Humphrey Goodman’s legacy shapes Return to Paradise in surprising ways. Inside stories, cast reactions, and fan buzz. Read now and join the discussion!

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Introduction

When a Death in Paradise actor inspires an entirely new detective in another country, fans pay attention. And that’s exactly what happened when Return to Paradise star Anna Samson revealed that her character, Mackenzie Clarke, was directly inspired by Humphrey Goodman, played by Kris Marshall. Yes, the same clumsy, big-hearted British detective who became one of the franchise’s most popular leads.

This matters because the spin-offs, including Beyond Paradise and Return to Paradise, are shaping the entire future of the franchise. Viewers love spotting cross-references, hidden nods, and character parallels — and Samson confirmed fans aren’t imagining things.

She openly said she watches Kris Marshall’s interviews, studies his approach to comedy-drama, and even replays parts of his performance to build Mackenzie’s awkward charm. That’s major news for fans who’ve followed Humphrey since his original arrival in Saint Marie back in 2014.

If you’re a fan of Humphrey, Mackenzie, or the wider Death in Paradise universe, don’t just read — comment below with YES if you’ve noticed the similarities too! 👇

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How Humphrey Goodman’s Legacy Shaped Mackenzie Clarke

Humphrey Goodman isn’t just a past detective — he’s practically become a template for how to play a Death in Paradise-style sleuth. According to Anna Samson, the awkward body language, quirky humour, and emotional honesty were all deliberate parts she studied before season two of Return to Paradise began filming.

Here are the biggest takeaways from Samson’s comments:

1. She reviewed Kris Marshall’s interviews — not just scenes

Anna Samson didn’t just watch the show.
She watched Kris Marshall explaining the show.

She studied:

• His thoughts on the genre

• His approach to balancing comedy with crime

• His opinions on the franchise’s writing style

• His breakdowns of emotional storytelling

This is rare. Most actors imitate performance. Samson went deeper, into mindset — which explains why Mackenzie’s behaviour feels familiar, but never copied.

2. She embraced the awkwardness — purposefully

Humphrey Goodman’s clumsy but lovable energy is one of the reasons fans still talk about him. Samson said being compared to Goodman was “a great compliment,” which tells you she leaned fully into that slightly chaotic, slightly scatter-brained detective essence.

Actors don’t always like comparisons. Samson did — because it meant she was capturing the right tone for the franchise.

3. She uses Humphrey’s style as a reference, not a blueprint

Samson acknowledged that she borrows inspiration but doesn’t mimic. She said she tries not to steal too much from Humphrey’s interview lines because it’d be “too obvious” — which is both funny and honest. It also shows the huge impact Humphrey has had on shaping new detectives in the franchise.

4. Her introduction scene included a nod to Richard Poole — another fan favourite

Fans noticed it immediately:
Mackenzie Clarke dragging her suitcase across the beach — just like Richard Poole, played by Ben Miller, in series one.

This subtle visual callback shows how the spin-off team intentionally weaves the original series’ DNA into the Australian setting.

If you spotted the reference, drop a ❤️ in the comments!

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The Growing Impact of Humphrey Goodman Across the Franchise

Humphrey may have left Saint Marie years ago, but his influence keeps expanding. Beyond Paradise cemented him as a long-term member of the franchise, and now Return to Paradise is echoing his personality through Mackenzie.

Here’s why this matters for long-time fans and franchise growth:

1. Humphrey is now the blueprint for a “modern DIP detective”

Every detective has their style:

• Richard Poole – strict, old-school, rule-following

• Humphrey Goodman – warm, bumbling, emotionally honest

• Jack Mooney – gentle and intuitive

• Neville Parker – anxious, hyper-detailed

Humphrey’s archetype remains the most adaptable for spin-offs, especially in warmer, sunnier settings like Australia.

2. His popularity still drives viewer interest

Google Trends shows spikes in Humphrey’s name every time:

• A spin-off releases new episodes

• BBC iPlayer features DIP-related content

• Kris Marshall gives interviews

• Fan pages on Facebook and Reddit discuss crossovers

Humphrey keeps fans invested across multiple shows.

3. The franchise’s tone leans more toward humour-led detectives now

The producers know what works.
Humour + awkwardness + big heart = audience engagement.

Samson tapping into that style wasn’t an accident — it’s becoming the franchise’s signature mix.

4. Humphrey represents the franchise at its warmest and most emotional

He brings out the human side of crime-solving, and audiences love detectives who feel relatable, flawed, and honest.

No wonder Samson said she watches his interviews to absorb how he talks about the show.

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Fan Reactions and Social Media Buzz

Whenever a spin-off drops a nod to a previous detective, the internet reacts instantly. Return to Paradise caused a wave of online discussion, especially when Anna Samson talked about her Humphrey inspiration.

Here’s what’s trending across platforms:

1. X (Twitter) has weekly threads comparing Mackenzie & Humphrey

Fans posted side-by-side screenshots of awkward moments, calling Mackenzie:

• “Humphrey’s Aussie cousin”

• “The Down Under version of Goodman”

• “A wholesome chaos energy”

These posts get shared thousands of times, especially during new episode drops on BBC iPlayer.

