What Did Kris Marshall Do After Death in Paradise?

What did Kris Marshall do after Death in Paradise? Discover his Sanditon role, return as Humphrey Goodman, and life beyond Saint Marie. Read the full story now!

What Did Kris Marshall Do After Death in Paradise?

Kris Marshall did not leave television behind after his time as DI Humphrey Goodman in Death in Paradise. Instead, the much-loved British actor moved into a new chapter that included period drama, theatre and, eventually, a very welcome return to the character that many viewers had missed.

Marshall first joined Death in Paradise in 2014, taking over from Ben Miller's Richard Poole. His character, Humphrey Goodman, quickly developed his own loyal following.

Humphrey was clever, kind and often rather awkward. His warmth also gave the Saint Marie team a different feel, while his growing relationship with Martha Lloyd added an emotional story away from the weekly mysteries.

Marshall left the original BBC drama in 2017. At the time, his family was growing, and the long filming periods in Guadeloupe meant spending considerable time away from home.

But Humphrey's story was not quite finished.

Years later, Marshall returned to the role in Beyond Paradise, bringing the character back to British television and giving fans the chance to see what happened after he left Saint Marie.

Kris Marshall's Years as Humphrey Goodman

Kris Marshall became the second major detective in Death in Paradise after Ben Miller's departure.

DI Humphrey Goodman arrived on Saint Marie with a very different personality from Richard Poole. He was less formal, more openly emotional and often seemed slightly overwhelmed by the island and the unusual cases placed in front of him.

That difference was important.

The series had already shown viewers that each detective could bring something new to the fictional Caribbean island. Humphrey continued that tradition while creating his own relationships with the police team.

He also developed a particularly important connection with Martha Lloyd, played by Sally Bretton.

Their relationship eventually became one of Humphrey's biggest storylines. While the murders remained at the centre of each episode, viewers could also follow Humphrey's personal life and wonder whether he and Martha might build a future together.

Marshall remained with Death in Paradise for several series before deciding to leave in 2017.

His departure was not simply about wanting a different acting challenge. Family life played an important role. Filming in Guadeloupe required long periods away from the UK, and Marshall wanted to spend more time with his young children.

For many viewers, that made his exit easier to understand, even though Humphrey was missed.

The character had become a familiar part of the show, and his departure marked another significant change for Death in Paradise.

What Kris Marshall Did After Leaving Saint Marie

After leaving Death in Paradise, Marshall continued building a varied career rather than disappearing from television.

One of his most notable roles came in Sanditon, the television adaptation inspired by Jane Austen's unfinished novel.

Marshall played Tom Parker, an enthusiastic businessman determined to develop the seaside town of Sanditon. The role allowed viewers to see a different side of the actor.

Instead of investigating murders in the Caribbean, Marshall appeared in a period drama filled with family relationships, romance, ambition and social change.

Sanditon ran from 2019 until 2023, giving Marshall another substantial television role after his time as Humphrey Goodman.

He also continued working in other television and theatre projects.

That variety is worth remembering because Marshall's career has never depended on one character alone. Long before Death in Paradise, many British viewers knew him as Nick Harper in My Family. He also became familiar to international audiences through his role as Colin Frissell in the 2003 romantic comedy Love Actually.

So, while Humphrey Goodman remains one of his best-known roles, Marshall continued working across different parts of the British entertainment industry.

Then came the role that brought him back into the world of Death in Paradise.

The Return of Humphrey Goodman in Beyond Paradise

For fans of Humphrey Goodman, the biggest development after Death in Paradise was his return in Beyond Paradise.

The BBC announced the new series as a spin-off that would follow Humphrey and Martha after their time on Saint Marie.

Instead of returning to the Caribbean, the couple moved to the fictional town of Shipton Abbott in Devon. The change of setting gave the programme a fresh identity while keeping several familiar ingredients from Death in Paradise.

There were, of course, mysterious crimes to solve.

There was also Humphrey's familiar combination of intelligence, kindness and occasional clumsiness. But the British setting allowed the show to explore a different side of his life.

Martha remained central to the story, too.

That was important for long-time fans. Humphrey's story had not simply been restarted; viewers were able to see how his relationship and family life developed after Saint Marie.

Beyond Paradise also introduced a new police team around Humphrey, allowing the spin-off to stand on its own rather than becoming a simple continuation of the original programme.

The return proved that there was still plenty of interest in the character.

For viewers who had followed Humphrey since his first appearance in Death in Paradise, seeing him back on screen offered a comforting sense of familiarity while giving the character new challenges.

Why Kris Marshall Left Death in Paradise

Marshall's decision to leave Death in Paradise has often been discussed because Humphrey remained so popular.

However, the main reason was closely connected to his family.

The original series filmed on the Caribbean island of Guadeloupe. Although the location helped create the show's distinctive look, filming there also meant cast members spent long stretches away from their homes in Britain.

For Marshall, that became increasingly difficult as his children grew.

He wanted to be more present for his family rather than continue spending extended periods overseas. His decision therefore reflected a personal choice about how he wanted to balance acting with family life.

