#detective inspector richard poole

[bemusedlybespectacled]

so, I'm thinking a teensy bit more about character death and, specifically, the death of a main character in a comedy show that I'm actually okay with. I'm talking about Death in Paradise.

Just as a primer for people who weren't raised by teaboos, it's a murder mystery comedy show, the premise of which is that there is one white British detective inspector guy who solves murders with his group of local cops: basically Midsomer Murders but on a fictional Caribbean island.

The comedy is always that he's some kind of socially awkward nerd who clashes in some way with his otherwise-entirely-Caribbean office, especially his black female second-in-command, even though they've at this point had four different DIs and I don't know how many changes of supporting characters.

The first two seasons, with DI Richard Poole, are your typical cozy murder-of-the-week-type mysteries. And then the third season starts, and the first mystery of the season is who killed DI Poole.

Like, it literally opens exactly like a normal episode, with a cold open establishing the suspects and showing us the murder victim before cutting to the jaunty theme tune and opening credits. It's just that this particular murder victim is the main character.

And then the plot progresses in exactly the same way, with a different white British nerd guy leading the investigation, because THE PROTAGONIST FOR THE PAST SIXTEEN EPISODES IS DEAD.

Now, some key differences between this show and OFMD:

It's a murder mystery show, so the rules are inherently different. No Muppet physics here: people die all the time and they die in totally normal ways, like getting stabbed with an ice pick or drowned in a fish tank or turned into a science class skeleton.

While this was the first time a main character was killed off, it was not the first time the DI had been killed. The pilot had Richard solving the murder of the previous DI, only for it to be revealed that his black female second-in-command of that episode was the murderer (Camille Bordey, his actual #2, isn't assigned to him until the very end of that episode). Like, shocking twists about characters you thought were "safe" was established in the very first episode.

The death actually affected the fucking characters and the fucking plot.

It's been like ten years since this episode aired and I still really like this episode, even though it gutted me the first time I watched it (and I don't like the later seasons nearly as much). Like, it's not my favorite (that's 2x06), but it's definitely in my top three. Because even though this is the episode they killed off DI Blorbo From My Britbox, it's also an episode about him.

The comedy is toned way down because the entire office is gutted by his loss. They have to do mundane things like call his parents to tell them he died and review CCTV footage and wait for lab data like it's just a normal case when it's not. At every step, there's a "what would Richard have done?" moment. And even though this is the episode that introduces the new DI, Humphrey Goodman, the summation at the end is entirely about Richard, with this pretty sweet line:

You know, bizarrely, I'm the only one who never met Richard Poole. But during this case, I… I feel as though I've got to know him a little. Mostly by the effect he had on those around him. But it seems we all forgot one very crucial thing: he was a detective. A good one. I think he made a discovery, had a theory about what he discovered, and then sent home for evidence to corroborate that theory. And in doing so, he has, in essence, solved his own murder.

His presence is felt throughout the entire episode, even though he's only alive for the first three minutes or so. His death is disappointing (especially for those of us who shipped him with Camille), but it actually has an impact.

So when they brought back Camille in S10, years after she was written out, they also brought back Richard: Camille imagines having a conversation with him when she’s worried that her mother is going to die, and he gives her advice and comforts her. And that scene makes me cry every time I watch it, because it's clear that she misses him as much as the audience does.

We didn't get that in OFMD. We didn't get an acknowledgement of how Izzy impacted the other characters (except Ed, in the weakest way possible), or even them looking sad for longer than two minutes. We sweep past it immediately and go directly to a wedding and then Stede and Ed settling down together.

There’s no gravity to it. There’s no time to process the loss. Hell, for the characters, there ISN’T a real loss. And if the characters don’t care, why should we?

[romancemedia]

[twistedtummies2]

Gathering of the Greatest Gumshoes - Number 23

(For whatever reason, this entry didn't post when it was supposed to. Not sure what went wrong. Regardless, here it is now.)

(As I said on a previous post, putting this one up super early because I'll be flying out of state tomorrow, which means getting to bed and getting up early.)

Welcome to A Gathering of the Greatest Gumshoes! During this month-long event, I’ll be counting my Top 31 Favorite Fictional Detectives, from movies, television, literature, video games, and more!

SLEUTH-OF-THE-DAY’S QUOTE: “Mess and I are very old friends.”

Number 23 is…Humphrey Goodman, from Death in Paradise.

I like to say that Death in Paradise can practically be called “Doctor Whodunnit.” In a way, this show – which has been on the air since 2011, and is still going strong – feels very much like Doctor Who to me, in some superficial ways. The chiefest one is that, with its longevity, it’s changed out lead actors frequently: just as Doctor Who has the Doctor “regenerate” into new forms, played by new performers, to keep the series going, “Death in Paradise” does the same with its chief detectives.

