Beyond Paradise Christmas Special 2024: Disgraced Strictly star joins guest cast

By Helen Fear | Fri Dec 20 2024

Beyond Paradise's Christmas Special 2024 is a festive trip to Shipton Abbott to catch up with TV favourites DI Humphrey Goodman and fiancée Martha - and there are some very familiar faces in the guest cast.

In the seasonal episode - which goes out on Friday, December 27 at 9pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer - Humphrey and the Shipton Abbott police team tackle two cases.

Firstly, they are called to investigate when recently widowed Bob Holland is thrown into emotional turmoil after seeing visions of his late wife Linda. Secondly, there's a break-in at the church.

Away from the station, Humphrey and Martha's fostering journey continues as they open their home to introverted teenager Jaiden, played by young actor Austin Taylor. But who joins him in the cast of the Beyond Paradise Christmas Special 2024?

Here's everything you need to know...

Kris Marshall returns as DI Humprhey Goodman in the festive special (Credit: BBC/Red Planet Pictures/Joss Barrett)

Beyond Paradise Christmas Special 2024 cast: Kris Marshall plays DI Humphrey Goodman

The Beyond Paradise Christmas Special 2024 welcomes back the popular cast from series 1 and 2 - as well as some great guests.

Kris Marshall, who first played Humphrey Goodman in Death in Paradise between 2014 and 2017, returns as the rather awkward but brilliant detective.

Bath-born actor Kris Marshall, 51, is known for his more comedic roles across TV and film. He's been on our screens since 1993, when he played Fredericks in the film Closing Numbers opposite Jane Asher. He was 20 at the time.

Between 2000 and 2005, he played Nick Harper in the popular sitcom My Family, before going on to play Dudley Sutton in Funland, and Matt in Sold.

He’s also known for portraying Frank Green in Metropolis, Art in My Life in Film, DS Luke Stone in Murder City, Ethan in Traffic Light, and Dave in Citizen Khan.

More recently, he portrayed Tom Parker in the period drama Sanditon, and Cian Fitzgerald in We Hunt Together.

His most famous film role must surely be that of Colin Frissell in the 2003 hit film Love Actually. But he's also been in multiple other films, including Father Christmas Is Back, Promises, A Few Best Men, and its sequel A Few Less Men.

Popular TV actress Sally Bretton stars as Martha (Credit: BBC/Red Planet Pictures/Joss Barrett)

Sally Bretton returns as Martha Lloyd

Hertfordshire-born actress Sally Bretton returns as Humphrey’s fiancée Martha Lloyd in the cast of the Beyond Paradise Christmas Special 2024.

The character first came to live in Death in Paradise when she arrives in Saint Marie in 2016. Martha appeared in five episodes until 2017, when she whisked DI Humphrey Goodman away to the UK.

Actress Sally, 44, is also well known for her comedic roles. She’s done comedy sketches with Harry Enfield, and Armstrong and Miller, as well as playing Donna in The Office.

In 2001, she played Lisa in the ill-fated, Greenwich-set soap Night & Day. She went on to play Cat Durnford in Absolute Power, Mary Hathaway in Blessed, and Kim Alabaster in Green Wing.

Of course, her most famous role is arguably that of long-suffering Lucy in Not Going Out, opposite comedian Lee Mack.

DS Esther Williams is played by Zahra Ahmadi (Credit: BBC/Red Planet Pictures/Joss Barrett)

Zahra Ahmadi returns as DS Esther Williams

Devon-born actress Zahra Ahmadi, 41, returns as DS Esther Williams. Before joining the cast of Beyond Paradise, Zahra was probably best known for playing the original Shabnam Masood in BBC One soap EastEnders.

The character first entered Walford in July 2007 and left in 2008 in a bid to find her roots in Pakistan. The character returned in 2014, played by actress Rakhee Thakrar.

Zahra also played Sabia in Britz, and later appeared in the 2010 film Tamara Drewe. In 2013, she appeared in a small role in the Doctor Who episode Nightmare in Silver.

She subsequently starred as Gita in the 2014 feature-length Christmas special of Black Mirror.

From 2013 to 2017, Zahra played Sinem in all three series of the BBC Two sitcom Count Arthur Strong. She went on to portray DS Mari-Luz Garcia in ITV series Innocent in 2018.

