Death In Paradise fans all make the same demand to BBC bosses as Don Gilet makes 'shocking' debut

Fans of Death In Paradise united in their request to BBC executives following Don Gilet's unexpected arrival during the show's Sunday night episode.

In the holiday special, the 57-year-old EastEnders star appeared on screen as Detective Inspector Mervin Wilson.

Don's new persona was added to the lineup after Ralf Little, who portrayed the beloved character Detective Inspector Neville Parker, stepped down.

On Sunday, viewers watched as DI Wilson enjoyed a vacation on the made-up Caribbean island of Saint Marie. During his getaway, Commissioner Patterson reached out to him regarding a murder case involving Father Christmas.

Even though his character is becoming more involved, audiences at home have taken to X to express their opinions, which are certainly varied.

Many people turned to social media to express how much they miss DI Parker.

Fans of Death In Paradise have shared a common opinion regarding Don Gilet's first appearance on the BBC series.

The BBC program made its comeback on Sunday, featuring a fresh face in the lineup.

Actor Don Gilet has become a part of the cast of Death In Paradise.

One person tweeted: "We need Neville back! I'm not too fond of this new DI!"

Another viewer shared their thoughts: "I had a great time watching the Christmas special of @deathinparadise tonight, but I'm not sure about the new detective inspector yet. He hasn’t really won me over. I felt the same way when Neville first joined—I couldn't stand him, but eventually, I grew to really like him."

One person tweeted: "I'm really going to miss Neville."

In the meantime, some people highlighted his behavior towards women, with one remarking, "Mervin can be quite disrespectful, particularly to the women!"

Another person commented, "This guy won’t last much longer if he continues to disrespect women like that."

On the other hand, some people were pleased with the new casting and expressed a more optimistic perspective.

One person commented, "I really enjoyed #DeathInParadise; I missed Neville, but I think the new Detective Inspector will blend in perfectly."

One person tweeted: "I really enjoyed Don Gilet's performance in the show."

Don's new role has sparked mixed reactions among viewers regarding their feelings about the character.

Actor Ralf Neville, known for his role as DI Neville Parker, departed from the series earlier this year.

Another person added, "I really enjoy this season, not just because of Christmas, but because Death In Paradise has returned, and Don Gilet is an ideal addition."

"Don Gilet shines in Death In Paradise – finally, we have an actor in the part. It's truly a refreshing change," tweeted a fourth user.

Death in Paradise isn't the first significant television series that Don has been a part of.

Throughout the years, he has appeared in various other series including Hotel Babylon, Holby City, and Sherwood.

He portrayed Lucas Johnson in EastEnders from 2008 to 2010, then returned for brief appearances in 2016 and again from 2020 to 2021, with another comeback this year.

During a visit to The One Show last December, Don shared insights about his character with hosts Alex Jones and Clara Amfo. He admitted that his alter ego might not sit well with everyone.

Don remarked, "He isn’t very tolerant of foolishness and has little patience. He’s the type of person who doesn’t want to be stagnant; everything has to move quickly, at the speed of London. If things aren’t happening fast enough, he becomes frustrated."

That's the moment you choose whether you're going to appreciate him or not, as he tends to irritate his coworkers.

He thinks you're too slow, but that's not the case. They simply have a different working speed than he does.

They don't possess his intellect, which is truly exceptional, by the way. As for me, my thinking is quite ordinary.

"That's the performance of it. Pretending to be someone with an exceptional intellect."

Actor Ralf took on the role of DP Parker in the BBC series from seasons nine through thirteen.

In March of this year, it was announced that Ralf would be departing from Death In Paradise, with his last appearance scheduled for later that month.

A television insider shared with The Mirror back then, "Ralf has excelled in his position and has had a solid, extended tenure."

Supporters will undoubtedly feel sad about his departure, but they'll also be pleased for Neville.

His character departed from the show earlier this year alongside DS Florence Cassell.

In April, Ralf disclosed the true reason for his departure from BBC Breakfast during an interview with Naga Munchetty and Charlie Stayt, saying, "I always intended for this latest series to be my final one."

I had a conversation with both the BBC and Red Planet, the production team, and we reached a mutual understanding.

You can watch all episodes of Death In Paradise on BBC iPlayer.