The premise of the show is a classic, old-fashioned murder mystery program, in many ways. It all takes place on the island of Saint Marie in the Caribbean. The crimes that need to be solve tend to follow a similar format: the story begins with some person on the island being murdered (of course). The crime is usually made to look like a suicide or an accident, but there’s usually one small, seemingly incongruous detail that indicates it wasn’t. However, all of the possible suspects were either all together or in sight of each other at the presumed time of death. So, the great question becomes: how could any of them do it without tipping off the rest to their activities?

In the show, the crimes fall under the jurisdiction of the small but intrepid Honore Police Department. The department typically hires out agents from England and France alike, to serve. The main character is, so far, always an English detective inspector, who – through some means or another – ends up assigned to take charge of investigations. Over the 12 years the show has been going on, we’ve so far had four separate detectives, and ALL of them have been awesome. There’s the grumpy and pompous Richard Poole, the very first lead sleuth (played by Ben Miller); later came the jocular and carefree Jack Mooney (played by Ardal O’Hanlon); and, of course, there’s the current lead as of writing this post, the neurotic and hypochondriac Neville Parker (played by Ralf Little). Any one of them could have made a great choice on this list, and I was initially tempted to give ALL of the detectives in the show a collective slot…but after some consideration, I felt it was only fair to include just one. And if I had to pick just one, it would be the series’ second lead – whose era took place between Poole and Mooney – Humphrey Goodman, played by Kris Marshall.

Humphrey was the first truly “eccentric” character in the series, among the four detectives. Richard Poole was more of a fish out of water; a character who was the total opposite of the place he was in. He was formal, stuffy, proper, and the humor largely came from his pomposity being constantly punctured due to the stark contrast between himself and the island. Humphrey was a much more overtly friendly sort, and while he wasn’t exactly someone who got along on the island like it had always been home, he was much less rude and impatient. Instead, the humor with Humphrey came largely from his own personal oddities. Goodman is clumsy, socially awkward, technologically inept, and his moods turn on a dime; going from energetically bouncing around to stone cold serious at the flip of a coin. He was also perpetually hopeless in romance: at the start of his tenure, Humphrey was going through a divorce, and throughout his time on the series, he was constantly falling into and out of relationships with people. Indeed, it was love that eventually led to Humphrey’s departure: towards the end of Season 6 – having been on the show since the start of Season 3 – Goodman left Saint Marie to pursue a relationship with an old friend of his, Martha, in London.

This was not the end for Humphrey Goodman: the character turned out to be extremely popular with viewers, so much so that a spin-off show was created called “Beyond Paradise.” This series focused on the detective inspector’s adventures in England, as he continued to solve crimes with Martha at his side. Interestingly, this was also not the first time Kris Marshall had played a British sleuth: he had previously appeared in another crime series called “Murder City.” I must confess I haven’t watched either of these shows yet, as of typing this, but I REALLY want to. While the other detectives who solved the baffling mysteries of Saint Marie were all excellent fellows so far, Marshall’s D.I. Goodman is by far my favorite island inspector so far.

Tomorrow (in just a couple hours), the countdown continues with Number 22!

CLUE: “I am on a mission to protect the world’s idiots!”

[therealcrimediary]

Richard Basson has been convicted of the murder of his partner Carrie Slater after shooting her in the forehead with an illegally held handgun. Basson initially claimed that Slater had hurt herself by running into a pool cue, but it was revealed that he had shot her, causing an unsurvivable brain injury. The incident took place in their home in Long Clawson, near Melton Mowbray, where Basson called emergency services and claimed they had argued over a half cigarette, leading to him jabbing at Slater with a pool cue. During the 999 call, Basson stated that Slater had come at him with a carving knife, leading to the injury. When emergency services arrived, they found Slater with a significant injury to the front of her head. Basson admitted to causing her injuries and was initially arrested on suspicion of causing grievous bodily harm with intent. However, scans revealed that the injury was a gunshot wound, leading to his further arrest on suspicion of murder. Despite initially denying the charges, a jury found Basson guilty of murder at Leicester Crown Court. The gun used in the murder was found in the garden of the property, along with live ammunition and empty cartridges. Evidence presented in court included a bullet head with traces of plaster and paint similar to the materials in the house. Basson and Slater had a tumultuous relationship, with previous incidents of violence towards her. Detective Inspector Emma Matts expressed condolences to Slater's family and stated that Basson had never explained his actions or shown any remorse for killing Slater. The motive for the murder remains unknown. The trial revealed the violent history between Basson and Slater, with the court hearing about previous incidents of violence in their relationship. Despite claiming to love Slater, Basson's actions led to her tragic death, leaving her family and loved ones struggling to come to terms with the loss. Basson's erratic behavior during the incident and refusal to cooperate with authorities further painted a disturbing picture of the events leading to Slater's death. The guilty verdict provided some closure to Slater's loved ones, though the reasons behind the murder remain unanswered. Basson's conviction for the murder of Carrie Slater highlighted the dangers of illegally held firearms and domestic violence. The tragic outcome of their tumultuous relationship serves as a reminder of the importance of addressing and preventing domestic abuse. Basson's lack of remorse and refusal to explain his actions added to the distress of Slater's family and friends. The justice system's decision to hold him accountable for his actions provides a sense of closure to those affected by Slater's untimely death, though questions about the motive behind the murder remain unanswered.

