Where Did Fidel Best Go After Death in Paradise?

Fidel Best’s Departure From Saint Marie

Fidel Best left Death in Paradise after building a strong career on the island of Saint Marie, but his story was never written as a tragic one. Instead, the young police officer received a positive ending that gave him a chance to move forward in both his career and family life.

Played by Gary Carr, Fidel became a familiar face during the show's early years. He was eager to prove himself, hardworking, and often keen to learn from the more experienced members of the police team.

By the time Fidel left, he had grown from a young police officer into a Sergeant. His promotion was an important part of his journey, showing that his hard work had paid off.

The character's next step took him away from Saint Marie and towards St Lucia, where he accepted a new police job. The move was presented as a career opportunity rather than a punishment or sudden disappearance.

That detail matters because fans sometimes wonder whether Fidel died, was dismissed, or simply vanished from the story. He did none of those things.

His departure was one of the show's early cast changes, but it also showed how Death in Paradise could allow its characters to leave with their lives still moving forward.

Fidel Best’s Journey From Young Officer to Sergeant

When viewers first met Fidel, he was still finding his place within the Saint Marie police team. He was organised, enthusiastic and determined to do his job well.

He also had a very different personality from some of his colleagues. Fidel tended to be more earnest and serious, while Dwayne Myers brought a more relaxed and sometimes mischievous energy to the team.

That contrast helped make their partnership enjoyable to watch.

Fidel was not simply there to provide another pair of hands in the police station. Over time, viewers watched him become more confident in his work. His promotion to Sergeant became an important turning point in his story.

The BBC's material for Series 3 described Fidel as someone trying to understand what his new Sergeant role meant. Gary Carr explained at the time that Fidel was learning how to fit into the position, with Dwayne offering his own rather unusual guidance.

This made Fidel's promotion feel earned. He had started as a young investigator and gradually developed into a more responsible member of the team.

His personal life was changing too. Fidel became a husband and father, with his wife Juliette giving birth to their daughter, Rosie.

That new family responsibility helped shape the character's next decision. Rather than staying in the same role forever, Fidel wanted to build a better future for his growing family.

His move to St Lucia therefore fitted naturally with the character's development.

Why Did Fidel Leave Death in Paradise?

Fidel's fictional reason for leaving was straightforward. After passing his Sergeant examinations with distinction, he accepted an opportunity to continue his police career on neighbouring St Lucia.

The promotion gave him something he had worked towards for some time. It also made sense for a character who had always been keen to improve himself.

His family played an important part as well. After becoming a father, Fidel wanted to work hard and provide for his wife Juliette and their daughter Rosie.

This gave the character a hopeful farewell rather than a dramatic exit.

Behind the scenes, the reason was different. Gary Carr left Death in Paradise after Series 3 to pursue other acting opportunities. The show's cast page from Radio Times notes that Carr left in 2014 and later took major roles in programmes including The Deuce, Genius and Trigonometry, as well as appearances in Downton Abbey and films such as 21 Bridges.

So there are really two answers to the question of why Fidel left.

In the story: Fidel moved to St Lucia for a new police position.

In real life: Gary Carr moved on to other acting work.

That distinction is worth remembering when looking back at older Death in Paradise departures. The character's story and the actor's career are two separate things.

Where Did Fidel Go After Leaving Saint Marie?

Fidel went to St Lucia, taking up a new role with the police there.

The move was mentioned as part of his career progression. He had passed his Sergeant exams with distinction, and the new position gave him an opportunity to take the next step.

For long-time viewers, St Lucia is an interesting detail because it means Fidel did not travel impossibly far from the world of Death in Paradise. The island is in the same Caribbean region, even though the programme's fictional police stories remain centred on Saint Marie.

The show's official Series 3 material also highlighted Fidel's promotion and his changing responsibilities. By this point, he was no longer simply the enthusiastic young officer viewers had met earlier.

His departure also came at a significant point for the series.

The show was already going through major changes. Richard Poole had been killed off, and Humphrey Goodman had taken over as the new lead detective. Fidel's exit added another change to the police team.

Yet the writers did not need to give Fidel a dark or shocking ending.

Instead, they allowed him to leave with a new job and a young family. That was a fitting conclusion for a character whose story had always been closely linked to his ambitions and his wish to do well.

Later cast guides still describe Fidel as having gone on to work in St Lucia.

That small piece of information is reassuring for viewers who remember him fondly. Fidel's story did not end when he walked away from the Saint Marie police station. It simply continued somewhere else.

Gary Carr’s Career After Death in Paradise

Gary Carr did not disappear from television after leaving Death in Paradise. In fact, his career continued to grow through a number of different roles.

After his time as Fidel Best, Carr appeared in several well-known productions. His later work included Downton Abbey, The Deuce, Genius and Trigonometry. He also appeared in films including Bolden and 21 Bridges.

This is one reason Fidel's departure can look different when viewed many years later.

At the time, fans were losing a familiar member of the Saint Marie team. But from the actor's point of view, leaving the show created room for new opportunities.

