Secrets of P

Behind the scenes of the hit

Since the show began in 2011, the police boss has lived in a home that overlooks the sea.

But DI Jack Mooney’s beach house, The Shack, is really a shell of a building made “like Lego”, which is put up each year just for filming.

Ardal says: “It’s beautifully constructed. It doesn’t have any running water. There’s no plumbing.

“It doesn’t have what we used to call mod cons. It is literally like a Lego kit. It’s packed away in the autumn when we go home.

“It’s literally taken apart, board by board, nail by nail, and put in storage. It’s quite incredible.” Perhaps even more surprising than this, the police station in the fictional town of Honoré is the Deshaies church parish community centre.

But it has such a big part in the show they now sometimes open it as a tourist attraction.

A farmer’s market can be built for filming when required, close to the “police station”, as many scenes are shot in and around Deshaies. Nearby resort Langley Fort Royal Hotel is also used as a base during the six months of filming each year. IT’S a shame to disappoint fans of TV’S Death in Paradise who long to visit the location.

But, all is not quite as it seems on the island of Saint Marie.

In fact, the place does not exist. The BBC show, which attracts 8 million viewers, is filmed in Guadeloupe.

So we decided to investigate – as guests of visitguadeloupe. co.uk – and put leading man Ardal O’hanlon on the spot.

The Father Ted star, 53, who Shooting a large majority of scenes in a “police station” that is next door to the town’s main church can lead to some scenes being redone several times, even if the cast are word perfect.

Executive producer Tim Key admits that working on the island of

Guadeloupe has both up and downsides.

He says: “There are challenges in filming there.

“Church bells ring every 15 minutes, the roosters and frogs make a lot of noise.

“But we can’t cheat it. We could have shot Death in Paradise in Pinewood Studios, but it wouldn’t have felt real.” plays DI Jack Mooney, who lives on a beach by the Caribbean, briefed us with all the facts you need to know as Series 8 begins.

Death in Paradise, tomorrow, 8pm, BBC1. Danny Joh for fans las still on the s and had a co Ardal says obviously a durable. change “T sc the The Don Wa Patterso

KIT SHACK Beach house is ‘like Lego’ ARRESTING PRESENCE Our Mark with Ardal at police station set in Deshaies On screen it may look like the perfect place to film but the extreme temperatures and storms cause havoc.Ardal says: “It takes a little bit of getting used to.You don’t quite know what to expect from one day to the next weather-wise, but you know it’s going to be very, very hot.“It’s a minimum of 30 degrees day and night but the humidity often makes it feel like 40.“You’re always a little bit clammy. And then you’ve got the mozzies and things like that, you know, and they do really love me.“They gorge on me, you know. But you get used to it.”Storms often stop filming for days, and the heat can be almost unbearable at midday, so filming can start as early as 6am.The cast keep chamois leathers soaked in buckets of ice on set to put around their necks between takes. The costume department give BAKING On location inGuadeloupethem spare sets of clothes so they can change midway through the day and not look drenched in sweat.Things are no better for the crew. Executive producer Tim Key says: “There is a lot of nudity and stripping. It’s an odd show to be part of. People are very reserved and British when they arrive here.“But very soon they are wandering around topless.” GIVE US A CLUEShyko Amos, Ardal, Tobi Bakare and Josephine Jobert A new policewoman is joining the force this series as well as lots of big guest names.DI Jack Mooney and Officer JP Hooper (played by Tobi Bakare) have their work cut out as JP attempts to mentor the newest recruit, Officer Ruby Patterson (Shyko Amos).She is also CommissionerPatterson’s niece, fresh out of police college and keen to prove herself.Shyko says: “Ruby does get special treatment because she is the Commissioner’s niece. She has all the skills but because she’s slightly privileged she just feels like she can go through life having fun.“She brings a different energy to the team, she definitely brings an added feminine energy that the others have to get used to – she’s emotional.”