[richardpooleimagines]

Imagine celebrating your birthday with [the Saint Marie gang and] Richard! (part 2/2)

-

A/N: so here it finally is and damn it took me too long to post it, my bad. also i find the world’s lack of images & gifs of starlit beaches disturbing

Part two of the original request by the super awesome @cake-and-umbrellas!!!!!!! 

Pairing: Detective Inspector Richard Poole x reader

Warnings: Richard rants for like 200 minutes, fluffy kisses (oh dear), sand (dw it’s unmentioned)

--------

Back at the Shack, Richard opened the passenger door for you and when he held out his arm without a word you took it and cocked your head to the side in question. He hadn't said anything for the entire car ride.

Needless to say you gasped when he opened the front door and you were drenched in the beautiful orange glow of hundreds of little fairy lights, hung from the ceiling and wrapped around the tree that grew through the middle of his living room. Your grasp tightened on his arm as you looked up at him, near to tears, "What's going on Richard?"

He smiled softly. Finally, after a long day and a night of partying with your friends at Catherine's, it was near midnight and he finally had you right where he wanted you: so close to being in his arms so he could tell you how much he loved and appreciated you. 

"Shhhh," he put a finger to his lips and untangled his arm from yours, taking off his suit jacket, tie, rolling up his sleeves, and undoing the first few buttons. As he did this you watched him curiously, your cheeks tinted rouge (trying not to pass out from the sheer masculine appeal that Richard was exuding with his rolled up sleeves and few undone buttons). What was going on?

His silent answer came when he held out his hand and led you slowly out to the porch and then onto the sand along the starlit beach.

Forearms linked and fingers woven together, it was lovely to feel the contact usually not felt when he had his sleeves rolled down and suit jacket on. He hoped you didn't notice how his skin was searing where it was pressed against yours, contrasting with the cool salty sea breeze that whipped around you both. His blood was running hot because even after all this time together, your laugh and smile and eyes and everything you did made his heart flip somersaults.

Aglow with bright moonlight, you walked along for a ways. When you stopped, you could hear Richard take a deep breath - you were holding yours- and release a heavy sigh, before he turned to you and took both your hands in his. Your birthday was becoming more and more magical every minute you spent with him, and you were on the verge of dizzy with how romantic this all was.

"I'm sorry," he said.

His words took you by surprise as you froze in horror and furrowed your brows, your heart having leapt to your throat. You could see Richard's face contort into confusion with your sudden change of expression.

"You're breaking up with -"

"-What? No? No! No of course not," he looked at you, incredulous.

"Oh thank god," you let out a rush of air.

Taking a second to relax and giving you a moment to release the sheer panic you just experienced, he gazed at you apologetically. His hands were warm and gentle around yours, and you stared back at him in awe, you loved him so much. "What are you sorry for then?"

"I - I, well," he began, "I wanted tonight to be special, because it was your birthday."

You giggled and shook your head, "It was special, Richard, everyone was so wonderful."

"No, I mean I wanted to make tonight special for you. I had quite a bit planned out..." he sighed and looked away at the nearby waves, "I'm sorry that sounds terribly selfish of me."

You were stunned, Richard was grumpy the whole night because he wanted to spend your birthday evening alone? Oh, your precious, sweet, well-meaning, absolutely dense Detective Inspector. You grinned broadly, blushing, "No, you did make it special for me, by being there. ...And for being with me," you added.

"Oh!" he let go of your hands, "that reminds me!" fumbling in his trouser pocket he pulled out a small, long rectangular box. Your eyes widened and you could feel your head beginning to spin. "I got you something."

"You didn't have to-"

"No, I did," he handed it to you, blushing. "I hope you like it. It was my great-grandmother's. I got my mother to send it by priority mail. To be honest I was shocked it actually arrived."

