Death In Paradise fans all make the same demand to BBC bosses as Don Gilet makes 'shocking' debut
Death In Paradise fans all made the same demand to BBC bosses as Don Gilet made his 'shocking' debut on Sunday night.
The instalment saw the EastEnders actor, 57, take to screens as Detective Inspector Mervin Wilson in the Christmas special.
Don's new alter-ego was introduced to the cast, after taking over from Ralf Little, who played the much-loved character Detective Inspector Neville Parker.
On Sunday viewers saw that DI Wilson was on holiday on the fictional Caribbean island of Saint Marie when Commissioner Patterson got in touch with him about a Father Christmas murder case.
Despite his character getting stuck in, viewers watching at home have taken to X to share their thoughts - and it's definitely a mixed bag.
Quite a few took to the social media platform to share how much that they miss DI Parker.
Death In Paradise fans have all said the same thing about Don Gilet's debut on the BBC show
The BBC show returned to our screens on Sunday with a new addition to the cast
Actor Don Gilet has joined the cast of Death In Paradise
One tweeted: 'Bring back Neville! Not sure I like this new DI!'
A second confessed: 'Really enjoyed the Christmas special of @deahtinparadise this evening, but I just don't know about the new DI he hasn't warmed to me yet, I was like this when Neville came I hated him so much but ended up really liking him.'
A third tweeted: 'I am gonna miss Neville.'
Meanwhile some pointed out his attitude towards women, with one saying: 'Mervin's a bit rude, especially to the ladies!'
Another added: 'This dude ain't going to last long if he keeps disrespecting women like that.'
However others were happy with the new casting and struck a more positive tone.
One said: 'It was great #DeathInParadise missed Neville, but the new DI is going to fit right in.'
Another tweeted: 'Loved Don Gilet in the show.'
Don's new character has left viewers divided with their opinion on his character
Actor Ralf Neville - who played DI Neville Parker - left the show earlier this year
A third chimed in: 'I love this time of year, not because it's Christmas, but Death In Paradise is back and Don Gilet is a perfect fit.'
'Don Gilet is fabulous in Death In Paradise - at last an actor in the role. A proper breath of fresh air,' a fourth tweeted.
Death In Paradise isn't the first major TV show that Don has appeared in.
Over the years he's starred in other shows such as Hotel Babylon, Holby City and Sherwood.
He also played Lucas Johnson in EastEnders between 2008-2010, 2016, 2020-2021 and again this year.
In an appearance on The One Show in December, Don opened up about his character to Alex Jones and Clara Amfo, and confessed that his alter-ego may rub people up the wrong way.
Don said: 'He doesn't suffer fools gladly, he doesn't have much patience, he's a guy that doesn't want to stand still, everything needs to be like that, it needs to be going the pace of London, and if it's not, he gets impatient.
'And that's when you decide whether you're going to like him or not - because he rubs his colleagues up the wrong way.
'Just because, as far as he's concerned, you're too slow! But they're not, they just don't work to his pace.
'They don't have his mind, which is a brilliant mind by the way. It's not my mind, I have a very normal mind.
'That's the acting of it. Acting like somebody who's got a brilliant mind.'
Actor Ralf played DP Parker in the BBC show between series nine and 13.
In March this year it was reported that Ralf was leaving Death In Paradise and that his final appearance would be later that month.
A TV source told The Mirror at the time: 'Ralf has been brilliant in the role and he’s given it a good long run.
'Fans are sure to be sad to see him go but they’ll also be happy for Neville.'
His character left the programme earlier this year with DS Florence Cassell.
In April Ralf revealed the real reason he left the show on BBC Breakfast, telling Naga Munchetty and Charlie Stayt: 'You know, this last series was always going to be my last series.
'I spoke to the BBC and Red Planet, the production company, and we all agreed.'
All episodes of Death In Paradise are available to stream on BBC iPlayer.