Gary Carr's role as Fidel had also given him a memorable early television character. Fidel was part of the show's original supporting team during an important period in its development.

The BBC's own Series 3 material shows how Carr understood the changes taking place around Fidel. The new detective, Humphrey Goodman, brought a different personality to the group, while Fidel himself was adjusting to becoming a Sergeant.

That makes his departure feel less like an abrupt removal and more like the end of one chapter.

For Death in Paradise fans, this is also part of the show's unusual appeal. The series has always had to balance a stable island setting with changing detectives, police officers and personal stories.

Fidel was one of the earliest examples of that process.

And while viewers may have missed him, Carr went on to build a career well beyond Saint Marie.

How Fans Remember Fidel Best Today

Fidel remains a character that many early Death in Paradise viewers remember warmly.

He belonged to the show's first major police team and shared some particularly enjoyable moments with Dwayne. Their differences created a simple but effective friendship at the heart of the station.

Years after his departure, online discussions still mention Fidel when fans look back at the earlier seasons. Some viewers have described the original team of Dwayne and Fidel as one of their favourite combinations.

Other discussions show how strongly some viewers felt about the early cast changes. One long-running fan discussion, for example, listed Fidel among the departures that made the programme feel very different from its earliest years.

That reaction tells us something important about the character.

Fidel may not have been the lead detective, but he helped create the warm ensemble atmosphere that made the early seasons so memorable. His relationship with his colleagues gave the police station a sense of everyday life between the murder investigations.

There was also something reassuring about his ending.

He was not killed. He was not disgraced. He did not disappear because of a mysterious scandal.

He simply moved on.

For a cosy crime drama, that kind of farewell can be particularly satisfying. A character can leave the screen while still having a believable future somewhere beyond the camera.

That is exactly what happened to Fidel Best.

Why Fidel’s Story Still Matters to Death in Paradise Fans

Fidel's story remains interesting because it represents one of the things Death in Paradise has always done well: allowing characters to change.

He arrived as a young officer who wanted to prove himself. He became more experienced, earned a promotion, started a family and eventually accepted a new opportunity.

His journey had a clear direction.

That is also why his departure does not need a dramatic explanation. The character had reached a natural point where moving on made sense.

The same pattern has appeared many times throughout the history of Death in Paradise. Police officers leave, detectives arrive, friendships change and Saint Marie continues.

Yet every departure can still feel personal because viewers have spent time getting to know the characters.

Fidel's exit came during an especially important period for the programme. Humphrey Goodman was becoming established as the new detective following Richard Poole's death, and the police team was beginning another chapter.

Fidel's move to St Lucia therefore became part of the show's larger history.

Most importantly, his story leaves fans with a positive image. He had succeeded in his career, had a family he cared about and had earned the chance to take on a new challenge.

There is no need to imagine something darker happening to him.

Fidel Best simply left Saint Marie for a better job.

And somewhere in the world of Death in Paradise, there is every reason to believe he carried on doing what he loved: police work, family life and the next stage of his career.

Frequently Asked Questions

Did Fidel Best die in Death in Paradise?

No. Fidel Best did not die. The character left Saint Marie after passing his Sergeant exams with distinction and taking a new police position in St Lucia. His departure was written as a positive career move rather than a death or tragedy.

Why did Gary Carr leave Death in Paradise?

Gary Carr left Death in Paradise after Series 3 to pursue other acting opportunities. He later appeared in several television productions, including The Deuce, Genius, Trigonometry and Downton Abbey.

Where did Fidel Best go after leaving Saint Marie?

Fidel moved to St Lucia, where he took a new police job after earning his promotion to Sergeant. The move allowed the character to continue his career away from Saint Marie.

What happened to Fidel’s family?

Fidel had married Juliette, and the couple welcomed a daughter named Rosie. His growing family was part of the reason his career ambitions became even more important to him.

Could Fidel Best return to Death in Paradise?

There has been no confirmed return of Gary Carr as Fidel in the information used for this story. The character's last established destination remains St Lucia, where he went to continue his police career. It is best to treat any unconfirmed return claims as speculation.

Conclusion

Fidel Best's departure from Death in Paradise was much simpler than some fans may remember.

He did not die, vanish mysteriously or leave because of a scandal. Fidel earned his promotion, became a father, and accepted a new police position in St Lucia.

For Gary Carr, leaving Saint Marie also opened the door to a wider acting career. His later work showed that Fidel was just one chapter in a much bigger professional journey.

For fans, though, Fidel will always be part of the early Death in Paradise years. His friendship with Dwayne, his determination at work and his gradual rise through the police ranks helped give those seasons their familiar warmth.

Perhaps that is the nicest thing about his ending.

Fidel's story was allowed to continue, even if viewers could no longer follow it.

And that leaves us with a comforting answer to the question, “Where did Fidel Best go?”

He went to St Lucia to begin the next chapter of his life.

Do you remember Fidel Best and his time on Saint Marie? Did you enjoy his friendship with Dwayne? Share your favourite Fidel memory in the comments below.