Opening the box, you felt the tears beginning to well up. It was a simple but elegant, beautiful, beautiful wristwatch with a black band. It looked very vintage and very well taken care of. "It's gorgeous!" You were trembling and your heart was racing as he offered to help you put it on.  He was close enough then that when his warm breath fanned your cheeks and fingertips lightly brushed your wind-chilled skin it sent shivers all over you. And when he finished and didn't step back, you let your eyes roam over all of him, appreciating the slightly disheveled, vulnerable, unprofessional, entirely whole-hearted and kind Richard that no one else except you was allowed to see.

"I know it sounds cheesy," he paused and rubbed the back of his neck, "But you ground me. And you complete me. And to be fair, you make solving cases a lot easier since you - well you are the best part of my day and a lot of my stress is gone when I see you - well that is besides being able to have a lovely cool shower when it's ridiculously hot outside ... but then again even those sometimes don't go according to plan because of Harry thinking it's okay to sneak up on me in there - so I suppose when you weigh all of the cons of being on this godforsaken tropical island, you truly are the best part of my day. And don't even get me started on my not being able to have a decent conversation with anyone of Camille, Dwayne or Fidel, or Catherine for that matter. And they probably think that it's okay to - wait I hope they didn't make you...No they couldn't possibly have," he briefly interrupted this thought to wave it off and shake his head, then he continued, too nervous to stop, "Did you know I was going to cook you dinner? It was going to be one of those lovely, traditional, good British dishes. I mean I'm not the best at cooking, but I thought you'd have liked to help me. We could've worked it out together. And then after we were going to watch any movie you wanted. And I even bought some of those desserts you love. I know it wasn't a cake but we could've blown out some candles anyway. I'm sorry that-"

You grabbed his shirt collar and kissed him, shutting up his directionless ranting. He froze, hands mid-air. But you didn't shy away and just as suddenly as he had tensed, he completely relaxed against your lips and returned it with a joy that sent happy warmth flooding through you. The fireworks were bursting from your head to your toes and you reveled in how soft and gentle his mouth was against yours.

When you finally pulled away, it was because humans still needed oxygen to survive. He held you in his arms, they'd slid around your waist and yours around his broad shoulders, during the kiss.

You could've stayed like that for eternity, drowning in each other's souls. He let out a shaky breath, "Wow," his emerald eyes were wide with happy surprise. "You can't imagine how long I've dreamt of that," he whispered confidentially.

"Really?" you mumbled, flushed, raising your eyebrows.

"Is it my birthday or yours?"

You giggled and rolled your eyes.

He frowned slightly, "I'm sorry for having made you go out of your way to do that. I ought to have kissed you instead. It's just that I -"

So you cut him off by kissing him again sweetly. He made no protest. In fact his grasp around you tightened and one of his hands slid up your waist into your hair to deepen the kiss eagerly. Your racing heart fluttered and you tangled your fingers in his short brown locks.

Breaking apart you stared at each other, breathless, and entirely head over heels in love,"Come on, let's go back inside, it's only midnight. We still have lots of time to do all of what you planned. I'm also willing to accept your apologies for my supposedly absolutely no good horrible birthday in the form of your kisses, Detective Inspector Poole."

He grinned, red from ear to ear, "Gladly, my love."

[genesisdragonalia]

I know most (if not all) of my fellow DI Poole fans feel this one 

[dearvoidgoodnight]

Richard: She married Christ. You could never compete-not with the miracles or the father in law.

[letthenerdsleep]

When you get dragged from your comfy bed and there's no Wi-Fi connection

[staydandy]

Death in Paradise (2011) - Whump List

List by StayDandy Synopsis : A Detective Inspector (DI) is transferred from London to the Caribbean island of Saint-Marie to investigate and solve complex homicides. (Wiki)

Whumpee : Richard Poole played by Ben Miller (left) • Humphrey Goodman played by Kris Marshall (right)

Country : 🇬🇧 UK Genres : Comedy, Crime

Notes : This is a Partial List - I didn't list every bit of whump, just what caught my attention the most • This show is ongoing. I have only seen seasons 1-5. • The main character of the show has changed 4 times so far. The show finds some reason for one DI leave so a new one can be sent to fill his place. Poole is in seasons 1–2, & makes guest appearances in seasons 3 and 10. Goodman is in seasons 3-6. • The episode list is formatted season-episode : 00-00

Episodes on List : 3 Total Episodes : 89 Total Seasons : 11

*Spoilers below*

01-06 : DI Richard Poole is found in his home, sick with fever

02-07 : Richard & Martha are stuck in a building during a hurricane, Richard is hit in the head by flying debris & collapses

05-05 : DI Humphrey Goodman is chasing after a culprit in a dark hotel room when he’s pushed down the stairs & hits his head, passes out

[doctorfriend79]

The name is Poole. Detective Inspector Richard Poole.

