Don Gilet issued warning by past star over ‘tough’ show

The former Death in Paradise star previously issued a stern warning that newbie Don Gilet should beware.

The actor makes his debut on the show on Sunday (December 22) as the newest detective, Inspector Mervin Wilson. Don took over from Little Ralf – who played DI Neville Parker for four and a half years.

And earlier this month, former Death in Paradise star Ardal O’Hanlon spoke about the “tough” show.

Former Death in Paradise star on ‘tough’ show

Ardal O’Hanlon played DI Jack Mooney from 2017 to 2020 on Death in Paradise.

In an interview with The MirrorThe actor opened up about his time on the show, recalling how he worked 12 hours a day in the challenging Caribbean conditions, for six days a week.

People don’t believe you when you tell them how tough it is.

“God, it was tough. Like, people don’t believe you when you tell them how tough it was. I’m so grateful for that part and everything else. And I look back on it now as a really great experience, kind of a life-changing experience, I would say, because it’s not just that you play the lead in a popular BBC primetime drama. It’s more about lifestyle,” the comedian warned.

Death in Paradise star told she ‘won’t last’

Ardal continued to show his envy to the guest actor on Death in Paradise.

He said: “I don’t complain about work, but you have a lot to prepare every day, so you don’t have much time to rest, you don’t have a chance to enjoy the attractions that are outside. I used to be very jealous of the guest actors! Suspect and victim. You know, there’ll be five or six guest actors every few weeks, and they’ll come and they’ll have an amazing time.

He added that they would fly “for a week or two, maybe two or three days, the rest of the time they sit by the pool, drinking cocktails”.

In addition, Ardal also stated that the producers gave him a lecture before he started filming, reminding him of what lies ahead.

“It kind of tells you that in the beginning, like they say: ‘You know, you can last two or three years, but you know, you probably won’t last four!’ You know, there’s storms to deal with. There’s crazy people because, like, crazy people in that neighborhood, you know, you’re always dealing with something, like there’s a creature that wants to kill you.

Don Gilet in the ‘intense’ Death in Paradise filming

Meanwhile, the new star Dons recently spoke about his filming experience in the hot island of Guadeloupe. And it seems that he concurred with Ardal when it came to shooting the series.

“It was intense because you had that heat from the beginning to the end of the day,” he said. “It gets to the point where you’re used to it, but it takes an extra layer of concentration. You can’t turn the air down, but it’s a beautiful backdrop to shoot against.

“Sometimes you have to pinch yourself and see where you are now and what you’re doing. It’s a good place to be.”

Watch Death in Paradise on Sunday (December 22) at 8.30pm on BBC One.

Read more: Death in Paradise guest star Marcus Brigstocke reveals he is being killed off in the Christmas special

Are you excited to see Don on Death in Paradise? You can leave us a comment on our Facebook page @EntertainmentDailyFix and let us know.