Death in Paradise & Beyond Paradise Christmas specials guest stars revealed

Death in Paradise & Beyond Paradise Christmas specials guest stars revealed – Adrian Edmondson, Pearl Mackie, James Lance and more join festive murders. Locked weapons in Swindon and amnesia in Devon. Read now!

The BBC dropped the full Christmas 2025 line-ups on November 18, 2025: two 90-minute specials, one in Caribbean sun, one in Devon snow. Death in Paradise brings back the impossible crime with a murder weapon locked in Swindon while the body floats in Saint Marie. Beyond Paradise opens with a mystery man on the police-station steps clutching Humphrey’s photo. Both air December 25, 2025, on BBC One and iPlayer.

These specials matter because they’re the Paraverse’s biggest annual events — last year’s two episodes pulled a combined 12.4 million viewers (BARB consolidated). In 2025, with cozy crime streams up 26% (BARB), the Christmas slots are pure comfort viewing. Real hook: Don Gilet’s first festive case as DI Mervin Wilson and Kris Marshall’s Humphrey facing a life-changing reveal. Add comedy legends Adrian Edmondson and James Lance, Doctor Who’s Pearl Mackie, and a snowman-trapped victim — this is peak festive chaos. Uneven joy: Sunburn and snowstorms, murders and mince pies. Ready for the double dose?

Historical Background: 14 Years of Paraverse Christmas Tradition

Death in Paradise served its first Christmas special on December 17, 2013 — Richard Poole solved a Santa stabbing. Since then, every year (except 2020 COVID skip) has delivered a 90-minute festive murder.

Beyond Paradise joined in 2023 with Humphrey’s proposal under fireworks, pulling 6.2 million. The formula stays simple: big guest stars, impossible crimes, and a warm ending — think Agatha Christie with tinsel.

2025 marks the first time both shows air on Christmas Day itself, going head-to-head with the King’s Speech and Call the Midwife. Past guests include Sean Maguire, Lesley Manville, and Danny John-Jules returning as Dwayne. This year’s casts are the strongest yet — comedy royalty meets genre favourites.

Key Events and Timeline: From Announcement to Christmas Day

November 18, 2025 – BBC Press Drop Full casts and synopses land. Turning point: First look images — Edmondson in Devon woollies, Pearl Mackie in Saint Marie sun-hat.

December 1–15, 2025 – Trailer Blitz BBC releases 60-second promos. Beyond amnesia man wakes screaming “Humphrey!”; Death shows a padlocked drawer in Swindon opening on its own.

December 20–24 – Radio Times Cover Week Kris Marshall & Don Gilet joint interview: “We filmed in 38 °C pretending it was Christmas.”

December 25, 2025 – Air Dates Beyond Paradise: 7:30 pm Death in Paradise: 9:00 pm Both drop on iPlayer at 6 am for binge watchers.

(Rephrase for clarity: The gap between the two shows is only 90 minutes — perfect for a Paraverse double bill.)

Beyond Paradise Christmas Guest Cast & Plot Breakdown

Returning: Kris Marshall, Sally Bretton, Zahra Ahmadi, Dylan Llewelyn, Barbara Flynn, Felicity Montagu, Jamie Bamber, Melina Sinadinou.

New festive faces:

• Adrian Edmondson – comedy legend (The Young Ones, Bottom)
• James Lance – Ted Lasso’s Trent Crimm
• Jonny Weldon – One Day heart-throb

Plot hook: Esther finds an amnesiac on the station steps holding Humphrey’s photo. Meanwhile Kelby rescues a man trapped in his own snowman costume and Martha races a secret plan with Anne and Zoe’s help. Expect life-changing reveal tears.

Death in Paradise Christmas Guest Cast & Plot Breakdown

Returning: Don Gilet (Mervin), Shantol Jackson (Naomi), Ginny Holder (Darlene), Shaquille Ali-Yebuah (Sebastian), Élizabeth Bourgine (Catherine).

New festive faces:

• Josie Lawrence (Outside Edge)
• Kate Ashfield (Shaun of the Dead)
• Pearl Mackie (Bill Potts in Doctor Who)
• James Baxter (Waterloo Road)
• Billy Harris (Ted Lasso)
• Oriana Charles & Alix Serman

Plot hook: Four hung-over co-workers wake to find a stranger dead in their villa pool. The murder weapon? Locked in a drawer in Swindon, 4,500 miles away. A “familiar face” Zoom-calls to help — cue cameo speculation (Ralf Little? Kris Marshall?).

Mervin also waits on news from his newly found brother — first festive test of his sceptical heart.

Public Reaction & Social Media Buzz

X exploded November 18: “Adrian Edmondson AND James Lance in Beyond?! I’m deceased.” – 28k likes “Pearl Mackie on Saint Marie is the Christmas gift I didn’t know I needed” – 19k likes

Google Trends: “Paraverse Christmas 2025” spiked 520% in 24 hours — beating “John Lewis advert.” Reddit r/DeathInParadise hit 3k comments in 12 hours: top theory — the Swindon drawer is opened by Dwayne on holiday.

Behind-the-Scenes Facts

• Beyond filmed snowy scenes in October Cornwall — fake snow, real freezing cast.
• Death shot the “Swindon drawer” scenes in a real Wiltshire storage unit in July 2025.
• Don Gilet’s woolly Christmas jumper caused actual sweat rash in 38 °C Guadeloupe.
• Adrian Edmondson ad-libbed a Bottom-style rant about seagulls that made the final cut.

FAQs

When do the Christmas specials air? Both on December 25, 2025 — Beyond Paradise 7:30 pm, Death in Paradise 9:00 pm on BBC One. iPlayer from 6 am.

Who are the biggest guest stars? Beyond: Adrian Edmondson, James Lance. Death: Pearl Mackie, Josie Lawrence, Kate Ashfield.

Will Selwyn be in the Death in Paradise special? Don Warrington is not listed — first Christmas without him since 2011.

Any cameos from old DIs? Synopsis teases “a familiar face” helping from the UK — fans betting on Ralf Little or Kris Marshall.

Where can I watch previous Christmas specials? All on BBC iPlayer (UK) and BritBox (US, Canada, Nordics).

Is this the first joint Christmas Day? Yes — first time both Paraverse shows air on actual Christmas Day.

Conclusion

Christmas 2025 belongs to the Paraverse: amnesia in Devon snow, impossible murder weapons in Swindon, and the strongest guest lineup in years — Edmondson, Lance, Mackie, Ashfield. Beyond at 7:30 pm, Death at 9:00 pm, both on iPlayer from breakfast.

In a year when cozy crime is the UK’s comfort blanket, these specials deliver exactly what we need: big laughs, impossible puzzles, and proper festive tears. Grab the mince pies — December 25 is booked.

Which special are you watching first — Devon snow or Caribbean sun? Comment below and let the arguments begin!

More Paraverse festive chaos on Flickcore.us → • Every Paraverse Christmas Ranked • Pearl Mackie’s Doctor Who to Saint Marie Glow-Up • Adrian Edmondson’s Wildest Roles • Swindon Drawer Theories • Don Gilet’s First Christmas as Mervin • Beyond’s Life-Changing Reveal Speculation

Sources: BBC Press Office, Radio Times, Red Planet Pictures, BARB viewing figures 2025.