[nevinslibrary]

Not A Book Friday

Death in Paradise is mostly what it sounds like. A mystery series set in Paradise, in this case in a town called Honoré on the fictional island of Saint Marie (that is in the Lesser Antilles). A British detective comes down to the island to help solve a crime, and, then, he gets stuck there. And, so, he and the Honoré police department solve the crimes that happen on the island.

For two whole seasons, this was one of the best, and definitely top five of not just British Detective TV shows, but, any Detective TV show. Then… the first episode of Season 3 happened, and everything changed. It went from being a great show, to being a good show sometimes, a cringe-y show sometimes too.

But, I want to focus on the first two seasons. The four main characters, all different levels of police officers, Officer Dwayne Myers, Officer Fidel Best, Detective Sergeant Camille Bordey, and the British guy, Detective Inspector Richard Poole, work so so so well together in the first and second season. Yes, there is the whole 'oh my gosh, the idiot savant DI Poole has done it again and now will display his brilliance'. But, there's so much delightful investigating done by the other three officers that it doesn't always seem totally and utterly out of left field when Poole gets to 'solve it' by gathering all the suspects together. And then there’s Catherine Bordey, Camille’s mother, and the convenient owner of a bar right near the police station too. She was an awesome character. Not surprisingly, the actors all play their characters so so well. I want Danny John-Jules (who plays Dwayne) to be in everything I watch now. And Sara Martins too.

These seasons were funny, and some of the mysteries were really interesting too. Just… maybe give Seasons 3-10 a pass.

Death in Paradise Season 1 & 2

[dirichardpooleforever]

Pooleism #2: The Modern Family.

[romancemedia]

I’m rewatching season 3 of Death in Paradise and it’s interesting how everyone has a case that’s personal to them, mainly someone they know who’s either killed or is a suspect.

• Richard Poole, the original Detective Inspector is killed during a reunion with his old collage friends during the premiere. • Fidel’s best friend is murdered. • Dwayne encounters Simone, a bad girl he knows and is highly suspicious of her when a murder occurs at the hotel she works. • Camille’s estranged father is a murder suspect. • Humphrey Goodman’s ex-wife, Sally arrives on Saint Marie hoping to reconcile while he’s working a murder in the finale.

[therealcrimediary]

Richard Basson has been convicted of the murder of his partner Carrie Slater after shooting her in the forehead with an illegally held handgun. Basson initially claimed that Slater had hurt herself by running into a pool cue, but it was revealed that he had shot her, causing an unsurvivable brain injury. The incident took place in their home in Long Clawson, near Melton Mowbray, where Basson called emergency services and claimed they had argued over a half cigarette, leading to him jabbing at Slater with a pool cue. During the 999 call, Basson stated that Slater had come at him with a carving knife, leading to the injury. When emergency services arrived, they found Slater with a significant injury to the front of her head. Basson admitted to causing her injuries and was initially arrested on suspicion of causing grievous bodily harm with intent. However, scans revealed that the injury was a gunshot wound, leading to his further arrest on suspicion of murder. Despite initially denying the charges, a jury found Basson guilty of murder at Leicester Crown Court. The gun used in the murder was found in the garden of the property, along with live ammunition and empty cartridges. Evidence presented in court included a bullet head with traces of plaster and paint similar to the materials in the house. Basson and Slater had a tumultuous relationship, with previous incidents of violence towards her. Detective Inspector Emma Matts expressed condolences to Slater's family and stated that Basson had never explained his actions or shown any remorse for killing Slater. The motive for the murder remains unknown. The trial revealed the violent history between Basson and Slater, with the court hearing about previous incidents of violence in their relationship. Despite claiming to love Slater, Basson's actions led to her tragic death, leaving her family and loved ones struggling to come to terms with the loss. Basson's erratic behavior during the incident and refusal to cooperate with authorities further painted a disturbing picture of the events leading to Slater's death. The guilty verdict provided some closure to Slater's loved ones, though the reasons behind the murder remain unanswered. Basson's conviction for the murder of Carrie Slater highlighted the dangers of illegally held firearms and domestic violence. The tragic outcome of their tumultuous relationship serves as a reminder of the importance of addressing and preventing domestic abuse. Basson's lack of remorse and refusal to explain his actions added to the distress of Slater's family and friends. The justice system's decision to hold him accountable for his actions provides a sense of closure to those affected by Slater's untimely death, though questions about the motive behind the murder remain unanswered.