This also explains why his later return as Humphrey feels different.

Beyond Paradise moved the character's story to the UK. That gave Marshall the opportunity to revisit a much-loved role without returning to the same long-distance filming arrangement that had contributed to his original departure.

It also created an interesting new chapter for Humphrey.

Instead of asking viewers to forget what happened in Saint Marie, Beyond Paradise built on it.

The character still carried memories of his earlier career, but he now had a new community, new cases and a different kind of life with Martha.

For long-time fans, that combination made the return especially meaningful.

Kris Marshall and the Cast Chemistry Fans Remember

A large part of Humphrey's popularity came from his relationships with the people around him.

In Death in Paradise, Marshall worked alongside a changing group of performers as the police team evolved. Yet the character's relationship with Martha became particularly important.

Sally Bretton brought a calm and grounded presence to Martha, which worked well alongside Humphrey's more nervous energy.

Their chemistry also gave the programme a warmer emotional thread.

That same relationship became one of the foundations of Beyond Paradise. Rather than simply bringing Humphrey back to solve crimes, the spin-off explored life with Martha and the challenges they faced together.

This helped distinguish the new series from the original.

The show still offered mysteries, suspects and clues, but it also gave viewers more time with Humphrey outside the police station.

For audiences who enjoy cosy crime, that balance matters.

The appeal is not only about discovering who committed the crime. It is also about returning each week to characters who feel familiar and watching their relationships develop.

Marshall's performance has always suited that style.

Humphrey can be highly capable as a detective while still making mistakes and worrying about everyday problems. Those imperfections make him easier to relate to, particularly compared with the more polished image often associated with television detectives.

That mixture of competence and vulnerability helped Humphrey remain memorable long after Marshall first left Saint Marie.

Why Humphrey Goodman Still Matters to Fans

There is a simple reason viewers welcomed Kris Marshall back: they had never really stopped caring about Humphrey Goodman.

He was one of the detectives who helped establish the idea that Death in Paradise could change its lead character without losing its identity.

Richard Poole had his own style. Humphrey had another. Later detectives brought their own personalities again.

That changing-detective format became one of the show's strengths.

Humphrey's journey also feels different because his story did not end with a dramatic death or a mystery surrounding his disappearance. Instead, he left Saint Marie because he wanted a different life.

That gave writers room to bring him back naturally.

Beyond Paradise allowed the character to grow while keeping the qualities fans remembered.

He remained a detective, but he was also a partner, a friend and a man trying to create a settled life in Britain.

For viewers who enjoy the gentler side of crime drama, that makes Humphrey's story especially appealing.

His journey shows that leaving a popular television series does not always mean leaving a beloved character behind forever. Sometimes, the right story can bring both actor and character back at exactly the right time.

Frequently Asked Questions

What did Kris Marshall do after Death in Paradise?

After leaving Death in Paradise in 2017, Kris Marshall continued acting in British television, film and theatre. One of his best-known later roles was Tom Parker in Sanditon. He eventually returned as DI Humphrey Goodman in Beyond Paradise, the UK-based spin-off that follows Humphrey and Martha after Saint Marie.

Why did Kris Marshall leave Death in Paradise?

Marshall left partly because of the demands of filming in Guadeloupe. The production required him to spend long periods away from his family in Britain. As his children were growing up, he wanted to spend more time at home.

Did Kris Marshall return as Humphrey Goodman?

Yes. Kris Marshall returned as Humphrey Goodman in Beyond Paradise. The spin-off follows Humphrey and Martha Lloyd after they leave Saint Marie and settle in the fictional Devon town of Shipton Abbott.

Who did Kris Marshall play in Sanditon?

Kris Marshall played Tom Parker in Sanditon. Tom is an enthusiastic businessman who hopes to develop the seaside town of Sanditon. The period drama gave Marshall a role very different from his familiar work as Humphrey Goodman.

Is Humphrey Goodman still connected to Death in Paradise?

Yes. Humphrey remains an important part of the wider Death in Paradise universe through Beyond Paradise. The spin-off follows his life after Saint Marie while keeping the cosy mystery style that attracted viewers to the original series.

Final Thoughts

Kris Marshall's career after Death in Paradise shows that leaving a popular series does not have to mean stepping away from the audience who loved you.

After finishing his time as Humphrey Goodman, Marshall continued acting in projects such as Sanditon and other television and theatre work. He also returned to one of his most recognisable characters when Beyond Paradise brought Humphrey and Martha back to British screens.

For fans, that return offered something particularly enjoyable. They could meet a familiar character again while watching him face a completely different setting and new challenges.

Humphrey's journey also explains why Death in Paradise and its spin-offs continue to attract loyal viewers. The mysteries matter, but so do the people solving them.

Kris Marshall helped create that feeling during his years on Saint Marie, and his return showed that there was still more to tell.

Did you enjoy Humphrey Goodman in Death in Paradise? Share your favourite Humphrey moment, episode or memory in the comments below.