Ahead of the Death In Paradise Christmas special, fans are keen to find out more about new detective Don Gilet who is set to join Saint Marie’s sandy shores as DI Mervin Wilson
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Death In Paradise is set to introduce a fresh face to the sun-kissed shores of Saint Marie, so what is there to know about actor Don Gilet?
Death In Paradise season 14 is fast approaching, with its Christmas special scheduled for Sunday, December 22, on BBC One which is when viewers will meet DI Mervin Wilson, portrayed by Don Gilet.
Naturally, as the festive episode draws near, fans are eager to learn more about the 57-year-old actor’s life away from the camera.
Born in January 1967 in Walsall, West Midlands, Gilet spent his childhood in Caldmore with his parents and sister, but now calls London home.
His first ever appearance on screen was in a 1993 episode of the sitcom Desmond’s, which paved the way for roles in shows like Demob, Brothers and Sisters, Casualty, and Cutting It.
His breakthrough came in 2001 with the show Babyfather, where he played a character named Johnny Lindo and shared the screen with his future EastEnders co-star Diane Parish.
Before their paths crossed again, Gilet featured as DS Nicky Cole in the show 55 Degrees North, and also appeared in Doctor Who, Meadowlands, and Holby City.
Undoubtedly, his most notable role to date has been as EastEnders’ religious murderer Lucas Johnson, who imprisoned his wife Denise Fox (Parish), leading her loved ones to believe she was dead.
He recently made a brief return to the soap as Denise visited her ex-husband in prison while grappling with the events surrounding Keanu Taylor (Danny Walters) on Christmas Day 2023.
Fast forward to today, and Gilet is filling the shoes of Ralf Little as the latest sleuth in Death In Paradise after Little’s departure earlier this year.
To gear up for the role, the 57-year-old implemented some strict rules for himself and his family.
Living just a few minutes away from a p
icturesque beach in Guadeloupe where Death In Paradise is shot, the actor imposed a swimming ban on himself.
He even went as far as prohibiting visits from his dad, sister, and adult son while elaborating to Radio Times that he wanted zero distractions from immersing himself in the script “so that you know it inside out”.
Gilet is resolute about showing the producers of the show that they didn’t make a mistake and won’t “regret the choice they made” by selecting him.
Formerly married to actress Tracy Whitwell, known for her roles in Soldier Soldier, Peep Show, and Playing The Field, the Death In Paradise star once shared a home in Bedfordshire with Whitwell and their son Flynn, who is now grown up.
Recently, there’s been speculation about a blossoming romance for Gilet, this time with Happy Valleys Siobhan Finneran, whom he has starred alongside in The Stranger and The Loch.
The duo was spotted hand-in-hand during The Loch’s filming in 2017, and despite not confirming their relationship, their clasped hands were the talk of the TV Choice Awards this year.
However, not all of Gilet’s television gigs have gone without a hitch, as things took an awkward turn when he featured on The One Show three years ago.
In a VT interview, host Alex Jones faced a technical hiccup when the actor couldn’t catch her questions about his stint on EastEnders due to audio issues.
She began to speak louder in hopes he’d hear, but he retorted: “Alex, it’s not about shouting. It’s the signal!”
An awkward moment followed as Alex said sorry for the dodgy link-up just before they completely lost connection.
Death In Paradise’s Christmas special airs on Sunday, December 22, at 8.30pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.