[richardpooleimagines]

Imagine celebrating your birthday with the Saint Marie gang and Richard! (part 1/2)

-

A/N: This is coming really very, very late. So I apologize (for my lateness as well as this fic’s very very poor writing *sigh*). 

I’d also like to thank @cake-and-umbrellas profusely whose idea was this prompt, and whose birthday it was recently! 🎉🎇

Pairing: Detective Inspector Richard Poole x Reader

Warnings: flufffff, peeeer presssure

(also this is horrible of me, but I’m not 100% sure of what kind of phone Richard has, so forgive this iphone format, i just pulled up a random template. i dont even have an iphone)

                                 Richard put down his phone with a huff, "There, happy?"

"Very. I don't know why you thought it would be okay to keep Y/N's birthday a secret from us, Sir," Camille shook her head and finished securing a bunch of helium filled balloons to Richard's desk.

"Yeah, Chief, you know how much we love her," Dwayne chastised, setting out the right amount of candles for your cake.

Richard frowned, he wanted your birthday to be special, he'd had something planned for later and he didn't want you to be all partied out with your friends so that you wouldn't enjoy it! His train of thought was cut into as Fidel shouted from the doorway.

"She's coming up the staircase! Everyone, to your places!" Fidel scrambled back from the door and came to stand with Dwanye and Camille - Richard stood a little way's apart, leaning against his desk with his arms crossed.

"Surprise!!! Happy Birthday Y/N!!!"

You could not hold back your shock as you stepped through the doorway. Camille ran at you and gave you a big hug. You were still speechless as Dwayne and Fidel then came up and gave you their hugs and well wishes.

"Thank you guys so much this is wonderful!"

"Oh please, Y/N, we love you, it's nothing!" Camille shrugged.

"That's right! Anyone who can make the Chief happy when he's being the Chief is worthy of anything in our books!" Dwayne bobbed his head, grinning.

Smiling broadly, and blushing profusely, you took in the simple but beautiful decorations they'd taken the time to put up around the small police station: colourful balloons, streamers, and a neatly handwritten banner. And then your eyes settled on your boyfriend, none other than Saint Marie's very own Detective Inspector Richard Poole, eyes averted to a nondescript spot on the ground.

Sighing lovingly, you made your way over to him as the others busied themselves with setting out all their other birthday props, pretending that they weren't watching your's and Richard's every move (they were still fascinated by you and just how different and open Richard was around you, he was like a different man, and they knew it was a reflection of how much he loved you). Only when you came to a halt right in front of him did he look at you.

"Hello darling," he grumbled, and though he'd already told you one hundred times that morning he said it again, "Happy birthday."

You smiled, "Are you going to hug me or what, Detective Inspector Poole?" You saw his face flush and his poor attempt to hold back a sheepish grin before he pulled you into a warm embrace. You adored flustering him. But you adored even more when he gave in to your infrequent, shy yet bold, demands for simple physical affection. He probably only tolerated and indulged in this hug because it was your birthday - you took full advantage of it as you buried your head in his chest and he nuzzled fondly into your hair, both of you attempting to convey just how much you felt for each other, nevermind how hot the temperature was and how he was basically broiling in his suit.

A low whistle in your direction made you and Richard pull apart suddenly. "Chief, you and Y/N might as well just get a room now," Dwayne laughed. Fidel and Camille were chuckling, clearly set on making Richard's face turn an even deeper shade of scarlet.

You giggled and went over to join them, scanning what they had laid out on the table.

"Hey, Y/N," Camille shout whispered conspiratorially, "I'll buy everyone's first round if you can get him to wear this!" She held up a striped party hat.

"Ohohoh!" Dwayne rubbed his hands together, "Now you have to do it Y/N!"

You shook your head smirking, "that's an abuse of power, I couldn't possibly-"

"It's your birthday, he has to!" Dwayne insisted.

Holding back a laugh and feeling particularly mischievous, you picked up the hat and spun around to Richard, "Wear it pleaaaaaase!"

He had been distracted by a thought and your sudden addressing startled him. His eyes widened, "What-" you hopped over to him and gave him your best pair of puppy eyes as you held it up. He looked almost offended by how cute you were trying to be and how much of an effect it was having on his beating heart.

He snatched the hat from you, glaring, grumpy. If this was going to make the afternoon to by faster, he thought, then the sooner he could get to going through with his plan for later. Fiddling with it for a second he finally managed to sit it properly on his head. It looked ridiculous, you brought a hand to your mouth to muffle your laugh.

The others didn't try to be so polite, they burst out in a raucous fit. "Looking real snappy Chief!" Dwayne wiped a tear away.

