Beyond Paradise fans will no doubt rejoice as it has been announced that the BBC drama has started filming for season three and there will be a surprise return of a main character.
The highly-anticipated third instalment of the Death In Paradise spin-off will reunite viewers with characters Humphrey (Kris Marshall) and Martha (Sally Bretton) in Devon, following the season two finale which saw them close to getting married.
But in even more exciting news, showrunners have confirmed the return of Jamie Bamber as Martha’s ex Archie Hughes, who left Shipton Abbott in the first series.
It remains to be seen what kind of impact her arrival will have on Humphrey and Martha, as the couple are set to “continue their heartfelt parenting journey” in the series.
The latest installment will also “offer more intriguing puzzles for the Shipton Abbott team to solve,” which will no doubt leave fans on the edge of their seats.
Beyond Paradise fans will no doubt rejoice as it has been announced that the BBC drama has started filming for season three, and there will be a surprise return of a major character.
In increasingly exciting news, show bosses have confirmed the return of Jamie Bamber as Martha’s ex Archie Hughes, who dumped Shipton Abbott in series one.
The synopsis for the new series reads: ‘Set in idyllic Devon and Cornwall settings, there are plenty of cases to keep the team on their toes, including a body found in the river on the county border, a baffling poisoning from a box of chocolate, a historic farming dispute and an incident involving nails in the water.
Away from the police station, Martha and Humphrey must overcome unexpected obstacles as foster parents, while the reappearance of Martha’s old flame, Archie, presents an unexpected challenge.
‘While Esther experiences a surprise encounter in her private life, Anne’s health scare awakens painful memories, and Kelby embarks on a journey of personal growth.’
In addition to Kris Marshall as DI Humphrey Goodman, Sally Bretton as Martha Lloyd and Jamie Bamber as Archie Hughes, season three will see the return of Zahra Ahmadi as DS Esther Williams, Dylan Llewellyn as PC Kelby Hartford and Barbara Flynn as Anne Lloyd.
It will also star Felicity Montagu as Margo Martins, Jade Harrison as CS Charlie Woods and Melina Sinadinou as Zoe Williams.
Speaking about the return of Beyond Paradise, Tim Key, Executive Producer at Red Planet Pictures, said: ‘We’re thrilled to be back in the beautiful South West, filming what promises to be our strongest series yet, full of mystery, surprises, challenges and a whole lot of heart.
“We love making the show and the audience response has been fantastic, and it’s especially exciting to welcome Jamie Bamber back to Shipton Abbott – we can’t wait for everyone to see what we’ve been up to.”
It had already been confirmed in April that Beyond Paradise will return for a third season and Christmas special.
The long-awaited third instalment of the Death In Paradise spin-off will reunite viewers with characters Humphrey (Kris Marshall) and Martha (Sally Bretton) (pictured) in Devon, following the season two finale which saw them close to tying the knot.
It remains to be seen what kind of impact her arrival will have on Humphrey and Martha, as the couple are set to “continue their heartfelt parenting journey” in the series.
The news followed the end of the second series on BBC One that month, in which Inspector Humphrey Goodman and Martha Lloyd almost got married.
Viewers were left disappointed by the “implausible” twist at the end of the wedding, with one even commenting: “I feel betrayed!”
The Death In Paradise spin-off hit screens last year and saw Kris Marshall reprise his role as a detective inspector as he tried to adjust to life with his fiancée, played by Not Going Out’s Sally Bretton, on the Devonshire coast.
During the series’ final episode, the couple’s parenting journey came to an end as they welcomed Ryan into their home.
Elsewhere, the professional relationship between Officer Kelby Hartford (Dylan Llewellyn) and Officer Charlie Woods (Jade Harrison) took an unexpected turn and Detective Esther Williams (Zara Ahmadi) took charge of a case in which the Shipton Abbott Museum was robbed of a prized possession.
Throughout the series, Shipton Abbott’s police team has dealt with a death during a murder mystery, a local fishing legend who disappears at sea, and a medium who predicts an arson attack.
The latest instalment will also “offer more intriguing puzzles for the Shipton Abbott team to solve”, which will no doubt leave fans on the edge of their seats (Kris Marshall pictured)
Tim Key, executive producer at Red Planet Pictures, said at the time: ‘The response to the second season has been fantastic.
‘A lot of love goes into making the show and we’re delighted that the audience enjoyed it so much.
‘We’re looking forward to returning to Shipton Abbott for another Christmas special and series to continue the story and learn more about our characters and the town they live in.
‘I can promise that we will make viewers laugh, cry, laugh some more and then baffle them with a series of clever puzzles.
‘There will also be a duck.’
Beyond Paradise will return to the BBC at Christmas, while seasons 1 and 2 are available to stream on BBC iPlayer.