Don Warrington exclusive interview

by Daniel Falconer | 8 January 2015

You've been with the show since the beginning - how does the experience filming the show compare now to when you first started?

Now, it's much smoother. In the beginning we were all finding our way like the start of anything. We had to acclimatise to the way people work there, the way we work there, the weather - just being in a different place, not knowing it at all - that meant we had to work harder, and now we know where we are. It's smoother.

And I imagine the chemistry and relationships on-set are mostly formed after the first series?

Well I don't know that they're formed, I think they develop. I think that it's an ongoing process - that the relationships are established - quite broad lines - but that changes as the series itself develops.

Death In Paradise is a massive hit on the BBC, what do you think it is about the show that makes it so well-liked by the viewers?

I think that it's a hit because it's wonderful to look at. I think there's a degree of exoticism about it - it's not here - and it's unlike any other show we've seen that's come out of England really. It goes to a glamorous place to tell detective stories, and I think the backdrop plays a huge part in it, and I also think part of it's success is the relationship between the regular characters. I think people are very interested in that. How's it going to develop? You know? They get to know the regulars and I think the nature of this is the relationship of the characters is important.

Following on from that then, what should we expect from this new string of episodes with the characters?

Well, you can expect more of the same and something new.

What are your hopes for your character and his story?

Well it's always intriguing to see what they do with Selwyn because he is such an intriguing figure. We don't know very much about him but what is suggested of him is that he has a whole world going on outside of the police station. That he's a man who's politically very active.

You touched on the location of filming, it's very luxurious and I imagine it takes a load off from work at the end of the day?

Yeah, it's lovely. It's a lovely place to be working because number one, it's hot. It's beautiful and we do have the sea, so what tends to happen is that we work and then we relax in the sea, which is very warm.

Guest stars have become one of the exciting things about each new series of Death In Paradise, as a regular is it nice to see fresh talent come through the doors each time?

It's wonderful actually, wonderful to see new people come in and to welcome them. Yeah, and watch them relax and slip on their trunks and slip into the sea!

So if you had the chance to choose an actor to come onboard for a guest appearance, who would you choose and why?

That's a very hard question because I have so many actors I'd love to see on Death In Paradise. The first reason to choose anybody is because they're good - that's primarily a reason to choose people - and getting to know somebody you don't know but you've admired.

How does this show differ and stack up to the other work you've done?

Well, I think the difference is it's a long time in a very exotic setting, because normally one goes away if it's on film or television - you tend to be away for a matter of weeks - this is a matter of months. I think that's the difference.