"Okay let's get this show on the road," Camille handed out everyone else's hats, "To my mother's!"

You batted your eyelashes at Richard, he was frowning and it made your heart ache, you wanted to ask what the matter was, but you knew him well and you knew that he'd not want to talk about it around company. Grabbing his own hand with your smaller one you tugged him to follow the others. You were overjoyed when his hand finally relaxed around yours and he let you hold it all the way to Catherine's. He was definitely spoiling you today.

Catherine's couldn't have been any more miserable a time for Richard. He was sitting at a table near - he knew you'd want him close, today being your special day and all - to where you were on the dance floor, grooving to the Caribbean beats and having a blast with Camille, Dwayne, Fidel and occasionally Catherine (even, to your surprise, Police Commissioner Selwyn Patterson showed up). The DJ played your favourite song more than once for you too! You were dancing hard and belting out lyrics at the top of your lungs, comfortable around your friends and in the familiar environment of Catherine’s. At that moment, “dull” didn’t exist in your dictionary, and an expression of utter joy never left your face. 

Head resting on his hand, and admiring your every move, totally enamoured by your being and everything about you, it just made Richard realise how his plans for you were basically ruined. Would you even appreciate what he had to give you? Or would it be so boring compared to the blast of a time you were having here with your friends?

You caught his eyes, and took his breath away mid-grovel with a soft smile he knew belonged to only him. How he loved you.

"Y/N! It's time for the cake!" Catherine called from where she'd brought out a tray with all the candles Dwayne had counted out earlier lit and ready to be blown out. The music lowered a little and you gasped in delight, cheeks flushed from the dancing, alcohol, happiness, and attention.

Dwayne and Fidel herded you merrily over to where the cake was glowing in the low light and flashing colours of the bar.

"But what about Richa-" panicked in your slightly tipsy state, you looked over in his direction only to see Catherine and Camille standing him up and shoving him towards you.

After your friends' painful but well meaning execution of "happy birthday", during which Camille discreetly elbowed Richard to sing louder, you blew out the candles in a delighted whoosh.

... And then came the cutting of the cake. And because Camille, Catherine, Dwayne, and Fidel loved to terrorise Richard whenever they had the chance, once Richard cut a piece of the cake and fed it to you (with lots of "awww"s, mind you) and when you did the same to him, the chanting began while you both were still trying to wipe the rest of the frosting from your mouths.

"Go on, Richard! Come on Chief! You have to kiss her," they started, "Kiss her, kiss her, kiss her, kiss her!"

You looked up at him with furrowed brows: there was no way you'd make him do it if he didn't want to. Though you had been together for a while now, you hadn't kissed each other's lips yet. And now was not the time, you realised, as Richard's brain looked like it was going to combust and explode out of his skull as he stared at you anxiously, the blood rushing so fast to his cheeks that he felt he tips of his ears red hot too. You blinked calmly in acknowledgement, and tapped a finger to your cheek. You could almost feel the waves of relief rush over him as he gratefully bent and pressed a gentle, warm kiss to your cheek. You reveled in it for a moment, only to be drawn back to reality by everyone else booing.

"No way, Chief! What was that?"

"Sir, respectfully, but what the hell?"

"Alright, alright everyone," Richard waved his hands up and down, "Show's over, get some cake and go home." This was met with more booing and your giggling. You knew your boyfriend was antsy about something - he'd been on edge all night (but you didn't mind; that he was even entertaining yours and your friends' jests and jokes and wishes made your heart race) - and you were determined to get to the bottom of it before dawn. Everyone taking cake and standing up chatting drew an natural end to the night's wild birthday festivities.

After thanking and hugging your friends goodnight, you linked your arm around Richard's elbow and rested your head on his shoulder, "Shall we?" you asked through a muffled yawn, indicating the exit with a slight nod of your head.

The corner of his mouth turned up slightly, he hoped you didn't hear his heart pounding. "Let's, my birthday girl."

[dailydeathinparadise]

Note: This article is from 2016

Glorious sunshine, a Caribbean island and a never-ending supply of grisly murders.

With nearly eight million loyal viewers Death In Paradise has become one of TV’s biggest dramas - a phenomenon for BBC1. Yet star Danny John-Jules reveals the show nearly never made it onto television at all, after it took nearly five years for a channel to snap it up.

Danny’s convinced the reason for the delay was a very disturbing one.

“Believe me, there were nerves in high places,” reveals actor Danny, who has played one of the show’s leading characters, police officer Dwayne Myers, since the start. 

“Even though the lead was a white guy it was a huge undertaking at the time to have so many black people on screen in a prime-time slot. It took five years of hard-selling to get a TV channel to commit to the show. Death in Paradise was a fine line to walk - a lot of money had to be put into it.”

