Importance Score: 30 / 100 🔵
Kris Marshall has made his highly anticipated return to screens as DI Humphrey Goodman in the BBC hit murder mystery series, Beyond Paradise, for its season three debut. Leading up to the new season, Marshall discussed the storyline, which sees his character and onscreen fiancée Martha Lloyd (portrayed by Sally Bretton), navigating the complexities of parenthood.
Season 3 Storyline: Fostering and Challenges
Season three of Beyond Paradise promises viewers “a host of perplexing cases” and “unexpected challenges” for Humphrey and Martha as they continue their fostering journey. The season premiere immerses fans in the couple’s personal struggles, highlighting their heartbreaking pregnancy loss and subsequent decision to halt their IVF journey. The 2023 Christmas special progressed their storyline, introducing social worker Hannah Owen (Amalia Vitale), who presented the possibility of them becoming foster parents.
Emergency Foster Placement
The dynamic for the couple is set to shift as they agree to an emergency placement of a nine-year-old named Rosie (Bella Rei Blue Stevenson).
Authentic Fostering Portrayal
Sally Bretton, who plays Martha, disclosed in a recent interview that the show’s production team collaborated with experts to accurately depict the fostering experience.
To ensure authenticity, producers consulted with a social worker and reviewed scripts to ensure the tone was appropriate. Bretton explained, “It was really important the storylines felt right, and we’re a healthy representation of what fostering can be like.”
She further noted, “I feel, as in every different foster placement, I suppose it’s just how you react to it is according to each child, and they’re learning on the fly, and they’re trying to do the very, very best they can with something they haven’t done very much of yet.”
Kris Marshall added, “The truisms in the script have to be truly representative of people’s actual journey, for people who are actually experiencing this.”
Kris Marshall’s Personal Connection
Kris Marshall revealed that he utilized his own parenting experiences for the role, stating, “Parenting is often three steps forward, two steps back, and when you think you’re winning, the rug gets pulled out from underneath you.”
Marshall and his wife, Hannah Dodkin, have two children, Thomas and Elsie. He has previously spoken about the challenges of working away from his family.
From Death in Paradise to Beyond Paradise
From 2014 to 2017, Kris Marshall portrayed Humphrey Goodman in the original series, Death in Paradise, before departing and ultimately headlining its spin-off, Beyond Paradise.
Despite being a popular figure with fans, Marshall explained that he left Death in Paradise to focus on raising his young family, stating in an interview with Lorraine Kelly, “I realised I had to get my son to school.”
Filming Death in Paradise in Guadeloupe required demanding commutes back home to his family. Beyond Paradise, set in Cornwall, offers a more favourable filming location for Marshall, allowing him to be closer to home.