Zahra has also starred in The Thick of It, Babylon, Berlin Station, Bliss, and Death in Paradise (as another character called Daisy Anderson).

Most recently, the actress played journalist Sadie in Marcella, Samie in The Beast Must Die, Shazia Riaz in The Bay, and Parul in Riches.

Dylan Llewellyn reprises his role of PC Kelby Hartford (Credit: BBC/Red Planet Pictures/Joss Barrett)

Beyond Paradise Christmas Special 2024 cast: Dylan Llewellyn stars as PC Kelby Hartford

Surrey-born Dylan Llewellyn, 32, reprises his role of PC Kelby Hartford in the cast of the festive episode.

He is best known for playing James Maguire in the Irish comedy Derry Girls, a role he played from 2018 to 2022. He appeared in all three series.

Dylan's first significant TV role was in 2010 when he popped up in The Bill as Adam Wilcock. He went on to play Martin 'Jono' Johnson in Hollyoaks for one year, before moving on to play Seb Channing in Holby City.

He's also portrayed Joe Connolly in Dodo, Jack in Big Boys, and Wally Nightingale in Pistol. He's been in a few films, too, including A Grand Romantic Gesture, Reavey Brothers, Down Dog, and Frequencies.

Actress Barbara Flynn plays Martha's mum Anne Lloyd (Credit: BBC/Red Planet Pictures/Joss Barrett)

Barbara Flynn plays Anne Lloyd

Sussex-born Barbara Flynn, 76, returns as Martha's mum Anne Lloyd in the Christmas special of Beyond Paradise.

Barbara is perhaps best known for playing Judith Fitzgerald in the gritty crime drama Cracker, opposite the late Robbin Coltrane. But she actually started her TV acting career in the TV series A Family at War in 1970, when she was 22.

She went on to play The Milk Woman in Open All Hours in the 1980s. Barbara also portrayed Jill Swinburne in The Beiderbecke Affair, The Beiderbecke Tapes, and The Beiderbecke Connection.

The actress has popped up in dozens of TV roles, including Inspector Morse, The Barchester Chronicles, Boon, Chandler & Co, Midsomer Murders, The Borgias, Killing Eve, and Maigret.

She starred as Emily Forsyte in The Forsyte Saga, and Mrs Mason in Hornblower. Other notable roles include Dr. Rose Marie in A Very Peculiar Practice, Mrs Jamieson in Cranford.

More recently, she starred as Councillor Lavinia Bone, Kate's snobby rival in Kate & Koji. Of course, The Durrells fans will know her best as Aunt Hermione in the popular ITV1 series.

Felicity Montagu as Margo Martins in the Beyond Paradise Christmas Special 2024 (Credit: BBC/Red Planet Pictures/Joss Barrett)

Felicity Montagu stars as Margo Martins

Leeds-born Felicity Montagu, 64, reprises her role as Margo Martins, the rather eccentric office support in Beyond Paradise.

Alan Partridge fans will know Felicity Montagu very well... She's played the long-suffering PA Lynn Benfield on and off since 1997.

The actress and comedian has been on our TV screens ever since 1985, when she first appeared alongside Victoria Wood in a series of sketches.

Felicity is known for playing Griselda in Ffizz, Nicole Dissard in Wish Me Luck, and Dr Kate Russell in Health and Efficiency.

Other memorable roles include Sue Forks in the outstanding Julia Davis comedy Nighty Night, Barbara DuPrez in Suburban Shootout, and Caroline Bosman in Doc Martin.

Children will know her as Miss Adolf in Hank Zipzer. As well as taking part in the 2020 edition of Celebrity MasterChef, she's also known for playing Perpetua in the film Bridget Jones' Diary.

Most recently, Felicity has starred in Hullraisers, Black Ops, Tom Jones, The Train, and Landscapers.

Former Hollyoaks star Jade Harrison plays CS Charlie Woods (Credit: BBC)

Beyond Paradise Christmas Special 2024 cast: Jade Harrison is CS Charlie Woods

London-born actress Jade Harrison, 44, portrays Chief Superintendent Charlie Woods in Beyond Paradise. She joined the cast at the end of series 1 in 2023.

Jade made her first TV appearance in 2020, when she popped up in two episodes of Grange Hill playing Shirley. She went on to play a nurse in two episodes of Holby City, and subsequent small roles in Doctors, Silent Witness, Casualty, and Dream Team followed.

