen series and 5 Christmas specials have since followed. Poole was replaced by Humphrey Goodman, played by Kris Marshall, after his character was killed at the beginning of series 3. Other lead detectives have included Jack Mooney, played by Ardal O’Hanlon, Neville Parker, played by Ralf Little, and current detective Mervin Wilson, played by Don Gilet.

The programme attracts between 5 million and 8 million viewers for each series and is broadcast in 230 territories worldwide. The BBC announced in April 2026 that 2 additional series and 2 Christmas specials had been commissioned.

Tim Key, executive producer at Red Planet Pictures, said the production team was preparing something special for the programme’s 16th season.

Guadeloupe provides much of the visual identity that has helped sustain the series. The archipelago is an overseas department and region of France comprising 6 inhabited islands, 3 inhabited islets and 30 uninhabited islets.

Deshaies, on the northwest coast of Basse Terre, doubles as the fictional town of Honoré. Its harbour and nearby Grande Anse beach are among the locations most frequently seen in the programme.

The fictional Catherine’s Bar is filmed at Le Madras, where tables overlook the waterfront and yachts. Another familiar location is Anse de la Perle, where the detectives’ beach shack is constructed during filming and removed afterwards.

For visitors, the Honoré Police Station offers another connection to the programme. Outside production periods, the location operates as a small museum, retaining the appearance seen on television.

As Death in Paradise heads towards its 16th season, Guadeloupe remains central to the programme’s enduring appeal.

  Guadeloupe