Where is Death in Paradise filmed? Inside the hit TV show’s stunning French location

Virgin Radio

20 Jun 2023, 13:47

Filming for the 13th season is nearing completion.

BBC’s Death in Paradise has left viewers dreaming of a holiday in the sun since it began in 2011 (hopefully without the murders though).

It is famous for stunning scenery and crystal blue waters.

If the show has you browsing for holiday listings, here is all you need to know.

Where is Death In Paradise filmed?

The programme is filmed in Guadeloupe, a group of five islands in the southern Caribbean Sea, that are shaped like a butterfly.

The French overseas region is located in the Lesser Antilles between Dominica and Antigua.

Death in Paradise is set on the fictional island of Saint Marie, in a town named Honoré. 

The town’s real name is Deshaies, and some of its restaurants, hotels, and attractions regularly feature in the programme.

One of the stars, Ralf Little, recently filmed a run-in with some creepy-crawlies on set.

He posted a video on Instagram and captioned it: "Surprise guests in the shack! Would you still want to spend a night here?"

He explained: "Just moved a bit of furniture in the shack," before panning to show the bugs.

"That's why I don't wanna stay here."

Are the Death In Paradise locations real?

The police station seen in the show is actually a church hall, with the priest’s office disguised as an incident room.

The idyllic Anse de la Perle Beach is where the detectives’ shack is situated. The set has to be put in storage between shoots to stop it from being washed away by the tide in the winter months. Indeed, lead actor Ralf Little explained as much in an Instagram Q&A.

The star, who plays DI Neville Parker, said: "We build it every year and then take it down again when it's finished. So if you do want to see it and see us here, you need to come to Guadeloupe between May to end of October.”

He added: “And it is hot, I have to warn you.”

Every time the characters grab a drink in Catherine’s Bar whilst solving a case, they are in fact in a real restaurant called Le Madras.

Some of the scenes are shot at The Langley Fort Royal Hotel, where members of the cast and crew stay during the filming process.

The Zoo de Guadeloupe, which is half an hour away from Deshaies, is home to 85 different Caribbean and Guyana species, including toucans, raccoons, and crocodiles. But in series eight of Death in Paradise, it was used as a murder scene. 

Dashaies Botanical Gardens can be found a mile south of the town. This is where the show’s first detective inspector, Richard Poole (Ben Miller), was murdered. This scene was filmed in a private villa inside the gardens, which can be hired out for €2000 a week.

Why does Death In Paradise film in Guadeloupe?

In an interview with Hello! Magazine, executive producer Tim Key explained why he and Emma Kelly decided to film the show in Guadeloupe. He said: “It looks beautiful but also it's not overdeveloped, it's not a very modern Caribbean island, nor is it less developed.

“It's just right for us.”

Filming for the 13th series began on 2nd May, 2023. The official Death in Paradise Instagram account celebrated this by posting a photo of a clapperboard submerged in a pool.

The caption stated: “We're back in Guadeloupe with a splash! Today was our first day of filming series 13 of #DeathInParadise!”

In his Instagram Q&A, Ralf Little explained that "October 27th is our last day filming, and that will be that for this series of Death in Paradise.”

Want to find out more about the upcoming series? Check out everything we know so far.

All episodes of Death in Paradise are available to stream on BBC iPlayer.