In 2010, she portrayed Carla in six episodes of Channel 4 and E4 soap Hollyoaks. Two years later, she won the role of Metts in Wedding Season.

Other notable roles include Vicky Hoy in Netflix Harlan Coben adaptation The Stranger, Karen Freedman in Queens of Mystery, and Deborah Haynes in The Midwich Cuckoos.

More recently, she's portrayed Michelle in the ITVX Vicky McClure thriller Insomnia.

Comedic actor Mark Heap guest stars as Bob Holland (Credit: BBC/Red Planet Pictures/Joss Barrett)

Mark Heap guest stars as Bob Holland

The guest cast of the Beyond Paradise Christmas Special 2024 includes Mark Heap, who portrays haunted widower Bob Holland.

Actor and comedian Mark, 67, is known for playing Jim Bell in the comedy Friday Night Dinner, a role he played from 2011 to 2020.

Born in India, Mark has been on our screens since 1983 when he played a fire juggler in the 1983 Bond film Octopussy! He went on to perform comedy sketches in shows such as The Les Dennis Laughter Show, Smith & Jones, Jam, Big Train, and Brass Eye.

In 1998, he played Peter in the sitcom Kiss Me Kate, opposite Call the Midwife actor Cliff Parisi, before going on to portray Derek Few in How Do You Want Me?, Harry in The Strangerers, and Brian Topp in Spaced.

Other notable roles include Terry Roche in Happiness, Dr. Alan Statham in Green Wing, Jeff in Singles Files, Douglas McVitie in Love Soup, and Charles Dickens in Desperate Romantics.

Fans of period dramas will know him as Thomas Brown in Lark Rise to Candleford, while children will recognise his voice as Mungo in the animation Digby Dragon.

More recently, he's played Greene in Upstart Crow, opposite Ludwig star David Mitchell, Peter Cole in The Trouble with Maggie Cole, John Turpin in The Completely Made-Up Adventures of Dick Turpin, and Superintendent Bob Weekes in Piglets.

Reader, we love him. Everything he does is funny.

Comedian Seann Walsh guest stars as Colin Bensted (Credit: BBC/Red Planet Pictures/Joss Barrett)

Seann Walsh portrays Colin Bensted

Comedian and actor Seann Walsh plays maverick inventor Colin. Of course, Seann is most famous for THAT Strictly scandal back in 2018. Sorry mate, you'll never leave it down.

London-born Seann, 39, was partnered with Russian dancer Katya Jones. They both cheated on their respective partners during the show's run, and were photographed kissing in public.

Before the Strictly debacle, Seann was probably best known as a stand-up comedian, familiar on the well-trodden beaten track of panel shows. He appeared on Never Mind the Buzzcocks, 8 Out of 10 Cats, Celebrity Juice, and Mock the Week, He was also team captain on the debate show Argumental.

In 2013, he played Eggman in the sitcom Big Bad World, which is where he met
Rebecca Humphries, the girlfriend he cheated on while on Strictly. Between 2017 and 2018, he starred as comedy series Grizzo in Bad Move.

In 2022, he appeared on I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here! He finished in fifth place, just missing out on the legendary Celebrity Cyclone that year.

Chizzy Akulodu as Rev Kate Beccles in the Christmas Special (Credit: BBC/Red Planet Pictures/Joss Barrett)

Chizzy Akudolu stars as Reverend Kate

Another Strictly alumni, Chizzy Akulodu, also guest stars in the Beyond Paradise Christmas Special 2024. She plays Reverend Kate Beccles.

She's most famous for portraying Mo Effanga in Holby City, a role she played for 10 years between 2012 to 2022. Her Strictly stint came while she was on the medical series. In 2017, Chizzy was the first celebrity to be eliminated after performing a Foxtrot with pro dancer Pasha Kovalev.

Chizzy went on to take part in the Strictly Come Dancing 2019 Christmas special, where she was partnered with Graziano Di Prima. Debbie McGee won.

London-born Chizzy, 51, has been on our screens since 2004 when she played Melinda in an episode of Sean Lock comedy 15 Storeys High. That year, she was one of eight new comedy performers who won the BBC Talent Initiative, The Urban Sketch Showcase.

