Return to Paradise star admits future series are 'never a guarantee'

Return To Paradise star Anna Samson has spoken about the success of the Death in Paradise spin-off series as it returns for a second instalment, admitting there was no guarantee for the story to carry on.

The Home and Away actress made history as the franchise’s first female lead, as she took on the role of DI Mackenzie Clarke. The first series, which aired last year, saw her character return to Australia after making a name for herself in London’s Met Police.

As she temporarily re-joined the local police team of Dolphin Cove to help solve a murder, her return to London was delayed by allegations of evidence tampering, forcing her to confront her past in Australia indefinitely.

Complicating her new role, her former fiancé who she once left at the altar, Glenn (Tai Hara) ends up revealing he still holds feelings for her.

Return to Paradise has now continued with a second season, with Mack tasked with solving another batch of mysterious murders.

Speaking about how it felt to return to the world of Dolphin Cove, she shared: “We were so thrilled to get a second series, which is never a guarantee, even if your show’s a huge success.

“We adore each other: the cast, crew, everyone in the office, and the producers. It’s a workplace full of love, support, kindness, and fun. Getting the chance to go back and do it all again, there aren’t many better opportunities in the world than that.”

Teasing the new episodes, she added: “You can expect murders, and for Mackenzie and her team to solve them! We’re expanding the emotional world of all the characters in series two. Who they are and why they are the way they are.

“Colin and Mackenzie’s friendship becomes ridiculously joyful. They act like best friends while having no idea that they feel that way, which is really fun to play.

“That love triangle between Glenn, Mackenzie and Daisy also gets even more complicated, giving us a peek into her vulnerable side. We really challenge the emotional wall she puts up in this series.”

Admitting she was “overwhelmed with heartfelt positivity” from the response to the first series, Anna continued: “The show comes with an incredibly loyal and enthusiastic fanbase already, as it is part of a franchise.

“We felt a responsibility to do justice to the show and to honour the audience. The biggest surprise for me, and maybe it shouldn’t have even been that surprising, but how many of the fans are young women - I was so moved by that.

“Seeing the impact of a character like Mackenzie, who isn’t always smiling or worried about being liked, yet remains at the centre of the story, is what made putting on the waistcoat every day feel so valuable.”

The storyline for the second series of Return to Paradise hints: "Detective Sergeant Mackenzie Clarke finds herself trapped in her hometown of Dolphin Cove to solve more perplexing cases, while grappling with the end-of-series-one bombshell that her ex-fiancé, Glenn, still has feelings for her.

"The team contends with even more perplexing cases in this series, including the chemical poisoning of a man alone at sea, alongside having to deal with larger-than-life characters like a troublesome rock band who fall under suspicion when one of their members turns up dead.

"Beyond her detective duties, Mackenzie is forced to face Glenn's shocking confession that he still has feelings for her, despite his impending wedding to Daisy, complicating her own feelings toward him even further.

"Meanwhile, the unexpected arrival of Colin's old friends from back home starts to crack the mystery behind his decision to leave everything behind and build a new life in the tight-knit community of Dolphin Cove."

Return to Paradise is available to watch on BBC iPlayer.