BritBox International unveils ‘Death In Paradise’ spin-off amid new slate

Kris Marshall (credit: Sven Arnstein)

BBC Studios (BBCS) and ITV-backed streamer BritBox International has unveiled a new slate of shows, led by a drama spun off from global bestseller Death In Paradise.

Beyond Paradise is from Death In Paradise prodco Red Planet Pictures and explores what happened to DI Humphrey Goodman – played by Kris Marshall – after he left the sunny shores of Saint Marie to be in the UK with his girlfriend.

The 6 x 60-minute show will air on BBC One in the UK and BritBox International in select territories, with BBCS handling international distribution. Tony Jordan, founder of Asacha Media Group-owned Red Planet, and Death In Paradise creator Robert Thorogood are behind the drama.

Jordan is attached as showrunner, with Tim Key and Belinda Campbell executive producing for Red Planet, and Diederick Santer and Tommy Bulfin attached for BritBox International and BBC respectively.

Death In Paradise has become a global bestseller for BBCS, with the show sold to more than 230 territories including France 2 and PBS in the US. The BBC recommissioned the drama for its 11th and 12^th seasons in January 2021, while its ninth season averaged over eight million viewers for the UK pubcaster.

Coproduction strategy

The series is among a raft of shows that BritBox unveiled today at one event in London, with the streamer also attaching itself as a coproduction partner on Three Little Birds, the ITV-commissioned drama written by Sir Lenny Henry that reflects on his mother’s experiences of moving from Jamaica to the UK in the late 1950’s.

Banijay’s Tiger Aspect Productions and Henry’s Douglas Road Productions, also part of the French firm, are behind the six-parter with Russell T Davies, Tiger’s Lucy Bedford and Charles MacDougall among exec producers. Banijay Rights handles international distribution.

Other shows on the BritBox coproduction slate include BBC crafting show Make It At Market, from Flabbergast TV, and the second season of Irvine Welsh drama Crime, which is produced by Buccaneer Media and Off Grid Film.

BritBox International will be the exclusive home to the series in all its territories, while the show has been lined up to premiere on ITV’s upcoming streamer, ITVX, with a linear airing to follow.

A second season of BBC dark comedy The Cleaner will also feature on BritBox’s International slate, along with Karen Pirie, which is from ITV-owned Vigil outfit World Productions. It has been commissioned by ITV and will be sold by the UK commercial broadcaster’s distribution division, ITV Studios.

Reemah Sakaan, who was named CEO BritBox International last year, said: “As we continue to grow globally, our new on-the-ground team is embedded into the fabric of British creativity, enabling seamless and passionate storytelling partnerships for UK producers. This is brought to life by the new shows we’ve announced today and will be a hallmark of our future commissioning and originals strategy.”

Diederick Santer, CCO of BritBox International, added: “Working with the very best UK producers, we have curated a set of shows which we are confident will excite our existing subscribers, while attracting new audiences to our platforms.

“Whether a new and surprising take on the mystery genre, a fresh and distinctive crime series, or a personal story from a National Treasure, these shows epitomise our mission – to bring the best of British TV to a global audience.”