After filming for the third season of Beyond Paradise as DI Humphrey Goodman, Kris Marshall was keen to return to home life in Bath, with his wife and their two children. Clocking in nearly a decade playing the charming lawman, first on Death in Paradise and now its spin-off Beyond Paradise on BBC One, the 51 year old actor confesses that while the character has shot him to fame, the lengthy filming spells do take their toll. “I’m in the studio nearly every day,” Kris admits, divulging how he looks forward to decompressing post-filming: “As much as I love it, it’s joyous to finish after five months.” Bath, where he can relish in the quotidian delights of family life, awaits his return. There, Kris finds joy in the rituals of parenthood: “I like to go back home and put the bins out. Be a dad again, put my kids on the bus and pick them up from school.” His wife Hannah Dodkin, alongside their children Thomas and Elsie, eagerly awaits his return after his time away. The private pair, who ignited a romance back in 2010 and got hitched soon after, keep their family dynamics close to the chest. However, in a candid chat with Lorraine Kelly in 2020, Kris let slip that his son propelled him to relinquish his leading gig on Death In Paradise. Kris left the drama back in 2017, explaining his demanding work schedule was hard for his family to handle.
Kris Marshall reprises his role as Humphrey Goodman in the third season of Beyond Paradise
(Image: BBC/Red Planet Pictures/Joss Barratt )
Kris Marshall has been married to his long-term partner Hannah Dodkin since 2011. They share two children
(Image: Getty)
Despite the years under Humphrey’s skin, Kris admits there’s still much to discover about him, saying: “He’s both disarming while being armed,” reflecting on Humphrey’s complexity, “I still haven’t worked out whether it’s an affectation or whether it’s something he just does.” TV’s Kris Marshall had his heart set on performing a daring skydive stunt for the third season of Beyond Paradise, but the dream was quickly nixed by the higher-ups due to safety concerns. “I was really up for it, though there was a small matter of insurance,” the 51 year old shares, ruefully recalling how producers gave him an emphatic “no.” “They said, ‘no chance.’ If it was the last day of filming, they would probably let me do it. But there’s an adage that says to never do a dangerous stunt on your last day of filming.” Despite not being able to plunge from the sky, DI Humphrey Goodman is back, plunging into new tangles and endings in the eagerly awaited new season of the hit Death In Paradise spin-off. This time around, Humphrey’s journey is twined with professional sleuthing and personal stakes. Joining Kris in the third season of Beyond Paradise is Sally Bretton, 44, who steps back into the shoes of Martha Lloyd, Humphrey’s rock-solid companion. The previous season saw audiences left agape as the detective duo deferred their march down the aisle, even though all signs pointed towards marriage. Yet, this season finds them in a place of unity and contentment. Sally weighs in saying, “They’re in a really good spot together,” noting the couple’s happiness amid their bustling lives.
Humphrey and Martha are continuing their fostering journey with a more permanent addition to their small family
(Image: BBC/Red Planet Pictures/Joss Barratt )
Kris applauds the couple’s rare and unruffled relationship as a much-needed contrast to the usual high-octane drama that dominates our TV screens. He reflects, “They’re on the same page,” and champions the depiction of a television duo free from ceaseless conflict. Humphrey and Martha might have a snug little setup at home, but in the professional arena, it’s a whirlwind of drama. This season launches with a gripping case: enter Niall, recently embroiled in a drunken argument with his partner Arthur, who bolts off in his car – but he’s later found dead in the River Tamar. What looks like a tragic mishap soon unfurls into a high-tension clash for jurisdiction between Humphrey and DS Esther Williams, as they face off against their Cornish policing peers. Cue Steve Oram as DI Jacob Tremayne and Gabby Best joining him as DS Fenella Foster. While Humphrey suspects foul play in Niall’s demise, he locks horns with Jacob, who seems hell-bent on wrapping up the investigation briskly. For Kris, whose childhood played out in Somerset and who’s no stranger to the epic Devon versus Cornwall debate, this plot point hit close to home. “I like to think that it’s something that would happen between the police forces of Devon and Cornwall,” reflects Kris, adding, “Although I am aware that Devon and Cornwall has only one police force. I would be surprised if that’s the last we saw of our Cornish policeman.”