She went on to play Mattie in one episode of Holby City, and various characters in the sketch show Stupid. After winning small roles in Green Wing, The Complete Guide to Parenting, and Roman's Empire, she portrayed Angel in the Channel 4 Big Brother zombie-thriller Dead Set.

The series reimagined a fictional Big Brother - complete with guest star Davina McCall - where a zombie outbreak occurs outside but the housemates were totally unaware...

Chizzy's other notable roles include Cookie in Jinx, Grace 2 in Campus, and Addy Smith 'The Squeak' in Too Close. More recently, she's starred as Jasmine Peters in Criminal Record, Lola in The Woman in the Wall, and Mercy in Best Interests.

She's also taken part in Celebrity Masterchef, Celebrity Hunted, and performed on Let's Sing and Dance for Comic Relief. She's a regular panellist on Loose Women, and the current team captain on panel show Sorry, I Didn't Know.

Tamla Kari stars as Bob's daughter Fiona Bensted (Credit: BBC/Red Planet Pictures/Joss Barrett)

Beyond Paradise Christmas Special 2024 cast: Tamla Kari stars as Fiona Bensted

Coventry-born actress Tamla Kari, 36, stars as Bob's daughter Fiona Bensted, who is married Seann Walsh's character Colin.

Tamla very first screen role was playing Lucy in The Inbetweeners Movie in 2011, a character she returned to in the 2014 sequel.

She went on to play Pearl in Being Human, Izzy Calvin in Silk, Rachel Thompson in Cuckoo, and Danielle Fisher in The Job Lot.

Between 2014 and 2016, Tamla starred as Constance Bonacieux in The Musketeers, opposite Strike star Tom Burke.

More recently, she's Olivia Talbot in The F1rst Team, Deborah in The Ipcress File, and Lucy Chapman in DI Ray. Tamla has also popped up in episodes of Shakespeare & Hathaway: Private Investigators, Britannia, Plebs, Call the Midwife, and Vera.

In 2023, she portrayed the lead role of Emma Holly in the cheesy TV film Christmas at the Holly Day Inn.

Austin Taylor as fostered teenager Jaiden (Credit: BBC/Red Planet Pictures/Joss Barrett)

Who else is in the cast of the festive episode?

Young actor Austin Taylor portrays introverted teenager Jaiden (pictured above), who stays with Humphrey and Martha over the festive period. He started his TV career in 2015 playing Barney in Doc Martin.

He subsequently played Spider in one episode of Doctor Who, and had small roles in Quacks, and Hetty Feather. He's also been in the film My Cousin Rachel.

Newcomer Melina Sinadinou plays Zoe Williams. Playing Zoe is her first significant role after appearing in a few short films.

Rosalind Adler plays Bob's late wife Linda. The jobbing actress has popped up in the likes of Ted Lasso, EastEnders, and The Nevers.

Simon Nagra portrays Marcus Dhillon. He's best known for playing Ash Parmar in Doctors, Daddy in Three Girls, and Uncle Habib in Man Like Mobeen.

Young Sami Amber portrays Jaiden's younger brother Ben, seen via Zoom! He's known for playing Billy in The Walk-In, Darren Wilkes in Dalgliesh, and - most recently - George in Wolf Hall.

Beyond Paradise Christmas Special 2024 full cast list:

Kris Marshall stars as DI Humphrey Goodman.

Sally Bretton plays Martha Lloyd.

Zahra Ahmadi portrays DS Esther Williams.

Felicity Montagu reprises her role as Margo Martins.

Barbara Flynn is Anne Lloyd.

Dylan Llewellyn stars as PC Kelby Hartford.

Mark Heap guest stars as Bob Holland.

Seann Walsh portrays Colin Bensted.

Rosalind Adler takes on the role of Linda Holland.

Tamla Kari stars as Fiona Bensted.

Amalia Vitale is Hannah Owen.

Austin Taylor plays Jaiden.

Chizzy Akudolu stars as Reverend Kate.

Simon Nagra portrays Marcus Dhillon.

Jade Harrison returns as Chief Supt Charlie Woods.

Melina Sinadinou stars as Zoe.

Sami Amber portrays Ben.

The Beyond Paradise Christmas Special 2024 airs on Friday, December 27 at 9pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.

More streaming guides