2. Facebook groups exploded with theory posts

Popular fan groups (some with 50k+ members) debated whether:

• Mack and Humphrey will ever cross paths

• Humphrey might cameo in Return to Paradise

• The producers intentionally created a new “Goodman-style character”

If you run a group, this content is gold — fans love comparing detectives.

3. Instagram Reels pushed the suitcase-dragging homage viral

Clips of Mack dragging her suitcase like Richard Poole hit over 300k+ views in some fan pages, especially once BBC Australia reposted fan edits.

4. Reddit threads pointed out small behavioural details

Fans noticed:

• The awkward pauses

• The fumbling through evidence

• The self-deprecating humour

• The gentle approach with suspects

All unmistakably Humphrey-influenced.

If you’re part of any DIP fan groups, share this article and tag your friends. Let’s get this discussion going!

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Behind-the-Scenes: How Spin-Off Actors Prepare for the Franchise

Anna Samson’s interview opened an interesting door into how the spin-off actors learn the franchise’s tone.

Here’s how actors typically prepare:

1. Studying past detectives is standard practice

Spin-off actors often:

• Watch older seasons

• Analyse detective introductions

• Study character arcs

• Learn the rhythm of humour used in the franchise

Humphrey’s seasons remain some of the most-used reference material because they’re tonally closest to the current style.

2. Learning how to deliver comedic timing in hot climates

This franchise uses sunny awkwardness — a mix of clumsy charm and humid chaos. It’s almost a brand. Kris Marshall perfected this.

Samson’s performance lines up with that formula — which is why she mentioned him specifically.

3. Understanding how the fanbase reacts to detectives

Producers brief new actors on:

• How invested fans get

• Which character traits trend online

• What the UK audience expects

• What the Australian audience responds to

Humphrey-style characters usually score high in likability.

4. Learning from interviews instead of scripts

Samson said it herself — interviews reveal what the script cannot.

When actors explain:

• Why a joke lands

• Why sincerity matters

• How detectives avoid becoming caricatures

• What emotional beats the show values

These insights help new actors stay consistent with the brand.

If you appreciate these behind-the-scenes bits, drop a YES in the comments so I know to cover more!

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Why Actors Love Crossing Over in the Franchise

Return to Paradise surprised fans by bringing back Jack Mooney (Ardal O’Hanlon) through video calls. Samson says she’s “constantly trying to get those other detectives somewhere in the show.”

This tells us three things:

1. The cast genuinely admires each other

Actors often feel weird about wanting to meet co-stars across shows, but Samson joked she could “pretend to be cool” because she’s a detective too. Very human, very relatable.

2. Spin-offs are becoming more interconnected

The producers aren’t hiding it anymore:

• Beyond Paradise connects to Saint Marie

• Return to Paradise references multiple detectives

• Cameos are becoming more frequent

• Fan service is intentional

Humphrey’s presence is part of that connective tissue.

3. Future crossovers are possible — even likely

With the franchise expanding internationally, the idea of:

• Humphrey appearing in Australia

• Mackenzie appearing in Devon

• Jack Mooney visiting Saint Marie again

…isn’t far-fetched.

If you WANT a Mackenzie x Humphrey crossover,
COMMENT “CROSSOVER NOW!”
Let’s see how many fans agree!

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FAQs

1. Why is Humphrey Goodman still so popular in the Death in Paradise universe?

Humphrey’s mix of awkward charm, emotional warmth, and comedic timing made him stand out instantly. His seasons (available on BBC iPlayer and BritBox) remain among the most streamed. His relatability, alongside consistently strong storylines, helped him become one of the franchise’s signature detectives.

2. How did Humphrey influence Mackenzie Clarke in Return to Paradise?

Anna Samson confirmed she studied Kris Marshall’s interviews to understand the heart of the franchise. She incorporated his natural awkwardness, gentle humour, and emotional sincerity into Mackenzie’s character — without copying him. It’s more of a tonal homage than an imitation.

3. Will Humphrey Goodman appear in Return to Paradise?

There’s no official confirmation, but the producers have shown a willingness to bring back past detectives. With the success of Beyond Paradise and the growing crossover trend, fans believe a cameo or guest episode is very possible.

4. Why was Mack’s suitcase-dragging entrance compared to Richard Poole?

It was a clear, intentional homage to the original series. Richard Poole’s beach arrival in series one is iconic, and referencing it helps anchor Return to Paradise within the larger franchise.

5. Are more Death in Paradise spin-offs coming?

According to BBC reports and franchise expansion discussions covered by outlets like The Hollywood Reporter, producers are open to growing the universe further. Strong viewing figures and fan engagement make it likely.

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Conclusion

Humphrey Goodman’s presence continues to shape the Death in Paradise universe, even when he’s not on-screen. Anna Samson’s open admiration and thoughtful study of Kris Marshall’s style show how deeply embedded his character has become in the franchise’s DNA. Fans noticed the similarities immediately — and embraced them.

As spin-offs grow and crossovers increase, Humphrey’s influence will only get stronger. If you're a fan of the original series, Beyond Paradise, or Return to Paradise, this is a fun era to be part of the community.