The BBC's 2025 Christmas special for its detective drama Beyond Paradise has delivered an emotional wallop, leaving a trail of tearful viewers and sparking calls for the show to be promoted to a more prominent broadcast slot.
A Festive Episode Full of Heart
Broadcast on Sunday, December 21, the special episode centred on the long-awaited wedding day of Detective Inspector Humphrey Goodman, played by Kris Marshall, and his fiancée Martha Lloyd, portrayed by Sally Bretton. The celebratory plans were complicated by the arrival of a mute man named David, played by national treasure Ade Edmondson, at the Shipton Abbott police station.
David was carrying a photograph of Humphrey, which led to a poignant mystery. As the wedding drew nearer, it was revealed that David was searching for his sister, from whom he had been separated for more than 50 years. The emotional climax, featuring the reunion of the long-lost siblings, proved to be a tear-jerking masterstroke for the programme's writers.
Viewer Reaction and Scheduling Debate
The powerful storyline resonated deeply with the audience, prompting an outpouring of emotion on social media. One viewer on X, @LB130, encapsulated the sentiment, writing: "Beyond Paradise – what have you done to me? I am a 49-year-old man and I’m crying my eyes out! That is how you do a Christmas episode."
Another fan, @TonyChalcroft, praised the episode as a "nice harmless Christmas show with a great outcome" but questioned the BBC's scheduling decision, asking why it wasn't placed on Christmas evening instead of other programmes. The sentiment that the show is underrated was echoed by @kevwgs, who called it "brilliantly written, brilliantly cast, brilliantly acted."
The special also featured a surprise cameo from Death in Paradise favourite Commissioner Selwyn Patterson (Don Warrington), adding an extra layer of delight for fans of the franchise.
What's Next for Beyond Paradise?
Good news for fans: the story will continue. A fourth season of Beyond Paradise is already in production. Filming commenced in the summer of 2025, with the cast and crew returning to the picturesque West Country locations that double as Shipton Abbott, primarily the coastal town of Looe in Cornwall and parts of Devon.
The show's official Instagram account confirmed the news in July, teasing "plenty of puzzling twists and turns" for the new series. While an exact release date for season four is yet to be announced by the BBC, it is expected to arrive on screens in due course. For now, the moving Christmas special is available to stream on BBC iPlayer.