It’s a big statement to make.

And obviously everyone else’s loss finally became the BBC’s gain. 

But Danny - who also plays Cat in sci-fi sitcom Red Dwarf - says that when it comes to race and entertainment, it’s only too obvious there’s still a problem. He’s a longtime friend of Idris Elba, whose Academy Awards snub for his role in Beasts of No Nation helped trigger the #OscarSoWhite campaign and a huge boycott of the February 28 ceremony. Danny, 55, agrees with the likes of Will Smith and Jada Pinkett that more needs to be done.

“If you put up photographs of who votes for the Oscar nominations you can maybe realise why they reach the decisions they do,” he says.

And he certainly has little time for Broadchurch actress Charlotte Rampling. She blasted the uproar over the lack of diversity in the Oscar nominations was “racist to white people.”

But Danny says: “At the end of the day someone like Charlotte Rampling is only ever going to be judged on her performance. Her race is never going to come into it. Change that to someone like Whoopi Goldberg, who has won an Oscar, and there’s a whole other element, either subconsciously or consciously, that can creep into a judges’ decision making. It follows pretty much across the board in business, it’s not something just based in the arts.”

Of course, things have been different with Death In Paradise.

After finally finding its home at the BBC, it’s remained one of its most successful dramas as people lap up the mix of an lighthearted detective mystery with the beautiful scenery of the Caribbean isle of Guadeloupe.

“Thursday night for millions of people has now become feet up on the reclining sofa, glass of wine and wait for Death in Paradise to begin,” reflects Danny. “I’ve been on telly for 26 years and its very rare you get old West Indian ladies coming up to you in Sainsbury’s approaching you saying ‘Oh, I can’t wait for the next episode! That has been the biggest achievement - the fact the show seems to work for everybody.”

The gruelling six-month long shooting schedule is not quite so idyllic. “You think it’s great being located out in the Caribbean, but there are a lot of casualties of war,” says Danny.

One of them was the show’s original lead star Ben Miller, also of Armstrong And Miller fame, who quit as Detective Inspector Richard Poole at the end of series two. But his replacement, My Family actor Kris Marshall proved an instant hit as lead detective DI Humphrey Goodman.

“It’s a tough gig, and for Ben, with his wife pregnant in the first series, the issue of schools, and the fact he didn’t deal with the heat very well... We had a lot of that. Lots of people not making it through their contracts. Kris Marshall had an absolute mountain to climb when he arrived to take over the role. But he’s done it. And you know what? The ratings went up.”

Danny, who grew up in Paddington, west London, says he has never been one to personally suffer from homesickness or fatigue - mainly because of his early days as a dancer on the variety circuit. “You were on £40 a week and you would be away for six months. I was in a show on the Isle of Wight, three months with Jimmy Tarbuck, three with Dicky Henderson. I saw Dicky the day his mum died. He got up in the morning, got the ferry to London, went to his mum’s funeral, and then was back on stage in the Isle of Wight that same night at 7pm. You look at people like him and you think you can’t just phone in with a bit of a tickle in your throat.”

Danny went on to be a dancer in the West End, including Starlight Express, and performed in Wham!’s The Edge of Heaven video and The Great Muppet Caper, before landing the part in Red Dwarf in 1988.

The show, co-starring Craig Charles and Chris Barrie, ran for 10 series until 1999, before making a highly-anticipated comeback first in 2009 and then properly last year.

The 12th series is due on screens this summer.

But despite being in two huge shows, Danny ensures he’s not away from his family for long - even flying out his fiancee Petula Langlais, and their two children Dante, 10, and Danae, 8, to Guadeloupe for six weeks during the filming of Death in Paradise. He and Petula have been together for 13 years, but have only recently got engaged.

“Most people would have been surprised if I had been with someone for 13 weeks, never mind 13 years,” he laughs. “People were talking actually - especially when I was dressing in PVC and wearing lots of make-up for shows!”

Now however he’s all about family - and Dante is already following in his footsteps as he appears in the programme himself. He was asked to do the guest role after producers saw him in Danny’s self-made short film Bucky - a tragic story of inner-city urban life seen through the eyes of a five year-old boy, co-starring James Bond actor Colin Salmon and EastEnders actress Mona Hammond.

“It was three days of filming, literally 9am to 9pm at night,” he says. “I don’t think I could have asked anyone else’s child to take part. Some of the Death in Paradise producers then saw it - and offered Dante a part.”

Grinning wide, Danny can’t hide his pride. And as he looks forward to his wedding and not one but two big shows on TV, he proves he really is the Cat that got the cream.