Death in Paradise returns this evening (Monday 16th February) after its latest episode was pulled from Friday’s schedule due to the football.
Episode three airs at 9pm and features a guest appearance from actress Siobhan Finneran. The 59-year-old - who is also the real-life partner of the show’s lead star Don Gilet - plays Fleur Edwards, an artist who moved to Saint Marie three months ago in search of creative inspiration. But her fresh start is thrown into chaos when her neighbour, Henry Carpenter, is shot dead.
Finneran has starred in countless hit TV dramas over the years from Happy Valley to Downton Abbey. Here’s a look at some of the best shows she’s appeared in.
Happy Valley
Finneran stars as Clare Cartwright, the recovering heroin addict sister of Catherine Cawood (Sarah Lancashire) in the gripping revenge drama. The show centres on Catherine, who is raising her grandson - the child of her late daughter and her rapist, Tommy Lee Royce (James Norton).
Finneran is brilliant in the role, bringing warmth, vulnerability and quiet strength to Clare, making her one of the show’s most grounded and heartfelt characters.
S peaking about hers and Lancashire's bond, Finneran told The Guardian: "That’s where the heart of the show is. Those sisters are each other’s wing man. For us, their scenes are like coming home. It feels safe and wonderful. Those women have been through the kind of trauma that completely destroys families."
She added: "On top of that, Clare’s a recovering addict and Catherine’s police job is challenging on a daily basis. So when they come together and chew the fat over a cup of tea, it’s special. That’s what viewers mostly talk to me about - the sisterly relationship and how much love there is in that house. They’re a little unit who’ve worked very hard to survive and they’re relatable. There’s familiarity there and you absolutely care about them."
The Stranger
Harlan Coben adaptations are known for their tangled secrets, jaw-dropping twists and seemingly normal people hiding very messy lives - and The Stranger is no exception. The series boasts a stacked cast including Richard Armitage, Jennifer Saunders, Hannah John-Kamen and Siobhan Finneran, who holds her own as DS Johanna Griffin - the sharp detective trying to untangle a string of increasingly bizarre crimes.
Speaking about the role, Finneran previously gushed: "The director told me on the phone they cast Jennifer Saunders and I didn’t talk for ages. I didn’t talk - I was really shocked and very excited."
On their first day filming together, Siobhan recalled: "I did want to lick her face because I’ve been a fan of hers for such a long time, but I had to be really restrained. She was amazing." Too funny.
The Loch
Another great performance from Finneran sees her as DCI Lauren Quigley in the 2017 crime drama The Loch (also known as Loch Ness). She’s a hardened, no-nonsense detective called in to investigate a serial killer terrorising a sleepy Scottish village. As the outsider in a close-knit community, she teams up with local DS Annie Redford (Laura Fraser) to uncover the town’s darkest secrets. The series is a must-watch for anyone who loves tense, twisty crime dramas - and it was during filming that Finneran met her now-partner, Don Gilet.
Protection
In her first leading role, Siobhan Finneran starred as DI Liz Nyles in the 2025 thriller Protection. A smart, tough cop, Liz juggled a high-stakes job, a teenage daughter, and an unwell father when a major breach hit witness protection.
"Like hundreds of thousands of women, Liz is trying to keep a balance between personal and professional" Finneran said of the character. "So hopefully her character will resonate with loads of people - until that all gets blown up of course!”
Benidorm
From 2007 to 2015, Siobhan Finneran played Janice Garvey in the hit comedy Benidorm. The series follows the chaotic, sun-soaked lives of British tourists and staff at the all-inclusive Solana Resort in Spain. Janice was the fiery, lovable wife of Mick Garvey (Steve Pemberton), mother to Chantelle and Michael, and daughter of Madge Harvey, navigating family dramas, holiday romances, and plenty of pub-quiz and poolside antics along the way.
Finneran left the show due to long spells away from home, but remembers it fondly, telling Radio Times: "That will remain probably to the day I die as one of those jobs… we used to pinch ourselves a little bit. The original cast are still very much in touch and in love with each other."
Downton Abbey
The actress delivered an epic performance as the scheming lady’s maid Sarah O’Brien in ITV's long-running period drama Downton Abbey. She brought so much sly humour and drama to the role, making the role one of the show’s most memorable characters.
"I signed up to do three series and that was all I wanted to do," Finneran said. "I had great fun doing it but I just didn't want to do it any more. I decided this before we even did the last series. When I stop loving something, I stop doing it."
The show ran for six seasons, including a Christmas special in 2015. The story continued across three feature films - Downton Abbey, Downton Abbey: A New Era, and Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale, which was released last year and is definitely worth a watch for fans.
Death in Paradise airs on BBC One on Fridays at 9pm.
