Filming has officially begun for the highly anticipated Christmas special and second series of the BBC’s immensely successful crime drama, Beyond Paradise. Co-commissioned with BritBox International, the show will be broadcasted on BBC One and iPlayer, leaving fans eager to discover what lies ahead for the beloved characters Humphrey and Martha after their make-or-break journey to Saint Marie in the previous series.
The first season of Beyond Paradise made a resounding impact, becoming the UK’s most successful new drama launch of the year thus far. With an average of 8 million viewers, the show captivated audiences when it premiered earlier this year on BBC One and iPlayer.
The forthcoming Christmas special and second series will see the return of Kris Marshall as DI Humphrey Goodman, Sally Bretton as Martha Lloyd, Zahra Ahmadi as DS Esther Williams, Dylan Llewellyn as PC Kelby Hartford, Barbara Flynn as Anne Lloyd, and Felicity Montagu as Margo Martins.
Set against the breathtaking landscapes of Devon and Cornwall in South-West England, the new series promises the same delightful escapism, humour, and mind-boggling cases that fans have come to cherish since the first season. Shipton Abbott’s new detective inspector will face the daunting task of solving a shocking crime aboard a steam train, an arson attack predicted by a medium, and the perplexing disappearance of a local fishing legend.
Expressing his excitement, Kris Marshall exclaims, “I’m beyond excited to have begun filming the second series of Beyond Paradise. ‘Shipton Abbott’ is such a wonderful location to call home for a while and it’s a delight to join up with my fellow police team for another batch of weird and wonderful cases, and to see what’s in store for Humphrey and Martha in the next chapter of their lives.”
Sally Bretton adds, “Series one of Beyond Paradise was such a joy to be a part of and I’m ecstatic to have returned to what already feels like a second home in Shipton Abbott. I can’t wait for audiences to see what we have planned – the second series is set to be brilliant!”
Tim Key, the Executive Producer at Red Planet Pictures, shares his enthusiasm, stating, “We were delighted with how quickly the audience took Beyond Paradise to their hearts and over the moon to be back for more. Our fantastic cast and crew are hard at work to bring another series of humour, heart and of course some properly puzzling cases to audiences, all set against the beauty of Devon and Cornwall – and of course to let everyone experience Shipton Abbott at Christmas!”
Danielle Scott-Haughton, the Commissioning Editor for BBC Drama, expresses her delight at the success of the first season and the anticipation for the upcoming episodes, saying, “The huge success of Beyond Paradise’s first series was a joy to see, and the new run of episodes has everything that made so many of us fall in love with it – and a whole lot more. Humphrey, Martha and the residents of Shipton Abbott really were only just getting started!”
Reemah Sakaan, CEO of BritBox International, comments on the show’s global success, stating, “Beyond Paradise has delivered on the promise that we saw in it from the beginning, quickly building a strong fanbase across our international markets with its endearing characters, gripping mysteries and stunning backdrop. With the strength of our cast and creative team, and our successful partnership with the BBC and Red Planet Pictures, we know that the series’ many fans across our markets are in for another treat when Beyond Paradise returns.”
Created by Robert Thorogood and Tony Jordan, the second series of Beyond Paradise is a co-commission between the BBC and BritBox International and is produced by Red Planet Pictures, a part of the Asacha Media Group. The Christmas special is set to air during the festive season of 2023, with the second series scheduled for release next year.
Tony Jordan, Founder and Executive Chairman of Red Planet Pictures, will act as the showrunner, leading a team of writers who will work on the new 6×60 series and the Christmas special. Joining him as executive producers are Tim Key and Belinda Campbell for Red Planet Pictures, Danielle Scott-Haughton for the BBC, and Reemah Sakaan and Stephen Nye for BritBox International. Lindsay Hughes will be in charge of production. BBC Studios will handle international distribution for both the first and second series.
